SPEAKER: GERD LEONHARD

Digital Content, Media and the Future

As the Co-Author of the acclaimed book "The Future of Music" (2005, Berklee Press), Gerd Leonhard is deeply immersed in the digital media and entertainment space and is internationally known as a visionary and eye-opening speaker and presenter. His upcoming book is entitled “Feels Like Free – Stories from the Future of Media”; due for publication in late 2006.

Gerd Leonhard speaks on the Future of Content, Music, Media and Entertainment and has an unrivalled grasp of the subject. He is well versed in a wide range of technological, business, legal, social and cultural issues, and has a gift for quickly addressing the core issues that face his audiences. A widely quoted and respected digital media expert, visionary and provocative yet engaging speaker, Gerd quickly brings the future into a clear perspective and delivers powerful and valuable insights that create immediate benefits for his audience.

Digital technologies and the ‘Attention Economy’ is changing every business, every process, and most ways how people communicate, and create or consume media ‘content’. Gerd focuses on these subjects, shows the trends and patterns, outlines possibilities and opportunities, and gets his audience to truly embrace change.

Based in Basel, Switzerland, Gerd has spent over twenty years in new technology and entertainment, both in the U.S. as well as in Europe. In 2005, Gerd co-authored the critically acclaimed book "The Future of Music" and he now frequently lectures at tradeshows, conferences, think-tanks and leading events world-wide, as well as on podcasts and net-forums. Gerd experienced the .com boom years as Founder/CEO of LicenseMusic.com, Inc. in San Francisco, revolutionising the process of music licensing and introducing E-Commerce into B2B processes for labels and publishers. He now is the Founder/CEO of a strategic advisory agency based in Switzerland and San Francisco. Gerd is also Founder and Chairman of the annual “Digital Media Futures” event and works with many cutting-edge start-ups and new ventures in the entertainment and technology industries worldwide, as well as with investors and venture capital companies.

He has spoken at countless international digital media conferences, including the European Broadcasting Union, MIDEM, MIPCOM, Digital Hollywood, Mobile Music, Total Telecom, and Euroforum, He is frequently quoted by Wired magazine, the BBC, NBC, Billboard, Hollywood Reporter. Music Week, Handelsblatt, and many others. He is an Advisory Board Member, University of Westminster, Music Business Program, and is a former expert adviser to the European Commission (Arts, Education, Training)

In today's industry, the perception is one of uncertainty ... Gerd is the music industry crystal ball gazer, whose perception of our future is mind blowing and accurate." - Keith Mullin, Liverpool Institute for the Performing Arts,.

"Gerd is brilliant at getting the context right, in a world that is overflowing with a variety of content. His views on the future of copyright, music and film distribution and the media in general always open eyes and ears. Sign him up for your conference and you'll definitely get a wealth of ideas!" Jonathan Marks, Broadcast Industry Consultant, Amsterdam, NL

"What a performance! Your presentation was one of the most persuasive I have yet seen about the benefits of relaxing our approach to the digital media world." Alison Winham, CEO, AIM, UK.

"Gerd is one of the few people who is able to see clearly beyond the current state of the music industry, experiments in digital music business and squabbling over copyright issues." Bill Rosenblatt, President, Giant Steps Media Technology Strategies.