Downtown to host Vegas Music Summit

Las Vegans involved in the industry will be there, and you can pick their brains for free.

Beginning at noon in the second floor ballrooms at the El Cortez, music professionals will host panel discussions about talent managers, indie labels, major-label A&R, and producing and writing hit songs.

Although the conference is free, attendees must register at vegasmusicsummit.com.

Event promoter and native Las Vegan Frederic Apcar said he designed the summit to educate and further the spread the music industry in Las Vegas.

"We’ve got pretty established executives that have been in the industry a while," Apcar said.

Panelists include music producer Kevin Churko, who has worked with Shania Twain, Ozzy Osbourne and Ringo Starr; Shaun Lopez, a producer and songwriter who has worked with the Deftones, Black Pacific and Lupe Fiasco; and Paul Pontius, a veteran A&R executive who signed Korn, Incubus and the Killers.

Apcar, who produces a number of large-scale music festivals throughout the year, said it is possible to start a serious music career in Las Vegas.

"I don’t think you have to leave but it depends on your goals," Apcar said. "Is it tough? Of course it’s tough but the whole business is tough."

As for the summit, Apcar hopes to attract about 100 people to the panel discussions, and 750 to 1,000 to the free, 8 p.m. concert on Fremont Street East that will feature Awolnation, Imagine Dragons, Twin Atlantic, Halloween Town and Summit Grove.

"It’s pretty much our way of giving back to the community," Apcar said.