Education
Explore music business structures, publishing, ownership rights, copyright, film and television pitching, emerging music technology, and entrepreneurship.
Writing Sessions America
Your Talent Deserves to Be in the Room.
13th Annual Unplugged Music Experience & Conference
Featuring the 2026 Icon Awards
Learn the Business. Expand Your Network. Get Closer to Opportunity.
Four days of music business education, industry conversations, listening sessions, networking, and creative collaboration, built for independent music professionals ready to participate in the conversation.
Get Your UME 2026 TicketWhy the room matters
Build the knowledge behind
your next move.
Talent is a starting point. A sustainable music career also asks you to understand ownership, publishing, copyright, revenue, relationships, and entrepreneurship. UME is a place to explore the questions that shape the work around your work.
Come away with a clearer lens for protecting what you create, discussing the paths available to you, and building your approach with intention.
Being present creates opportunities to listen, contribute, introduce yourself, and be part of the conversation.
Our founders' perspective
Don't chase the money. Become the money, it will come to you if your blueprint, plan and presentation says you are the money without you saying anything.
Kevin Shine, Industry Veteran and Creator of Writing Sessions America.
What you can take into the work
Education. Empowerment. Proximity.
Empowerment
Build practical knowledge to make informed decisions, develop a brand, protect your work, explore revenue opportunities, and think beyond releasing music.
Proximity
Join listening sessions and industry conversations alongside fellow creatives. Opportunities to share work and build relationships are part of the experience.
The UME experience
A curated four-day flow.
Move through conversations and working knowledge that connect the creative and business sides of music.
- Music business workshops & listening sessions
- Film and television pitching
- Content and copyright education
- New technology & entrepreneurship
- Fireside chats, Hitmaker programming & networking
- The 2026 Icon Awards
Your Seat in the Conversation
Creative Music Business
Who should attend
Built for the people moving music forward.
Independent Artists & Songwriters
An independent artist is a creator building and directing their own music career, often managing releases, brand, relationships, and business decisions outside a major-label structure. UME brings the practical conversation closer.
Producers & Engineers
Deepen relationships and expand your awareness of the conversations shaping opportunity.
Publishers & Sync Professionals
Engage with creators and programming centered on rights, pitching, and the business of music.
Indie-preneurs
An indie-preneur, or independent music entrepreneur, treats talent as a business by developing revenue opportunities, protecting ownership, building a professional brand, and making strategic decisions for sustainable growth.
Creative Music Business
The creative music business is the work behind the art: rights, publishing, copyright, licensing, branding, marketing, relationships, revenue planning, and professional presentation. UME is relevant when you are ready to strengthen that work.
Stay close to the conversation
Exclusive WSA updates right to your inbox.
Get Writing Sessions America news and music-industry opportunity alerts as they are shared.
13th Annual Unplugged Music Experience & Conference
Four-Day Schedule
Featuring the 2026 Icon Awards
November 12–15, 2026 | Atlanta, Georgia
Thursday, November 12
UME KICKOFF PARTY/MIXER
Time 6:00 PM – 1:00 AM EST
Location Atlantucky Brewing
170 Northside Drive SW, Suite 96, Atlanta, GA 30313
Welcome Address hosted by Founder/CEO Kevin Shine
Keynote Speaker Darrell "Delite" Allamby, Platinum Producer
Live Radio: Quality Control Listening Session
Live Radio Kickoff Performance Showcase
Friday, November 13
CONFERENCE PROGRAMMING
Time 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM EST
Location Rolling Out Magazine
770 English Avenue NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
The Music Indipreneur Workshop: "What's a Loan Out Corporation in Music Business"
"Panel and Pitch" Film & Television Workshop & Music Listening Session (Virtual)
"Content vs. Copyright": Making Money & Protecting Ownership Rights
MLC Workshop: "Baby, I Got Your Money"
Friday, November 13
13TH ANNUAL ICON AWARDS
Time 7:00–10:30 PM EST | Formal Dress Code
Location Ray Charles Performing Arts Center at Morehouse College
900 West End Avenue SW, Atlanta, GA 30310
Red Carpet & Pre-Awards Reception
13th Annual Icon Awards Ceremony
Honorees
Fred "Toxic" Taylor, Demmette Guidry, Keith Thomas, Raheem "Kilo" Pugh, Gongu Roach, Jason Orr, Traci Hale, Rockwilder, Floyd "DanjaHandz" Nathaniel-Hill, Makeba Riddick-Woods, Blanco Brown.
Saturday, November 14
CONFERENCE PROGRAMMING
Time 10:00 AM – 7:45 PM EST
Location Rolling Out Magazine
770 English Avenue NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
"Where's the Love" Songwriter's New Tools and Bizness Workshop
Live Radio: Quality Control Listening Session
SheEO vs CEO Workshop with Ameliaismore
WSA Fireside Chat with Lila Haralson
Hitmaker's Academy: Successful Music Indipreneur & Hitmakers Forum
Saturday, November 14
UME CLOSEOUT PARTY/MIXER
Time 7:00 PM – 1:00 AM EST
Location Atlantucky Brewing
170 Northside Drive SW, Suite 96, Atlanta, GA 30313
Film & Television Music "Panel and Pitch" Listening Session
Live Radio Quality Control Listening Session
Live Radio Closeout Performance Showcase
Sunday, November 15
CLOSING WORKSHOPS
Time 12:00–3:00 PM EST
Location To Be Announced
Raheem "Kilo" Pugh – Making of MisEducation of Lauryn Hill Documentary
Kevin Shine – UME 2026 Closing Event
JOIN THE MOVEMENT
Four days of industry access, education, fellowship, live performance, and opportunity, built for songwriters, producers, publishers, music executives, sync professionals, and independent music entrepreneurs.
Registration & Information: wsaume2026biz@gmail.com
Instagram: @WritingSessionsAmerica
All programming is subject to change.
WSA Membership
Community is part of the work.
Writing Sessions America is a collaborative, family-driven community focused on creativity, culture, education, professional development, and business growth for independent music professionals.
Membership places the conference within a wider commitment to learning, sharing knowledge, and moving forward together.
Before you register
Frequently asked questions.
UME 2026 takes place November 12–15, 2026.
UME 2026 is in Atlanta, Georgia. The confirmed Icon Awards venue is Morehouse College's Ray Charles Performing Arts Center. Other programming may take place elsewhere.
UME 2026 is for songwriters, independent artists, producers, engineers, publishers, sync professionals, aspiring executives, and independent music entrepreneurs.
Register through the official Ticketleap registration page.
New members are required to purchase a conference ticket alongside membership. Visit registration for current prices and terms.
Expect education, listening sessions, industry conversations, pitching, networking, creative collaboration, and the Icon Awards.
An independent artist builds and directs their own music career, often managing releases, brand, relationships, and business decisions outside a major-label structure. An indie-preneur, or independent music entrepreneur, develops their talent as a business, including revenue opportunities, ownership, brand, and strategic growth.
No. Participation creates opportunities to learn and connect, but individual introductions, contracts, placements, and career outcomes are not guaranteed.
Yes. All programming, speakers, venues, and times are subject to change.
November 12–15 · Atlanta
The Next Opportunity Might Start With
Showing Up.
Learn the business, grow your confidence and decision-making, expand your network, and get closer to conversations and creative community.
Get Your UME 2026 TicketNew members are required to purchase a conference ticket alongside membership.