Hawaiʻi music immersive program on Big Island seeking singer-songwriters

The 2024 Creative Lab Hawai‘i Music Immersive program will open the application process on Nov. 1 for singer-songwriters who are seeking opportunities to license their works for global media and entertainment content.

Creative Lab Hawai‘i was created by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism to accelerate growth and develop new business opportunities for Hawai‘i’s creative entrepreneurs.

At the immersive, week-long program — which will run Feb. 6 to 10 on the Big Island — select singer-songwriters will be partnered with top entertainment industry leaders and music producers to collaborate on compositions for licensing in specific television, film, advertising and new media projects.

These unique collaborative opportunities will provide local musicians access to national industry insiders in the business of music synchronization licensing. Also known as sync licensing, this type of music license can be granted by the copyright holder of a composition to allow a licensee to synchronize, or sync, music with various types of visual media.

Applications will be accepted from Nov. 1 through Dec. 1, 2023.

“The industry business opportunities offered by [the immersive music program] for Hawaiʻi songwriters and artists are key to building a resilient creative economy for our state,” said James Kunane Tokioka, director of the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism in a press release.

Under the direction of Grammy and Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award recipient Charles M. Brotman, the program provides Hawai‘i music creators with the opportunity to co-write and produce for projects working alongside world-class music supervisors, producers, songwriters and executives.

Up to 12 applicants will be selected to participate in the 2024 program, based on an evaluation process by a panel of industry experts.

“This program provides the mentoring and business access opportunities that have launched the careers of many local music creators,” Brotman said.

Georja Skinner, chief officer of the state Creative Industries Division and founder of Creative Lab Hawaiʻi, said: “By cultivating industry know-how to compose and license original songs for global film, TV, streaming or advertising, participants are able to expand revenue channels for their talents.”

To request an application, send an email with the word “Application” in the subject header directly to Charles Brotman at charlesbrotman@gmail.com.

All applications and materials must be submitted in PDF form to charlesbrotman@gmail.com no later than Dec. 1, 2023.