On April 26, the Recording Academy's Chicago Chapter, GRAMMY U members, and industry insiders gathered on Chicago’s northwest side for the city’s first-ever Creators Summit.
Chicago, a living archive of American musical innovation, has long been a birthplace and incubator for sounds like urban blues, house music, and drill rap — and it continues to nurture celebrated jazz, rock, and hip-hop artists, from The Smashing Pumpkins to Chance the Rapper. There is no shortage of passion or artistry in the city, which is what the Creators Summit aimed to cultivate.
The Creators Summit tapped into this rich musical legacy to deliver a day of career-building conversations, masterclasses, and mentorship aimed at helping today’s creatives flourish digitally, physically, and mentally. After opening remarks from Chicago Chapter Executive Director Sarah Jansen and contributing Board Members, the day kicked off with a session on Music Tech for Artist Growth featuring Audiomack’s Brian Zisook and Kenjrick Watson of Eventnoire.
Participants then split into breakout workshops, choosing between intimate sessions on AI protections for artists and composing for film. After reconvening for a discussion on the importance of wellness in sustaining creative careers, the afternoon continued with another set of workshops focused on sync licensing and media training.
The day wrapped with an unfiltered conversation between Saba, Chicago’s own acclaimed rapper and producer, and journalist Andrew Barber on grassroots fanbuilding and artistic growth, followed by a networking mixer for Recording Academy and GRAMMY U members to connect with peers and panelists alike.
From unlocking online visibility to navigating the evolving legal landscape, the Summit armed artists with practical tools and inspiration. If you couldn’t attend or want to revisit some of the day’s biggest lessons, here are five key takeaways from the 2025 Chicago Chapter Creators Summit.
Adopting The Right Technology And Branding Is Vital To Online Visibility
Chris Classick, Brian Zisook, and Kenjrick Watson. Photo: Jeff Schear/Getty Images for the Recording Academy
With new technologies rapidly reshaping the industry, it's vital for artists to interact thoughtfully with digital platforms and branding tools. During “Plugged In: Music Tech for Artist Growth” Brian Zisook, EVP of Operations at music streaming platform Audiomack, and Kenjrick Watson, Brand Partnerships and Community Lead at event and media platform Eventnoire, joined Chris Classick, founder of Chicago’s Classick Studios, to break it down. The trio explored strategies for branding, visibility, and leveraging music growth platforms to connect with fans more genuinely and effectively.
On social media, Watson highlighted the importance of storytelling and consistency, not just in music but across all posts, profiles, and content. Every video and image, he explained, should reinforce an artist's identity. Watson underscored that profiles should always create “a clear connection between your social media and your music.”
Building on Watson’s perspective, Zisook provided a technical layer, highlighting the value of data-driven tools, artificial intelligence, algorithmic strategies, and metadata in artist discovery and identity. He pointed out that while many independent artists self-publish across platforms, it can be easy to skip crucial steps, like embedding metadata in recordings — a key factor in landing on DSPs and securing proper compensation.
Together, the insights offered a clear roadmap: creative consistency and strategic use of technology are vital to transforming clicks and likes into genuine connection and fan loyalty.
AI Isn’t A Lawless Land — New Legal Protections For Artists Are Emerging
Ugochi Nwaogwugwu. Photo: Jeff Schear/Getty Images for the Recording Academy
As AI technology rapidly evolves, many artists have questions about protecting their intellectual property and creative rights. The workshop “Artist Protections in the Age of AI,” led by entertainment attorney Jeff Becker and musician-poet Ugochi Nwaogwugwu — both Recording Academy Chicago Chapter board members — offered much needed clarity and guidance.
Becker and Nwaogwugwu shared an open dialogue on federal initiatives, like the NO FAKES Act, are being introduced to safeguard musicians from unauthorized use of their name, image, and likeness by AI-generated deepfakes. On the state level, Becker spotlighted the Chicago Chapter’s role in helping pass Illinois' Publicity Act-Use of AI. “We had talent lawyers, musicians, and lawmakers sitting side by side in Springfield, all aligned on one thing: protecting the rights of creators in the age of AI,” Becker shared.
Nwaogwugwu offered an artist's perspective on how AI imitation affects the authenticity of creative expression — and, at times, even the ability to copyright music and be fairly compensated.
Both panelists encouraged the audience to stay engaged, use their voices, and urge local and state legislators to support bills that ensure human creativity is prioritized over AI. Nwaogwugwu closed the workshop with a powerful reminder that “Our voices matter as much as our music.”
Sustainable Creative Success Begins With Wellness
Melody Angel, Tatiana Lane, Tita Arroyo, and Jessica Fenner. Photo: Jeff Schear/Getty Images for the Recording Academy
“Staying in Tune: Mind, Body, & Music” brought together wellness coach Tita Arroyo, musician and sobriety advocate Jessica Fenner, mental health professional and artist Tatiana Lane, and blues-rock musician Melody Angel, who moderated the discussion. Together, they explored how physical, psychological, and emotional health directly impact creativity and longevity in the music industry.
Each panelist brought to light the tangible effects of inner conflict and emotional pressures that are easy to write off (burnout, health issues, strained relationships), and the ways in which these physical markers can disrupt one’s craft and continuity.
The panelists emphasized that wellness isn’t a peripheral concern — it’s central to sustaining artistic expression. Arroyo spoke to the importance of recognizing physical signs of stress and emotional strain before they escalate. Lane, drawing from her work with Mental Health Meets Hip Hop, discussed how unmanaged stress can disrupt creative flow and recommended connecting with therapists and wellness professionals as part of a proactive practice.
Continuing to break the stigma around addiction, Fenner shared her journey with sobriety and the power she found in vulnerability. She opened up and mentioned that “Destigmatizing that sort of conversation became a part of me that people connected with.”
Throughout this candid discussion, Angel reminded the audience that speaking up and asking for help is not just beneficial — it’s essential to long-term creative success.
Sync Success Doesn’t Require A Hit Single
Celia Rose. Photo: Jeff Schear/Getty Images for the Recording Academy
In a solo workshop session, Celia Rose, co-founder of What Up Pitches — a woman-owned music licensing agency — demystified sync licensing for independent artists. By walking attendees through how music placements actually happen, she shed light on what agencies and companies are looking for when selecting music for TV, film, ads, and media.
For artists without label backing, sync opportunities have never been more accessible — or lucrative. Recent industry data shows that sync placements have become a progressively notable division of music publishing revenue, with synchronization royalties rising nearly 30% in the first half of 2022 compared to 2021. While some might assume that only hit singles or major-label artists are landing these deals, Rose made it clear that's not the case.
She outlined what music supervisors look for: relatable lyrics, production that matches the emotion of the scene, and universal themes that elevate storytelling. Rose also noted that with streaming's expansion, demand for a wide spectrum of genres — from folk to rock to hip-hop — has grown. To help artists break into the competitive sync market, Rose offered actionable advice: “Registering with PRO’s (Performing Rights Organizations), making clean versions of your music, and building relationships with agencies helps your work stand out in this competitive market.”
Grassroots Fan Engagement Is The Foundation For Growth
Andrew Barber and Saba. Photo: Jeff Schear/Getty Images for the Recording Academy
The final session, “First 100 Fans” was moderated by journalist and Fake Shore Drive hip-hop blog founder, Andrew Barber, took a deep dive into the early career of Saba — Chicago rapper, producer, and Pivot Gang co-founder. A third-generation musician, Saba began producing music at age nine and performing at open mics after graduating high school at just 16. Long before major headline tours, awards, and chart placements, there were house shows, basements, and $50 gigs.
With Barber, Saba reflected on how he built his first core audience of 100 fans and what it really means to foster a fanbase from the ground up. His first fans weren’t just anonymous followers online — they were classmates, neighbors, and fellow musicians. “A lot of that first fanbase was building a community rather than a fanbase,” he said. Early connections were grounded in mutual trust, shared spaces like his grandmother's basement studio and a sense of collective growth.
Saba encouraged artists to pay attention to the people “that listen a little differently”— those who believe in the artist’s style, sound, and potential.
At its heart, the conversation made clear: fanbases don’t just start as numbers — they start as the few people who show up, as your community. For Saba, staying rooted in one’s creative vision, even when it's uncomfortable, is key. “In this field, it’s not pass or fail,” he affirmed. "It’s all about conviction."