By Patrick Hedlund
DNAinfo News Editor
EAST VILLAGE — The New Music Seminar kicked off with an opening night reception Monday featuring a performance by hip-hop pioneers Naughty by Nature at Webster Hall.
The seminar, which seeks to help up-and-coming artists find success in the rapidly changing music business, runs through Wednesday and includes a series of workshops and mentoring sessions with industry leaders.
The event included performances and appearances by comedienne and actress Margaret Cho, influential producer Nile Rodgers and singer-songwriter Matt White.
But the evening got into full swing when Naughty by Nature took the stage for short set that included their hits “Hip-Hop Hooray” and “O.P.P.”
“You all got to really listen to what’s going on,” frontman Treach said of the seminar's importance. “It’s a new game.”
“We have to think out of the box, and that’s what the seminar’s about,” said Tom Silverman, founder of Tommy Boy Records, in an earlier interview with DNAinfo.
He first organized the event three decades ago as a way to confront changes in the music business, and relaunched the seminar last year to explore an industry landscape that now relies heavily on online marketing and distribution.
“There’s no problems," he added, "there’s only challenges."
