The IMSTA FESTA Career Forum will be held from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. This forum provides attendees the chance to engage one-on-one with music industry experts, explore a wide range of music-related career paths, and gain insights into the journeys and successes of seasoned professionals. It’s also a fantastic networking opportunity, allowing participants to make meaningful connections within the music industry.

Presenter: An industry veteran, Jim Norris taught General Marketing and Entertainment Marketing at Metalworks Institute, taught Entertainment Business courses at Mohawk College and has been a featured speaker at trade shows and conferences in Canada and the United States and online. He is a member of the American Marketing Association. a marketing consultant and a career coach.

Kevin Young is a keyboard player and writer who’s been working in the gig economy long before anyone called it that. Over 30+ years in the music business - as a keyboard player, recording artist, and inveterate contrarian - Kevin has written, recorded, and toured with Canadian Alt. Rock acts Moist and David Usher, among others. He’s also a freelance writer specializing in artist bios, personal/corporate profiles, and live and recording production technology features for a wide range of publications, equipment manufacturers, and music-related companies.

For the past 25+ years, Eric Alper has been at the forefront of the Canadian entertainment industry – making the Public in Public Relations his business. His enthusiasm, encyclopedic knowledge of the past and present have made him the go-to for music in Canada. He is also host of one of the top-rated SiriusXM shows “ThatEricAlper”. With over one million followers, friends and connections across his social media platforms, it’s clear to understand why he has been named a “must follow” by Billboard, Paste and National Post among others. He has been a 6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week and has overseen the publicity campaigns for over 155 JUNO Award nominated-albums (and 14 in 2023), including 43 JUNO Award, 58 Canadian Folk Music Award, and 126 Maple Blues Award-winning albums, and is also truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.

Melissa Johnston is a music business professional with over thirteen years of experience in music publishing, specializing in mechanical licensing and royalty processing. She joined the team at Metalworks Institute in 2019 as an instructor and has since taken on the role of Student Success Manager. After graduating from Durham College’s Entertainment Administration program in 2006, she began her career at CMRRA helping the industry make the transition from physical media to the age of streaming. At the CMRRA, Melissa was able to hone her skills in client management while growing and managing a team of people responsible for the accurate licensing and processing of royalties. Melissa quickly rose through the ranks at the CMRRA and dealt directly with the largest music publishers, major and independent record labels, while interacting with senior management and helping develop a new licensing platform. Melissa combines her passion for music with a deep understanding of the business side of the industry and the nuances of not only being successful in the industry, but how to navigate the many facets of the industry to thrive.