Defcon is the largest hacking and security conference held annually in Las Vegas since 1993. Teams of developers and designers dive deeper into the aviation industry’s challenges at IATA’s (the International Air Transport Association’s) hackatons. The health community boasts a few events focused on creating ground-breaking solutions in medicine.

Innovative technology is tried and tested at conferences and special gatherings of the music business, too. Very few of them are specifically dedicated to that topic, however.

Enter ‘Hack the Pack’ – a game-changing hackathon from Australia that has the potential to shape the future of independent music

PART 199 OF “AM I EVER GONNA SEE YOUR FACE AGAIN?” A RANDOM COLLECTION OF UNKNOWINGLY OBVIOUS FACTS ABOUT AUSTRALIAN MUSIC SCENE

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‘Hack the Pack’ is an event organised by The Pack Music Co-Op – a sustainable music streaming service in development, consisting of a web-based platform and mobile app. Unlike other platforms of this kind, it is meant to enable Australian businesses that play recorded music on their premises to stream local, original music directly to their location.

Established in Perth by two female musos, it leverages the power of community, creating a model where artists are valued content creators, users and beneficiaries. Instead of treating music as a tradable commodity or economic product, The Pack promises to challenge the “uneven playing field where independent musicians struggle to gain visibility and fair compensation.” The goal is to ensure that “every stream matters and every artist gets paid fairly.”

If that still doesn’t convince you why this revolutionary concept should be on your radar, here are six more reasons.

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A post shared by The Pack Music Co-operative (@thepackmusiccoop)

Among the many activities The Pack runs to fundraise for their project is ‘Hack the Pack!’.

The inaugural hackathon is also designed to help get new supporters on board. Participants will have a unique opportunity to to tackle real-world challenges facing independent artists, collaborate with some of the brightest minds across industries, learn from industry experts and mentors, and network with like-minded changemakers, passionate about creating a better music ecosystem. All that in good company, with pizza and beer.

Despite the name, the event is open to different parties that make up the industry. Music lovers, artists, media, creators, marketing experts, tech enthusiasts, passionate activists, innovators, and other industry professionals all have something to look forward to because the day will be split into three different segments:

• Hack the Tech: Developers and coders will help build The Pack streaming platform, making a tangible impact with their skills.

• Hack the Algorithm: Marketers, storytellers, and communicators will work on The Pack branding, developing viral social media and traditional marketing campaigns engaging the key sectors – musicians (to build membership and invite music contributions), businesses (to invite membership and support), and donors/sponsors (to raise funds and drive our fundraising campaign).

• Hack the Industry: Advocates, disruptors and activists will help engage the Australian government and major industry players, working on impactful strategies and building an ambassador network of influential music industry reps to grow The Pack’s visibility and fundraising campaign.

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A post shared by The Pack Music Co-operative (@thepackmusiccoop)

The day wouldn’t be complete without some music, though. To finish it on a high note, a Pack Patron’s Karaoke Night is planned.

It will be hosted by the legendary MC Magnus Danger Magnus who will definitely bring his larger-than-life energy, humour, and flair to the mic. No singing skills are required, but a dash of a sense of humour surely is. This musical afterparty is a chance to show off vocal talents and let loose after a busy day revolutionising the music industry. And did I mention there will even be prizes for the best performances of the night?

I’ve saved the best part for last. Participation in the hackathon is free of charge. If you want to, you can donate to The Pack when registering for tickets, though. They’re still available on the Humanitix platform.

So if you’re passionate about music, tech, media, marketing, or advocacy, there’s no better chance to make a real impact in the independent music world. Send some footage if you make it to Perth!

_{Cover image from The Pack’s socials}

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Event info:

‘Hack the Pack!’ Hackathon

Saturday, October 5th, 10 AM – 6 PM (with the Karaoke starting right after)

Claisebrook Design Community, 25 Gladstone St, Perth WA 6000, Australia (map here)

Tickets here

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