Meet the third batch of speakers announced for the Fayetteville, AR, Music Cities Convention 2025
- Music Cities Events
- Aug 7
- 4 min read
A landmark moment in music policy and urban innovation is here! The 10th anniversary of the Music Cities Convention takes place in Fayetteville, Arkansas, from September 16–18, 2025—set to be our most impactful edition yet.
Hosted in this lively college town—renowned for its musical roots and the historic George’s Majestic Lounge (est. 1927)—the convention will unite global pioneers and local changemakers. From visionary CEOs and cultural strategists to accessibility advocates and AI innovators, this year’s speakers are all driven by one mission: harnessing music to create stronger, more inclusive cities.
As the countdown continues, we’re thrilled to reveal the third wave of speakers for Fayetteville, AR—a dynamic group of North and South Americans leaders bridging music, urban development, and cultural policy, with perspectives from across the Atlantic.
Join us in Fayetteville for three inspiring days of networking, collaboration, and fresh ideas on what it means to be a Music City in 2025 and beyond.
Codie Gopher (USA) – @seventwocodie
President, Meridian Media
Codie Gopher is an independent researcher of modern culture based in his hometown of Huntsville, Alabama. With over 20 years of experience in the music creative zone, Codie is working to bridge the gaps economically, as well as with sustainable opportunities for his community, to enhance the quality of life for the next generations of creators.
Mayor Molly Rawn (USA) – @mayormollyrawn
Mayor, Fayetteville, Arkansas
Molly Rawn is the Mayor of Fayetteville, Arkansas, and the first woman elected to the office. With a background in tourism, fundraising, and community development, she is known for uniting stakeholders and turning vision into action. As mayor, she focuses on collaboration, transparency, and resident engagement to guide Fayetteville’s growth. Previously, she led Experience Fayetteville, boosting tourism and major events, and directed projects like the Scott Family Amazeum. Raised in Paragould and Little Rock, she has called Fayetteville home since attending the University of Arkansas, where she built her deep ties to the community.
Stephen Reily (USA) – @stephenreily
Founding Director, Remuseum
Stephen Reily is the Founding Director of Remuseum, a think tank focused on issues of relevance, financial sustainability and governance in American art museums. Inspired and supported by arts patrons David Booth and Alice Walton, Remuseum is housed at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, with additional support from the Ford Foundation and DRK Foundation. Stephen is an attorney and entrepreneur who also served as a high-impact director of Louisville’s Speed Art Museum from 2017-2021.
María Claudia Parias (COL) – @mariaclaudiaparias
General Director, Idartes
With a Master's Degree in Cultural Management, she stands out as a leader in the cultural field in Colombia. Since 2024, she serves as General Director of the Arts Institute of Bogota (Idartes). She has held different management positions, including the Presidency of Batuta, Directorate of Regional Promotion of the Ministry of Culture, General Management of the Bogotá Philharmonic Orchestra, Directorate of Cultural Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, among others.
Stephen Koch (USA) – @arkansongs
Journalist/host, Arkansongs
Stephen Koch is an award-winning journalist in broadcasting and print, and writer-host of “Arkansongs,” syndicated weekly on affiliates. His illustrations have toured in juried exhibitions; he’s performed originals and Arkansas songs at the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame and in the UK. An adjunct Arkansas Music professor at UA-Little Rock, he’s author of Louis Jordan: Son of Arkansas, Father of R&B and From Almeda To Zilphia: Arkansas Women Who Transformed American Popular Song.
Anita Dixon-Brown (USA) – @creativecitykc
Founder/Executive Director, Creative City KC
Anita Dixon-Brown is the Executive Director of Creative City KC, the focal point of the 1st UNESCO Creative City of Music in the U.S. She has spent almost 40 years in the development of culture and tourism and personally authored the UNESCO Music designation in 2017.
Sabina Cheng (USA) – @rios.imagines
Studio Director, RIOS
Sabina is a Studio Director at RIOS, an international transdisciplinary design firm based in Los Angeles. She is an architect adept at designing high-performance places centered around culture and history to create lively public destinations. Sabina excels at solving issues and organizing chaos by combing systems into strategic and environmentally impactful designs that help people connect and create enhanced experiences.
Katy Henriksen (USA) – @katyhenriksen
Founding Director, Trillium Salon Series
Katy Henriksen is the founding director of Trillium Salon Series, a nonprofit that redefines the live music experience to invite connection and build community. While at KUAF 91.3 NPR, she hosted the daily classical music and arts show Of Note with Katy Henriksen. As a publicist at Riot Act Media, she’s landed coverage at Bandcamp Daily, NPR and Pitchfork. She currently serves as features editor at The Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Her podcast Sound Off is now in its third season.
Kinya Christian (USA) – @kinyachristian
Arts and Culture Manager, City of Rogers
Over the course of 30 years, her branding work and fine art have been featured on HGTV, in public installations, murals, and private collections. As the Arts & Culture Manager for the City of Rogers, she focuses on programming live music, public art, and film, cultivating third spaces, and building policies that support arts and culture in Rogers. She currently serves on the Arkansas Committee for the National Museum of Women in the Arts and as an advisor to the Rogers Short Film Festival board of directors.
Join global leaders in music, culture, and urban development at the 10th anniversary of the Music Cities Convention. Be part of shaping the future of thriving, music-powered cities—secure your spot now!
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