ENTERING THE METAVERSE

The 9th annual Digital Entertainment World (DEW) will explore “Entering the Metaverse” – a theme that is central to the future of the entertainment, media & technology industries. We will explore this theme - including the explosion of businesses around blockchain games, NFTs, XR & virtual worlds - alongside other key digital & technology developments that continue to drive the "Creator Economy", such as streaming, OTT, influencer marketing, esports, games, podcasting, licensing, UCG & branded content.

2022 KEYNOTES & FIRESIDE CHATS INCLUDE:

Brad Wilson

Executive Vice President, Growth and Revenue,
WarnerMedia

Carol Hanley

President,
Whip Media

JP Evangelista

SVP of Content, Marketing & Programming,
Vevo

2022 SPEAKERS INCLUDE:

Alexia Bedat

Associate,
Klaris

Amy Wigler

VP of Multiplatform Content & Marketing,
PBS

Andy Swanson

Head of Publisher Relations,
mod.io

Anya Shapina

Head of Performance,
The Sandbox

Bart Spriester

Vice President & General Manager of Content & Streaming Providers Suite,
Comcast Technology Solutions

Brad Wilson

Executive Vice President, Growth and Revenue,
WarnerMedia

Carol Hanley

President,
Whip Media

Chris Akhavan

Chief Business Officer,
Forte

Christina Heller

CEO,
Metastage

Colin Dixon

Founder & Chief Analyst
nScreenMedia

David Berkowitz

SVP Corporate Marketing & Communications,
Mediaocean

Dawn Chmielewski

U.S. Entertainment Business Correspondent,
Reuters

Author,
Binge Times

Dermot McCormack

President,
LiveONE

Doug Scott

Co-Founder & Chief Managing Director,
Subnation Media

Emily Powers

Head of BritBox North America,
BritBox

Eric Bergner

Partner, Digital and Technology Transactions,
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP

Greg Riker

Head of Business Development, Americas,
Metrological

Greg Selkoe

Co-Founder & CEO,
XSET

Howard Homonoff

Senior U.S. Media & Entertainment Industry Advisor,
Grant Thornton

Jamie Gutfreund

Global Chief Marketing Officer,
Whalar

Jamil Moledina

CEO,
Hexagram

Jeff Clanagan

CEO,
Laugh Out Loud

Jen Kavanagh

Senior Vice President, Media & Marketing,
Philadelphia Eagles

Jesse Kirshbaum

Chief Marketing Officer,
DREAMSTAGE

Jim King

CEO,
Spoken Giants

Jim Louderback

GM & SVP,
Vidcon

John Linden

CEO & Co-Founder,
Mythical Games

Jon Radoff

CEO,
Beamble

Jon Vlassopulos

VP, Global Head of Music,
Roblox

Jordan Bromley

Partner and Leader,
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP

Josh Neuman

President,
MELON

JP Evangelista

SVP of Content, Marketing & Programming,
Vevo

Julian Franco

Senior Vice President, Product Management,
HBO Max

Maureen Fan

CEO & Co-Founder,
Baobab Studios

Michelle Munson

CEO & Co-Founder,
Eluvio

Mike Vorhaus

CEO,
Vorhaus Advisors

Natalie Gabathuler-Scully

SVP, Revenue & Distribution Operations,
Vevo

Ned Sherman

Partner,
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips

Founder,
Digital Media Wire

Nicole Cleary

VP of Client Partnerships,
G4

Paco Suro

GM Mass Pay,
Tipalti

Paul Kontonis

CMO,
Revry

Paul Sweeting

Co-Founder,
RightsTech Project

Founder & Principal,
Concurrent Media Strategies

Peter Letz

Agent, Digital Media & Gaming,
Creative Artists Agency

Ricky Ray Butler

CEO,
BEN Group

Shahar Sorek

Chief Marketing Officer,
Overwolf

Shannon Pruitt

Global Chief Content Officer,
Stagwell Media Network

Steve Raizes

SVP of Podcasts,
ViacomCBS

Tara DeVeaux

Chief Marketing Officer,
Wild Card Creative Group

Managing Director,
3AM & Insights@Wild Card

Ted Schilowitz

Futurist,
ViacomCBS

Tony Parisi

Head of AR/VR Ads and eCommerce,
Unity

Ty Roberts

Co-Founder, CEO and CTO,
FanTracks

UnJu Paik

Head of Business Affairs,
Wondery

2022 AGENDA:

February 7
February 8
February 9
February 10
Februay 11

TELEVISION & STREAMING TRACK

Keynote Conversation with Whip Media

🕐 10:00am - 10:45am PT
Keynote conversation with Whip Media's President, Carol Hanley.

The Future of Streaming: What’s Next?

🕐 11:00am - 11:45am PT
The past year saw a huge uptick in revenue and viewership for ad-supported video on demand (AVOD) platforms as well as the growth of free, ad-supported streaming television (FAST), while some predict that the subscription video on demand (SVOD) market should brace for a wave of customer cancellations in 2022 despite its continued growth. This panel of industry leaders will discuss the rapid growth and consumer adoption of AVOD and FAST streaming services as well as developments in the maturing SVOD market. How are consumer viewing habits evolving? How will different services distinguish themselves and attract loyal viewers or subscribers? Are AVOD services likely to get more “premium”? What are SVOD services doing to retain and grow subscribers? What innovations, business models and features will fuel growth in the marketplace?

Panelists Include:
Howard Homonoff, Senior U.S. Media & Entertainment Industry Advisor, Grant Thornton
Emily Powers, Head of BritBox North America, BritBox
Bart Spriester, Vice President & General Manager of Content & Streaming Providers Suite, Comcast Technology Solutions
Julian Franco Senior Vice President, Product Management, HBO Max
Moderator: Dawn Chmielewski, U.S. Entertainment Business Correspondent, Reuters, Author, Binge Times

The Evolution of Viewing Habits & Today’s Video Mix: OTT + Cable + Linear

🕐 12:00pm - 12:45pm PT
Most U.S. TV consumers blend cable, linear, and OTT TV services into personal viewing bundles. To keep up with it all, they must switch between (v)MVPD, SVOD, FAST, AVOD, and TVOD apps. And they are probably juggling multiple viewing devices in the process. What does this say about the viewing habits of today’s consumers? Which services and devices do they turn to first? How are they finding things to watch? Are they pleased with the connected TV ad experience? Are they engaging with premium VOD?

Panelists Include:
Jeff Clanagan, CEO, Laugh at Loud
Natalie Gabathuler-Scully, SVP, Revenue & Distribution Operations, Vevo
Greg Riker, Head of Business Development, Americas, Metrological
Amy Wigler VP of Multiplatform Content & Marketing, PBS
Moderator: Colin Dixon, Chief Analyst & Founder, nScreenMedia

The Rise of the Metaverse: What Does it Mean for the Television Business?

🕐 1:00pm - 1:45pm PT
All the rage these days seems to be about the Metaverse with the major tech companies laying out their plans to create immersive environments that offer a persistent world for work, socializing, and play with much of the focus on experiences that are dependent on mobile AR or VR headsets. While it won’t happen overnight, billions of dollars are being directed at new technologies, protocols, companies and innovations focused on a future to be experienced through AR/VR/XR. What does this focus on the Metaverse mean for the television business? What are the opportunities for broadcasters, streamers, smart TV manufacturers, advertisers and content creators? Does the rise of the Metaverse necessitate the fall of the TV screen? How does the television business capitalize on the Metaverse?

Panelists Include:
Ted Schilowitz, Futurist, Paramount Pictures
Jon Radoff, CEO, Beamable
Maureen Fan CEO & Co-Founder, Baobab Studios
Jamil Moledina, CEO, Hexagram
Moderator: Christina Heller, CEO, Metastage

Fireside Chat with WarnerMedia

🕐 2:00pm - 2:45pm PT
Join a Fireside Chat with Brad Wilson, Executive Vice President of Growth and Revenue at WarnerMedia.

BRANDS & ADVERTISING TRACK

Keynote Conversation with United Talent Agency

🕐 10:00am - 10:45am PT
Keynote conversation with Brent Weinstein the Chief Innovation Officer at United Talent Agency.

Youth Marketing and the Entertainment Marketing Mix

🕐 11:00am - 11:45am PT
This panel of executives and experts in entertainment marketing will discuss the evolving mix of strategies, campaigns and platforms involved in marketing large scale entertainment events including releases of TV shows, movies and games, location based experiences and other productions and shows targeted at Gen Z and Millennials. What platforms are being used? What strategies and campaigns are being deployed, and how are they working? How important is data? How are the strategies evolving?

Panelists Include:
Jennifer Kavanagh, SVP, Marketing & Media, Philadelphia Eagles
David Berkowitz, SVP, Corporate Marketing & Communications, Mediaocean
Tara DeVeaux, Chief Marketing Officer, Wild Card Creative Group, Managing Director, 3AM & Insights@Wild Card
Shannon Pruitt, Global Chief Content Officer, Stagwell Media Network
Moderator: Paul Kontonis, CMO, Revry

Influencer Marketing and the Creator Economy: What’s Next?

🕐 12:00pm - 12:45pm PT
The influencer market for branded and platform deals is projected to grow to a whopping $28 billion by 2026. A major driver of this growth is coming from platforms like TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snap and Twitch. This panel of brand and advertising executives, digital creators and influencers, platform executives and agency representatives will discuss the strategies and campaigns taking shape on different platforms. What are the most effective strategies today for working with influencers and what are the metrics that determine success? How are creators and influencers adapting their content and strategies as the market matures and more content is vying for audiences in the “Attention Economy”?

Panelists Include:
Ricky Ray Butler, CEO, BEN Group
Jamie Gutfreund, Global Chief Marketing Officer, Whalar
Paco Suro GM Mass Pay, Tipalti
Moderator: Jim Louderback, GM & SVP, VidCon

The Power of the Metaverse: How Brands are Embracing Marketing's New Frontier?

🕐 1:00pm - 1:45pm PT
While there are challenges in launching campaigns in new environments, brand marketers understand the power of the Metaverse to connect with eyeballs and interactive opportunities. Major brands are building their own virtual worlds, minting non-fungible tokens (NFTs) to be bought and sold on blockchain technology, advertising in games and virtual worlds and experimenting with AR and VR experiences. This panel of experts in brand marketing and the Metaverse will discuss the opportunities and challenges as brand marketers embrace the power of the Metaverse.

Panelists Include:
Tony Parisi, Head of AR/VR Ads and eCommerce, Unity
Ryan Mullins, Founder & CEO, Aglet
Moderator: Doug Scott, Co-Founder, Subnation

GAMES & ESPORTS TRACK

Keynote Conversation - Investing in the Games Ecosystem

🕐 10:00am - 10:45am PT
Speaker and topic to be announced!

The Rise of Blockchain Games

🕐 11:00am - 11:45am PT
Blockchain games that include elements that use cryptocurrency or non-fungible tokens (NFTs), which players can buy, sell, or trade with other players, are taking the industry by storm. This panel of experts will discuss both the current state of blockchain games on the market and the new wave of projects in the works that are promising to engage new users and take the category to new heights.

Panelists Include:
John Linden, CEO, Mythical Games
Anya Shapina, Head of Performance, The Sandbox
Moderator: Chris Akhavan, Chief Business Officer, Forte

Esports + Games Dealmakers

🕐 12:00pm - 12:45pm PT
This panel of executives and dealmakers will discuss the range of deals being done in the burgeoning esports and games business today as esports and gaming culture and lifestyle content continues to dominate the cultural zeitgeist. From talent deals to licensing to content development, this panel of experts will explore key developments and related issues driving dealmaking in the industry today. How are endorsement deals that allow a company/brand to use a player’s name, image, name and likeness in connection with advertising being structured? What are some of the key issues around licensing game play and game content? What kind of deals are being done around content development for digital video, streaming, television and movies? This panel of experts will unravel these issues and more.

Panelists Include:
Greg Selkoe, CEO & Co-Founder, XSET
Peter Letz Agent, Digital Media & Gaming, Creative Artists Agency
Nicole Cleary VP of Client Partnerships, G4
Moderator: Ned Sherman, Partner, Manatt Phelps & Phillips

The Rise of User-Generated Content in Games

🕐 1:00pm - 1:45pm PT
This panel of experts will discuss the rapid growth of user-generated content (UGC) in games, which is expanding game experiences, increasing player engagement and retention, and functioning as a form of cost-effective marketing. From game creation platforms like Roblox to game mods to YouTube and Twitch streamers, UGC and creator content is a driving force in the games business today. What are the key developments in the industry impacting this trend? What tools and innovations are driving growth? How is the “Creator Economy” playing out in the games business of the future?

Panelists Include:
Andy Swanson, Head of Developer Relations, mod.io
Shahar Sorek, CMO, Overwolf

RIGHTSTECH TRACK

Keynote Conversation

🕐 10:00am - 10:45am PT
Speaker and topic to be announced!

No Laughing Matter: Comedy, Spoken Word Audio, Rights and Royalties

🕐 11:00am - 11:45am PT
Spoken word audio, including comedy recordings, podcasts, poetry readings and speeches, accounts for more than one-quarter of all listening on streaming platforms and radio. But is it all being properly licensed and paid for? What rights apply to spoken word recordings and compositions? How should royalty rates be set, who should get paid, and how should the money be collected and paid out? With real money potentially at stake, the industry needs real answers to those questions. This panel will explore these questions and more.

Panelists Include:
Jordan Bromley, Partner, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips
Jim King, CEO, Spoken Giants
Alexia Bedat, Associate, Klaris

Licensing the Metaverse

🕐 12:00pm - 12:45pm PT
The Metaverse is the next audience frontier for music recordings, live performances, movies and other types of media. How can record labels, publishers, studios and artists take maximum advantage of the new licensing and monetization opportunities it offers? How will real-world rights apply in virtual spaces? How will they be enforced? What clearances do virtual performances require, and how should royalties be calculated? This panel will explore the next new paradigm.

Panelists Include:
Josh Neuman, President, MELON
Eric Bergner, Partner, Digital and Technology Transactions, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP
Ty Roberts, Co-Founder, CEO and CTO, FanTracks

Back to Front: New Trends in Rights-Based Finance

🕐 1:00pm - 1:45pm PT
From crypto to private equity to investment banking, new money is flooding into the music, movie and other creative industries. How can musicians, filmmakers and other creators channel that flood into financing their latest projects at the front end without giving up the backend by selling off their rights?

MUSIC & PODCASTS TRACK

Fireside Chat with Vevo

🕐 10:00am - 10:45am PT
Fireside Chat with JP Evangelista the SVP of Content, Marketing & Programming at Vevo.

Music Live Streaming + the Future of Concerts

🕐 11:00am - 11:45am PT
The past two years has seen live streaming evolve from being an afterthought to being a key component of any artist’s live performance strategy. What served as a lifeline to artists with in person events cancelled during COVID is attracting artists and labels, big and small, to connect with fans and drive new revenue opportunities. This panel will discuss the important role of music live streaming, hybrid in person and virtual concerts, launch parties and events, and the Metaverse, and the business models that are driving the future of the concert business.

Panelists Include:
Michelle Munson, CEO & Co-Founder, Eluvio
Dermot McCormack, President, LiveONE
Moderator: Jesse Kirshbaum, Chief Marketing Officer, DREAMSTAGE

The Continued Growth of Podcasting: What’s Next?

🕐 12:00pm - 12:45pm PT
Podcasts are continuing to see a surge in popularity with one report suggesting that the global podcasting market is estimated to reach $94 Billion by 2028 (Research and Markets). Fueling this growth are the increasing popularity of audio-on-demand platforms like Spotify, the minimal entry barriers for creators and easy accessibility for listeners. This panel of experts will discuss the trends and innovations that are furling growth in the industry. How are brands, advertisers, and talent cashing in? Who are the winners and the losers?

Panelists Include:
UnJu Paik, Head of Business Affairs and General Counsel, Wondery
Pat Shah, Head of Content Acquisition & Development, Audible
Colin Thomson, CEO & Founder, Kast Media
Steve Raizes, SVP of Podcasts, ViacomCBS

Music & The Metaverse: The Massive Opportunity for Artists and Labels

🕐 1:00pm - 1:45pm PT
The secret is out! The music industry has discovered the power of the Metaverse where albums can be launched in virtual worlds, and concert-style events bring together millions of people to discover new music and new artists, shop virtual merch, socialize with major stars as they perform or even dance together with fans. This panel of top games and music executives will discuss how the Metaverse is changing the world of music and what trends we are yet to see in the future as it continues to grow its mindshare and engagement time.