A Conference Hosted by The Fat Man
Developed by Avallone Media Group

The BBQ Topic for 2003:
INFLUENCING MUSIC HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE
OVER THE NEXT 5 YEARS

This October 16-19th, 50 of the brightest minds in the computer industry once again traded the comforts and chaos of corporate America to converge on a secluded 360-acre ranch in Texas to discuss, argue, debate, brainstorm and possibly alter the course of history for music on computers over the next five years.

The Eighth Annual Texas Interactive Music Conference and BBQ is a unique and highly effective way to confront the toughest issues facing our industry today and influence their outcome. It is one of the most prestigious, influential and beneficial networking events of the year. This unusual conference gathers the movers and shakers of the audio industry together for a long weekend of concentrated, uninterrupted discussions, debates, and roundtables, as well as speaker sessions with industry leaders.

Unlike conventional meetings, BBQ shuns neckties, company logos and fluorescent lights as detrimental to group thinking processes. BBQ uses natural catalysts to deepen and broaden thought. Attendees do their work under wide Texas skies. They sleep in cabins named for philosophers, are fed gourmet food, and given lots of equipment for making music and adequate structure for brainstorming.

BBQ has given the competitive edge to its attendees, who have formed alliances and organizations that have been long-standing:

--On more than one occasion, what appeared at first to be rifts in the industry became alliances at BBQ. Where there were two competing standards forming, BBQ attendees were able to either make plans to merge the two standards or create agreeable ways for developers and end-users to not have to support both standards.

--Several industry working groups of significant impact have been formed at BBQ, including the IA-SIG's Interactive XMF working group, 3D working group, Advanced Communications Riser working group, Audio Awareness working group, and Multiple Formats working group.  The industry has been tremendously advanced and improved over the years by the brilliant ideas and hard work of these groups.

--For its influence, BBQ has received letters of thanks from Microsoft, AMD, and Intel who make use of the group's input to create their own powerful audio standards such as Azalia, AC-97, and DirectMusic.

Project Bar-B-Q 2003 produced some of the most substantial work to date in areas that will benefit consumers, content creators, and manufacturers in the field of audio on computer-type devices. And, as always, the giant brain which is the collective knowledge and wisdom of the BBQ group generated solutions to problems in two days that might not be solved in any amount of time outside of the amazing and cooperative spirit of this conference.

EXECUTIVE CHAIR:
George Sanger;
The Fat Man

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:
Teresa Avallone;
CEO
Avallone Media Group

David Battino;
Principal
Batmosphere Media

Chris Grigg;
CTO
Control-G

Linda Law;
Vice President
Fat Labs, Inc.

Tom White; 
President
MIDI Manufacturer's Assoc.

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select a section:
1. Introduction  2. Speakers  3. Executive Summary  
4. IXMF Rollout Outline
5. What Is Interactive Audio? And What Should It Be?
6. Creating a Win-Win-Win-Win-Win-Win Scenario for DRM
7. nASCAP - Stock Market in Media Rights
8. Quality Audio Applications in the Interactive Entertainment Industry
9. Schedule & Sponsors