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Want to land a recording deal or start your own music label?

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By Kevin Aldridge, Staff Writer 12:10 AM Wednesday, July 15, 2009

MIDDLETOWN — Are you looking to land a recording contract, or having thoughts about starting your own music label?

If so, a music conference and workshop coming to Middletown this weekend may be for you.

The Midwest Regional Music Insiders Conference will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 18, at the Chamber of Commerce building on Central Avenue.

The conference, hosted by Ovations Music Group, will provide attendees with information on how to get a record deal, how to start an independent label and the finances and regulations of the music industry. Hayward Thompson, CEO and productions manager of Ovations, said conferences such as this are usually only done in cities such as Los Angeles and New York and can cost as much as $200 to attend.

Thompson said there would be limited seating for about 20 participants for this conference, which has a $50 registration fee.

“This is how I got my success,” said Thompson, who has worked with musical talents such as SwizzBeatz and Shane Sparks of MTV. “When I went to these (conferences) in California, it was very beneficial.”

Thompson, a 1990 Mt. Healthy High School graduate, said he wants aspiring artists to know that it takes more than putting a song on YouTube to break into the industry.

“There aren’t too many Soulja Boys or Tyreses, where people get discovered at the bus stop,” Thompson said. “We teach that you are going to have to get up, get out and do something if you really want this. And we will teach you the business.”

Thompson said attendees would learn about other jobs in the music industry other than behind the microphone.

“You can make a living in this industry and not have to sing a single note,” Thompson said. “A lot of people think you have to be in the spotlight to get a check in this industry, but that’s not the case.”

The conference deals with all genres of music and will offer attendees more personal one-on-one interaction than larger conferences, Thompson said.

For more information or to register, call (513) 374-9785 or visit www.ovationsent.com

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2584 or kaldridge@coxohio.com.

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