Over 700 artists, producers, engineers and innovators came together at The Midway SF for a record-breaking two-day celebration of music creation, technology and culture. With over 25 sessions, more than 40 speakers and 30 brand showcases, Music Expo 25 marked the organisation's most ambitious and best-attended event in years, cementing its role as a vital hub for the Bay Area’s creative music scene.
Programming
Highlights from Music Expo 25’s packed programming schedule include:
- Oak Felder (Grammy-winning producer and songwriter) and Khris Riddick-Tynes, fresh off Khelani’s chart-topping Folded, closed Day 1 with a powerful keynote on the realities of songwriting, production and sustaining creative excellence.
- DECAP, creator of Drums That Knock, led a high-energy fireside chat about beat making and business that merged music with mindset and movement: “I protect my state of mind above everything because it shapes the music, the business and the life I’m building. When I’m clear, I can create with intention. When I’m scattered, nothing moves. Showing up every day starts with showing up for yourself first.”
- Linney captivated a packed songwriting crowd with her signature session, bringing a powerful blend of artistry and industry insight in her talk, Finding the ‘Extra’ in the ‘Ordinary’, which guided attendees through hands-on creativity exercises using just a pen and paper.
- Chrissy Tignor led two of the weekend’s most talked-about labs. Her Intuitive Creativity in Music Production encouraged risk-taking and workflow fluidity, while Sound Design on Synthesizers — powered by Sequential — offered hands-on experimentation with 10 brand-new Fourm synths.
- JVNA broke down one of her cinematic tracks live, revealing how to blend emotion and technical precision for dramatic impact.
- The Recording Academy’s P&E Wing Panel — featuring Sarah Jones, Tony Brooke, Jessica Thompson and Anna Frick — sparked meaningful dialogue around credit tracking, ethics and mastering.
- MPE and the Future of Keyboard Performance, hosted by Sam Gutman and ROLI, explored how MIDI Polyphonic Expression is redefining expressive live play and studio composition.
- Immersive Audio Workshop, powered by ADAM Audio and Focusrite, brought together Count, Michael Romanowski, Natalie Bibby, Marcela Rada, Matt Boudreau and many other audio engineers for a deep dive into spatial audio, restoration and cutting-edge mastering.
- AI in Music Creation dominated multiple sessions, with panelists and creators debating tools for assisted composition and mastering alongside the ethical edges of AI’s rapid rise.
Exhibitors, Sponsors & Networking
Over 30 music brands and Bay Area organisations were present, filling the exhibition hall with demos, product testing and a chance for one-on-one meetings between creators and industry brands. The Focusrite Group — including Focusrite, Novation, ADAM Audio, Sequential and Oberheim — returned as Title Sponsor, with their immersive audio lab becoming a favourite among attendees.
“Focusrite Group was thrilled to be back as Music Expo’s Title Sponsor. Across two action-packed days, we connected with passionate creators who were eager to explore our latest audio solutions. Our synthesis workshop with the new Sequential Fourm synth was a clear highlight, and we loved hearing how our products are showing up in people’s real-world workflows. It was an inspiring, high-energy event from start to finish.” - Hannah Bliss, VP of Marketing for Focusrite Group Americas
Attendees spanned all backgrounds and experience levels, creating an inclusive, high-vibe environment. Many have said that the event felt like a reunion, and offered a great opportunity to reconnect after the pandemic and celebrate everything that binds the music community together.. The weekend closed with $10,000 in gear giveaways and a packed final celebration, underscoring Music Expo’s commitment to access and community impact.
“The energy was electric from the moment you walked in, through the halls, into all of the rooms big and small. It was filled with passionate creatives ranging from DJs, producers to songwriters, ready to soak it all up, connect, create magic and be a part of an inclusive community. Everyone is excited to come back next year to say the least, and I know they’ll be spreading the word around!” - Elaine Huang, Founder, Neon Owl & Open Door Sessions
Music Expo 25 — By The Numbers
- 700+ attendees across two days.
- 54.4% Gen Z (18–34 years old).
- 65% spend $500+ annually on music gear, software and education
- 40,000 square feet of workshops, panels, exhibitions and networking.
- 25+ sessions featuring 40+ award-winning artists and producers.
- 30+ music brands and SF-based organisations.
