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EA's Steve Schnur Tapped for Exclusive Keynote Q&A Session at the Billboard Music & Money Symposium

One-day event brings together the best minds from the music, legal, and financial communities.

New York, NY (Billboard Publicity Wire) February 22, 2007 -- Billboard, the world's most trusted source of music, video and digital entertainment news, charts, reviews and analysis, announced today that Steve Schnur, Worldwide Executive of Music and Marketing for Electronic Arts (EA), will take part in an exclusive keynote Q&A session at the Billboard Music and Money Symposium, in association with Loeb & Loeb LLP. During this one-day event, which is being held on Thursday, March 1st at the St. Regis in New York City, Schnur will sit down with Tamara Conniff, Billboard's Executive Editor and Associate Publisher, to discuss the convergence of music and interactive entertainment. In addition, Schnur will make an EA announcement that will further close the gap between bands and fans.

"EA is taking the next big step in musical pop culture" says Schnur. "With our next move, we will be making a statement about DRM and the relationship between interactivity, portability and music. This initiative will break open a new revenue stream for interactive entertainment and also positions game music for steady, upward growth for years to come. EA is again pioneering new spheres in interactive musical entertainment."

As Worldwide Executive of Music and Marketing for Electronic Arts, Schnur is directly responsible for the pursuit, creation and continuous development of the global vision for music in EA games. He has brought established stars, new artists, and award-winning composers to such top-selling EA franchises as Madden NFL, FIFA Soccer, Need For Speed, Medal of Honor, Burnout, The Sims and more, changing the industry's perception of video games from simple 'licensing opportunities' to their now-essential role in artists' careers.

His EA Trax™ initiative resulted in the first RIAA certified Platinum video game soundtrack with NBA LIVE 2003, and established the collaborative partnership with legendary hip-hop enterprise Def Jam to produce the landmark DEF JAM VENDETTA.

"Over the past five years, Steve Schnur's creative vision has completely changed the relationship between the videogame industry and the music industry," says Conniff. "Schnur is a pioneer and power player in digital entertainment, who understands and values the importance of music. We're thrilled to have him at this year's event."

The Billboard Music and Money Symposium unites the top visionaries from the music, legal and financial communities for an in-depth examination of the financial realities that face the music industry. The elite annual event is attended by over 250 top-level executives from record labels, publishing firms, marketing and promotion companies, as well as artist managers, strategic advisors and attorneys.

This event will also provide the information necessary for key executives to connect with up-and-coming music and entertainment companies in need of financial resources. The conference agenda will address a wide variety of topics that affect the music industry on a daily basis. Program highlights include:

• Keynote Q&A with Ken Lombard - In this exclusive interview, Ken Lombard, president of Starbucks Entertainment, will discuss how the company has made a transformative impact on the entertainment industry by providing a new and convenient way for consumers to discover, experience and acquire all genres of great music as well as exceptional books and films.

• View From the Top: The State of the Digital/Mobile Revolution - Thought leaders will discuss the state of the industry including the affects of mobile, social networking, and video, as well as the pains of content acquisition and licensing, emerging business models, and where the money really is.

• Overpriced, or still the best bet? The economics of building a music publishing company for fun or profit - Leading experts will talk about how consolidation has affected the music publishing landscape, the art of acquiring music publishing catalogs, and the impact of digital on the value of a song.

• Hard to Handle: The Business of Management - As the major record companies continue to consolidate, managers are increasingly taking over duties traditionally done by labels including marketing and A&R. Industry leaders will discuss the future of management, consolidation, and the art of the deal.

• Show Us the Money: Venture Capitalists Talk Strategy - Suddenly it's the late 90s all over again for tech start-ups. Companies like MySpace and YouTube are receiving valuations of $1 billion despite limited operating histories. So is the rise of Web 2.0 also fueling Internet bubble 2.0? Investors will debate the soundness of current investment strategies. How are bets changing? What categories are hot?

• Coming to You Live: The Financial Rewards of Touring - Consumers may not be buying round discs anymore, but live events continue to draw droves of fans. Industry experts will discuss profit margins, artist advances, merchandizing rights, and why the live experience means more than ever before.

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