CREATIVE ACADIANA | The Changing Music Industry
Join Scott Durbin (Imagination Movers / Program Coordinator for Music Business @ UL) and Jonathan Shirley (LEED Center Program and Operations Manager) for a timely conversation on how the music industry is evolving—and what it means for artists right now.
Featuring a dynamic lineup of Louisiana-based musicians and industry leaders, this open panel invites the public to dig into the realities of building a music career in 2026. From the shifting value of touring to the growing role of AI in branding and production, panelists will share firsthand insights on the challenges and opportunities shaping today’s landscape.
Held during Festival International de Louisiane, this session offers a space to pause, cool down, and engage more deeply with the music community beyond the stage.
Admission includes all-day access to AcA’s galleries and facilities—stop in between festival sets to recharge, explore exhibitions, and be part of the conversation.
Meet the Panelists
Brandon “Mr. Phat” Nezey
Brandon “Mr. Phat” Nezey is a Lafayette-born producer, rapper, songwriter, and recording engineer who began making music at 15 under the mentorship of his father, gospel artist John Nezey. He built a strong regional reputation producing for Southern hip-hop artists like Pimp C, Scarface, Boosie, Kevin Gates, and Z-Ro, and rose to national prominence through his work on Cupid’s global hit “Cupid Shuffle.” A true multi-hyphenate, his career spans charting releases, film and TV placements (Jumping the Broom, The Chi, P-Valley), and even a Tony Award–nominated Broadway project, all while continuing to root his work in Louisiana’s musical culture.
Joel Savoy
Founder of the Louisiana-based label Valcour Records, Joel Savoy is a two-time GRAMMY-winning recording engineer and record producer as well as a ten-time GRAMMY nominee. He recently served as Artistic Director of the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes in Port Townsend, Washington, and as program manager for the National Council for Traditional Arts program National Treasures and he currently builds Cajun accordions under his father’s Acadian brand in Eunice. Joel is a versatile fiddler and guitarist and he has played and taught music around the world for over 25 years. He has worked with the best in southwest Louisiana and countless internationally acclaimed roots musicians, although most often he’s seen with his brother Wilson and their parents in the Savoy Family Cajun Band.
Kylie Gaspard
Kylie Gaspard is the frontman and songwriter for local Lafayette band Cashier. Sharing stages with genre titans like Dinosaur Jr., Whirr, Nothing, and Narrow Head, Cashier are building a reputation for a massive sound that resonates far beyond their bayou home. Early singles established the band’s ability to unite grunge, shoegaze, post-hardcore, and indie rock heads alike, lacing dissonance with undeniable melodic hooks. They have toured the country numerous times, spanning east and west coasts, all the way up to Canada and will be expanding to Europe later this year. Kylie is also the manager, social media manager, tour manager, and primary booker for her band, along with the many other roles that come with being DIY.
Tif ‘Teddy’ Lamson
Tif “Teddy” Lamson is a Louisiana-born multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, producer, and performer whose career spans international touring, studio work, and cross-genre collaboration. Raised in Lafayette, she got her start playing in her family’s church band before studying at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and immersing herself in the local music scene, where she co-founded the indie-rock band GIVERS and the Geronimo Festival. With GIVERS, she toured globally and performed on major stages including The Tonight Show and Jimmy Kimmel Live!. She has since built a dynamic career as a music director, session musician, and collaborator, working with artists such as Ani DiFranco, Peaches, and LCD Soundsystem, and serving as Music Director in Residence at the Music Box Village. Currently, she performs as drummer and backing vocalist for Shania Twain on international tours and residencies, while continuing to produce records and develop her own solo work from her home base in New Orleans.
Meet the Moderators
Jonathan Shirley
Jonathan Shirley is best known for co-teaching the Music Entrepreneurship course with Scott Durbin. Mostly kidding.
Jonathan Shirley leads with both head and heart, blending intellectual rigor with empathy and purpose to support innovation that matters. As Programs and Operations Manager at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s LEED Center (Louisiana Entrepreneurship & Economic Development Center), he helps students, faculty, and community partners bring ideas to life through entrepreneurial thinking, real-world application, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. His doctoral research focuses on transferable skills and entrepreneurship education, with a particular interest in integrating entrepreneurship into the realms of creativity and the arts. Jonathan’s work centers on the belief that entrepreneurship is not just about launching ventures, but about unlocking human potential—within universities and beyond. Whether mentoring student founders, guiding the development of innovation-based curriculum, or supporting pathways to commercialize university research, he brings clarity, care, and action-oriented strategy to the table. Jonathan teaches a variety of courses such as Entrepreneurship and Side Hustles, Music Entrepreneurship, and Music Business Strategy.
Scott Durbin
Scott Durbin is best known as a founding member of Imagination Movers, the globally recognized music group and Disney Channel series for which he served as co-executive producer, principal actor, and songwriter, earning an Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Song. For over two decades, he has toured internationally, released multiple albums, and achieved Billboard chart success, with recent highlights including the viral hit “Watermelon Meow Meow.” Alongside his entertainment career, Scott is an Assistant Professor and Coordinator of the Music Business program at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where he has received multiple teaching and service awards, and he continues to mentor emerging artists as an MLC Educator Ambassador and Grammy U Mentor.
