Event Echoes: Michigan Music Alliance's 2026 Econ Summit

On Saturday, April 11, 2026, Michigan Music Alliance (MMA) held its second annual Econ Summit at Bamboo Grand Rapids. 

A day riddled with creative energy and a full menu of events, from workshops to panel discussions, it delivered on one promise: collaboration trumps competition in the Michigan music scene.

The panel “Creating a Music Community” truly illustrated this, with speakers such as James Hughes, studio owner and director at Triumph Music Academy; Lori Stratton,

member of the MMA Board of Directors and founder of Stratton Setlist; Jen Hudson Prenkert, founder of Kalamazoo music festival Sounds of the Zoo; Brand Copeland, owner of the clothing store and creative music collective Grammotones; and Nicole Larae, founder of Dizzy Bird Records. 

Ralston Bowles (left) and John Sinkevics (right) deliver opening notes.

All coming from different backgrounds in the music industry, both on and off stage, the panelists shared a common conclusion: local music not only survives, but it thrives when creatives come together with a willingness to collaborate, especially in the post-COVID era, which had a devastating impact on many local music scenes nationwide. 

Other panels included “Help Us Help You”, focused on well-being and mental health as artists, and “The Business of Hip Hop”, which discussed the culture, economy, and evolution of the genre into what it is today. Workshops throughout the day gave attendees the opportunity to learn more about the Mechanical Licensing Collective (The MLC); Lutely, a direct-to-consumer music release and monetization platform; topics such as branding, marketing, and release strategy through sessions like “Things You Don’t Know (You Need to Know)”; and more.

Together, these events created diverse opportunities for professionals to learn about their interest areas, all while networking and even getting the chance to connect personally with specialists—panelists, MMA Board of Directors members, and other influential musicians—in mentor sessions throughout the day.

Originally founded by Monk Matthaeus, the event serves as a gathering space for music media professionals, artists, entrepreneurs, and others to network, learn more about different aspects of the industry, especially pertaining to building sustainable music careers. The keynote speech, “Making Your Mark in the Media Amid the Music World’s Mayhem & AI Madness”, featured John Sinkevics, editor and publisher of Local Spins, who was introduced by Appalachian artist Ralston Bowles of Earthwork Music.

Michigan Music Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to building a Michigan music scene that feels like a statewide community. Currently, the organization primarily hosts two yearly events, typically taking place between Grand Rapids and Detroit, to give artists and music business professionals opportunities to connect, learn, and grow within their craft and careers.

To learn more about the Econ Summit, find upcoming events, or learn how to get involved, visit the Michigan Music Alliance website.