The sixth annual Sync Up conference during both Jazz Fest weekends promises to be the splashiest one yet, with local and national luminaries stopping in. The film component will include Dave Stewart of Eurythmics presenting his Stevie Nicks profile; and Lily Keber and Leo Sacks discussing their respective biographies of local greats James Booker (Bayou Maharajah) and Raymond Myles (A Taste Of Heaven). In addition, Scottish-born singer Terry McDermott, who came out of the Bourbon Street bars to win second place on The Voice and then put a self-produced single at the top of the ITunes charts, will discuss indie distribution on May 4.

Panels will focus on issues facing working musicians. A panel of New Orleans players, including Ivan Neville (Dumpstaphunk) and John Michael Rouchell (MyNameIsJohnMichael) will discuss “How I Built My Touring Business.”  A panel on “Music Publishing in the Spotify Era” will include the CFO’s of Universal Music and Audiosocket. Keynote interviewees will include new Elektra Records president Jeff Castelaz and  Zach Quillen, who manages “Thrift Shop” sensations Macklemore & Ryan Lewis.