Recording Connection at The 2023 NAMM Show

Whether you’re a beginner or professional, The NAMM Show brings the latest and greatest from all corners of music tech together for one unforgettable event. Attendees can expect to interact and network with industry experts and stars, hear the newest sounds released by makers in the space, and capture those viral TikTok videos that everyone will be talking about.

This year, Recording Connection will be presenting a panel discussion called “How to Stay Out Of Soul Crushing Debt and Get a Career in Audio that Doesn’t Suck.” Panelists include:

Jen Pyken – Music Supervisor

An award-winning music supervisor for her work on This is Us, Pyken has been a part of several celebrated TV shows and movies. She was nominated for an Outstanding Music Supervision Emmy and won a Best Music Supervision for Television Drama Guild of Music Supervisors Award for her work on the NBC hit.

Pyken, with experience in Music Publishing, Music Licensing, Film, Songwriting, and more, has hundreds of TV episodes to her credit. She was the music supervisor on 89 episodes of Las Vegas and other TV credits include The Way Home, Workaholics, Fantasy Island (2021), One Tree Hill, Lost, Alias, and more. She also worked on Reservoir Dogs, Reality Bites, Walt Disney’s Tarzan, To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar, and more.

F. Reid Shippen – Mixing Engineer/Producer

F. Reid Shippen is a New Jersey-born, Nashville-based, highly motivated, completely caffeinated, multiple award-winning producer/engineer who has worked with Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Carey Underwood, Toby Keith, Brad Paisley, and many more. He has helped make countless chart-topping hits become household favorites.

His extensive experience and expertise have resulted in multiple platinum and gold records, hundreds of charting singles and albums, and numerous awards recognizing his skill. He has mixed nine Grammy-award-winning albums over a variety of genres, including CeCe Winans (CeCe Winans), Voyage to India (India.Arie), Wherever You Are (Third Day), and others. Shippen was twice named the Audio Engineer of the Year by the Academy of Country Music.

Francesco Benvenuto – Recording/Mixing Engineer/Music Producer/Educator

Francesco Benvenuto is an impressive figure in the music industry. His expertise ranges across the board, from old-school analog to new-school digital. As a senior engineer at the multi-million-dollar Luminous Sound Studio, he engineers albums and teaches aspiring audio engineers. He also has a number of collaborations closely tied to major labels, such as Warner, Universal, and Sony Music.

In addition to his credentials with these studios, Benvenuto’s credits have appeared on several Latin Grammy-winning albums and nominated records. This expert knows what he’s doing when it comes to producing quality records and providing invaluable insight into the field.

Tim Palmer – Music Producer/Mixer/Songwriter/Musician

A Grammy-nominated music producer and mixer, Palmer has worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry: David Bowie, Pearl Jam, Tears for Fears, Ozzy, U2, Robert Plant, and others. Palmer has worked on albums that have reached top-ten status in the UK for five decades.

Palmer is an active voice in the music industry, being a long-standing board member of The Recording Academy/Grammys in Texas as well as two terms as a National Trustee. Palmer is passionate about promoting music as art: by putting his energy into organizations such as the Austin-based non-profit ‘Black Fret’. He has actively supported this initiative since its inception, which centers around granting funding to upcoming local artists.

Sam Zulfer – Music Producer/Audio Engineer, Recording Connection Academic Facilitator

Since the age of 16, Zulfer has been perfecting his craft both in recording and mixing, as well as expanding his knowledge and use of mics. His success as an electronic music producer has seen him collaborate with several DJ/Producers in Chicago who have gone on to perform at renowned festivals such as EDC Las Vegas, Spring Awakening Music Festival, and Ultra Miami.

For those times when he’s not creating his own unique music under the moniker BigSammyZ, Sam dedicates himself to helping aspiring producers by providing them with practical skills and industry insight in his role as a Recording Connection Academic Facilitator. It is clear that Sam is passionate about sharing his knowledge and experience to help the next generation reach their creative potential.

With over 150 live concerts across the show, there’s no other experience quite like it. See what this four-day extravaganza has in store for you. This isn’t a trade show, it’s a NAMM show!

More About NAMM

The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) is a non-profit organization that works to build the music products industry. It provides resources and advocacy for its members, including retailers, suppliers, manufacturers, and other professionals in the music products industry. NAMM also strives to promote a healthy music economy by providing educational opportunities and best business practices.

In addition to its work as an advocate for the music products industry, NAMM organizes an annual event called NAMM Show. The event brings together tens of thousands of people worldwide who are passionate about making, buying, selling, and learning about musical instruments and related products.

Attendees include retailers, manufacturers, distributors, artists, educators, and students all sharing their love of music. At the NAMM Show, attendees can experience product launches, business seminars, performances, and workshops with artists and industry experts.

By connecting people from around the world in one place, the NAMM Show is an opportunity to build relationships and drive innovation in music-making. It also allows members of the music products industry to network and gain insight from each other on trends and best practices in the business. The event has become an important part of the music products industry’s annual calendar that helps to create strong ties across multiple segments within the industry.

NAMM’s commitment to supporting and promoting a healthy music economy makes it an invaluable asset for those working in the industry or interested in this field. Through its advocacy efforts, educational offerings, and annual NAMM Show, the organization provides a platform for innovation, collaboration, and growth in the music products industry.