Elizabeth Cawein is a music advocate and strategist. She founded Signal Flow Public Relations, a boutique media firm dedicated to serving the Memphis music industry, in 2011. In 2015, she launched a not-for-profit initiative called Music Export Memphis, which 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. In January of 2019 she joined strategic consultancy Sound Diplomacy to continue her work in music strategy and advocacy. Elizabeth is an adjunct professor of music urbanism at Rhodes College and a faculty adviser to the Curb Institute for Music. In 2015 she was honored by the British Council at its inaugural Education UK Alumni Awards, celebrating outstanding U.S. alumni of British institutions. Elizabeth has moderated panels and presented showcases at Folk Alliance International, SXSW, A3C, AmericanaFest, Canadian Music Week and Music Cities Convention, and in 2019 she keynoted the inaugural Texas Sounds and Cities conference. She serves as an Adviser on the Recording Academy Memphis Chapter Board 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
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)
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)
WATCH
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LISTEN
Music Export Memphis at AmericanaFest on Beale Street Caravan
Rock 103 Memphis Made interview with Elizabeth Cawein, Music Export Memphis Founder
Walkabout Radio Podcast: Music Export Expert with Elizabeth Cawein
Export Stories Podcast: Elizabeth Cawein: Opening the World to Contemporary Memphis Music
City Current Radio Show – Music Export Memphis
Detroit Sound Conservancy presents Sonic Solidarity feat. Elizabeth Cawein
Back to the Light podcast: Foundations with Elizabeth Cawein (Music Export Memphis)
The Daily Memphian Extra Podcast: How Memphis musicians are dealing with the coronavirus shutdown
The Levitt Shell Shellcast Season 1, Ep. 1: Elizabeth Cawein
READ
Changing the philanthropic approach to music: the magic is in the middle – Elizabeth via Medium
Elizabeth’s monthly playlist column – The Daily Memphian
40 Under 40: Music Export Memphis’ Elizabeth Cawein – Memphis Business Journal
Music Export Memphis to pilot Ambassador program – Memphis Business Journal
Exporting Memphis music – High Ground News
CONTACT