Elizabeth Cawein | Signal Flow PR

Elizabeth Cawein is a music advocate and strategist. After 10 years in music publicity – with her firm Signal Flow, serving roots and Americana musicians primarily in Memphis – she now helms Music Export Memphis, a nonprofit she founded in 2016 that leverages public and private support to function as an export office for Memphis music, creating opportunities for musicians and driving economic development through music and culture. On the momentum of the catalytic growth the organization experienced during the pandemic – distributing more than $450,000 in direct relief to musicians and industry professionals – MEM is on pace to hit $1 million paid out to Memphis artists in 2024. Built on the theory of change that musicians make cities better and should be subsidized as cultural assets, the work of MEM connects directly to Elizabeth’s academic interests: she is currently pursuing a PhD in the School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Memphis, focusing on the experiences of working class musicians in non-industry urban centers. She has also previously worked for international strategic consultancy Sound Diplomacy, leading its expansion in to the U.S. market, and is an adjunct professor of music urbanism at Rhodes College and a faculty adviser to the Curb Institute for Music. Elizabeth serves on the board of directors for Folk Alliance Internaitonal, is a past board member for the Memphis Chapter of the Recording Academy and hosts Straight from the Source, a weekly all-Memphis-music program, on WYXR 91.7FM. Elizabeth is dedicated to the belief that smart cities are music cities – her TED Talk on the subject has 1 million views and climbing.

CONSULTING

Huntsville Music Ambassador Program design and development, 2023

Read about the program: Huntsville Music Office

Huntsville Music Officer announces program to help local musicians with funds | Huntsville News19

CREDITS

SXSW INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL & CONFERENCE
Mentor, music publicity and export strategy (2018-19)
Moderator, Beyond Live Music: Music’s Role in City Plans, Growth & Jobs (2019)
Panelist, The Future of Music Export, hosted by the European Union (2019)
Producer, The Memphis Picnic at Brush Square Park (2017)
Curator and moderator, How to Get Heard When No One’s Heard of You (2016)
Curator and moderator, Beyond 101: Bootstrapping Strategies for Music Entrepreneurs (2015)

FOLK ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL
Moderator, Touring the U.S. and Canada (2024)
Panelist, I’ll Take You There: Music Making in Memphis Now (2023)
Panelist, Redefining Success: Creatives at the Crossroads of Community, Commerce, and Cultural Change (2023)
Producer, MEM Presents The Folk Fiesta (2020-present)
Panelist, Creative Placemaking (2020)
Moderator, Modern Day Activism (2018)
Producer, Signal Flow & Bruce Newman Present: The Folk Fiesta three-night showcase (2016)
Producer, Signal Flow Presents: Sounds of Memphis three-night showcase (2015)

AMERICANA MUSIC ASSOCIATION AMERICANAFEST
Panelist, Why Governments Should Invest in Music (2023)
Producer, The Pure Memphis Happy Hour (2016 – present)
Panelist, What are Music Cities? (2021)
Panelist, Regional Music Offices (2017)

MUSIC CITIES EVENTS
Panelist, Your City Is Unique: Your Music Strategy Should Be Too (2022)
Moderator, The Role of Music in Tourism & Economic Development, Music Cities Forum Indianapolis (2018)
Local event producer and project manager, Music Cities Convention Memphis (2017)
Panelist, Making The Most of Your Music Attractions, Music Tourism Convention Franklin (2015)

ALASKA INDEPENDENT MUSIC SUMMIT
Keynote speaker, Music export strategy (2024)

TEXAS SOUNDS & CITIES CONFERENCE
Keynote speaker, Building a Thriving Music Scene in Your City (2019)

CANADIAN MUSIC WEEK
Panelist, From Scratch: Imagining and Implementing New Programs and Partnerships (2018)