Music lovers and industry professionals flocked to the shores of Miami Beach this past weekend for REVOLT TV’s inaugural music conference. The weekend-long soiree took place from Oct. 16 to Oct. 19 at the renowned Le Fontainebleau Hotel. From keynote speakers to nightlife events, the four-day conference coupled some of the great minds in the entertainment industry with brand marketers, producers, and artists in order to discuss how to navigate and comprehend the constantly evolving music business. Musical performances by Jhene Aiko, G-Eazy, Travis Scott, Jeremih, and Flo Rida wrapped up the day’s events on both Friday and Saturday.
With opening remarks from Keith Clinkscales, REVOLT TV CEO, as well as the Vice-Chair and well-seasoned music vet Andre Harrell, the conference kicked off on Friday with lots of laughs, humbling stories and valuable information.
“The one thing you will learn from this conference is that you cannot out work Sean Combs,” Clinkscales said to a crowd of approximately 800 people at the networking breakfast.
Last year, Combs and Clinkscales launched REVOLT TV, a music-oriented digital television network dedicated to offering music, videos, live entertainment and pop culture news. Since its unveiling last year on Oct. 21, the network has gained traction following partnerships with Time Warner Cable, Comcast, and as of recently Verizon Fios.
“The true DNA of this conference is how tech will impact music,” Clinkscales said.
As technology and social media continue to evolve and influence the way we consume content, especially when it comes to music, Combs intends to use his latest venture as a platform to capitalize on this change. In light of this, day one of the Revolt Music Conference featured keynote addresses from tech leaders Guy Oseary, founder of Maverick, and Bob Pittman, chairman and CEO of iHeart Media, who provided further insight into how the digital age impacts the music business.
The first day of the conference also included six panels that ranged from social media strategy, to women in the music industry, to the future of the record business. Friday’s festivities came to a close with performances from Jhene Aiko, SZA and Flo Rida.
Although a majority of the panels were comprised of music executives, producers or artists such as LA Reid, Timbaland, and Jermaine Dupri; there were several panels that featured some of the biggest titans in the print and digital media industry.
Veteran journalist Danyel Smith moderated the “Who Runs The World” panel, a discussion regarding the balance of power in the music business and how women can propel themselves to the forefront of the male-dominated industry.
As the first black female editor-in-chief of both Billboard and VIBE magazine, Smyth has been paving the way for female music journalists for over a decade. During her panel session, Smyth emphasized the importance of women showcasing their work without fear of being labeled as boastful or attention seeking.
“As women, we cannot be afraid to toot our own horn,” Smyth said. “We have to find ways to be comfortable saying ‘I’m right here. I built this. I made this. I wrote this.’”
In doing so, female journalists will not only stay relevant in their field but also differentiate themselves from their competition. 
“You have to talk about yourself,” Smyth said. The media maven also insisted that being entrepreneurial is a major key to success.
“Start your own shit,” Smyth said. “Start it today. Don’t wait until you’re ready. Don’t wait until you feel like you’re going to be way better a year from now. Start your own shit today.”
Marc Ecko, founder and chief brand officer of Complex Media, shared Smyth’s sentiments regarding entrepreneurship in the print industry. “It’s about honing your voice and being entrepreneurial about how you kind of attract that catalyst that helps expand your audience,” Ecko said. “That’s where you have to be a hustler and an entrepreneur.”
Ecko shared his views on branding management and marketing during Saturday’s “The New Deal: Brands and Artists” panel.
In addition to honing one’s voice, Ecko strongly suggested that aspiring journalists use the wide array of broadcasting tools available today, such as Youtube and Vine, to their advantage. Social media is an ideal platform for journalists to showcase their work in order to gain traction. But in light of all the social platforms one can choose from, Ecko advised that journalists strongly consider how their voice is deployed in respect to each.
“It’s not what you do, it’s what you don’t do,” Ecko said. “I call it the merchandising of your voice. You have to think tacitly about what are the tools that will allow you to differentiate. Just because you can do it all doesn’t mean you should.”
In regards to standing out among the competition, Ecko feels that differentiation is a critical process that begins from within. “It has to be the most naked part of your brand,” Ecko said. “What is it about your view that is really different? You have to be your own enemy and worst critic in trying to hone that and sharpen that. And, anytime you find yourself parodying someone else’s thing– game over.”
A major highlight of the weekend-long soiree was Combs’ rousing keynote address titled #AskDiddy. On Oct. 18, in front of a packed-house within the Glimmer Ballroom at the Fontainebleau Hotel, Combs offered invaluable career advice to the standing room only crowd.
“This is going to be like church,” Combs told the audience. “It’s going to get hot in here, so take out your fans.”
Although the 45-minute session was not exactly a gospel service, it was inspiring and honest nonetheless. Combs’ Q&A also strayed away from traditional measures by lacking engagement with a moderator. Alternatively, Combs chose to only answer questions from Twitter and directly from audience members.
Prior to answering questions that ranged from personal to practical, Combs addressed the crowd by thanking them for investing in themselves and supporting REVOLT’s inaugural music conference. The entrepreneur also admitted that REVOLT was the most difficult venture he aimed to successfully launch.
“This is a dream come true,” Combs said. “To know that the legacy is going to continue because there are people out there who care about the future and care about being somebody.”
At times Combs was surprisingly candid and humble. When asked what had been his hardest business decision, he replied: “Looking in the mirror. When you get a lot of success, it definitely turns you into an asshole. Or it magnifies who you are.”
When asked for advice, Combs offered simplistic and practical words: Be relentless. Work hard. Wake up early. Always follow through. His greatest insight, however, was when it came to personal branding.
““Every second you are a representation of your brand,” he said when asked about the brand aspect of his business. “What you wear. How you talk. And you are representing not just yourself but your family name. I know I’m the best representation of my brand. The thing that keeps you in this game is your reputation.”
The #AskDiddy panel session proved to be a favorite among attendees especially those aspiring to work directly in the music industry as producers or executives. For Jordan Suarez, founder and CEO of New Society Records, Combs’ keynote address was the most helpful panel session out of the dozen that took place over the weekend.
“Ask Diddy was very inspirational and motivational,” Suarez said. “That just really brought the bars even higher for myself. Now, my dream and my vision are larger.”
Suarez formed New Society Records with two friends after realizing they shared a common interest in music. The record label launched three months ago and has since served as a platform to showcase the talents of independent artists.
“Now I’m just hungrier,” Suarez said. “I just want to thank Diddy for giving us the opportunity to come out to this.”
For others like Danielle Lindsay, a junior at Florida Memorial University studying mass communications, the #AskDiddy panel was an intimate way for her to become more acquainted with the living legend. “You got to get a little bit more in touch with who Diddy is personally,” Lindsay said. “Where he came from and how his road to success was. And just his opinion on where we can go in life, I felt a better connection and understanding of who he is as a person.”
Lindsay attended the Revolt Music Conference with her roommates, Davina Lewis and Khalinah Walker in hopes of gaining valuable contacts and information on how to emerge into the music industry. Walker, who is also a mass communications student at FMU, walked away from the conference with a greater understanding of the reality of being a music industry professional. “It’s not all about glitz and glam,” Walker said. “It’s about hard work and dedication.”
“Everyone here has a story,” Walker said. “Everyone has come from exactly where you are right now. So, if you want it, you have to go get it. Point. Blank. Period.”
Kai Miller can be reached at Kai.miller@theminaretonline.com.