Industry Standard w/ Barry Katz

Josh Simons is the CEO and co-founder of Vampr, the world’s largest and most active social-professional network for musicians (often dubbed the “LinkedIn for creatives”). With over half a million users, and active in every country on the planet, the music startup has helped fledgling musicians broker over 5 million connections worldwide. Vampr offers a free solution for young musicians, built by a sympathetic founding team of established musicians with Josh’s co-founder, Baz Palmer, best known as the lead guitarist for seminal hall-of-fame rock band, Hunters & Collectors. Simons has grown Vampr into a multi-award winning platform, including a most prestigious nod from Apple with an inclusion in their Best of the Year list. Prior to running Vampr, Josh Simons spent the better part of a decade as a successful artist, songwriter & producer. His artist project Buchanan enjoyed multi-million streams & chart impressions worldwide. They retired from the live circuit following a sold-out arena tour opening for Keith Urban & Carrie Underwood. As a producer and songwriter, Simons has shared credits with Travis Scott, Troye Sivan, and Kanye West to name a few. In April 2020 Simons was named in The Music Network’s 30 Under 30 List in addition to being voted Reader’s Choice. Simons holds a Bachelor of Business from Swinburne University.

Josh Simons is the CEO and co-founder of Vampr, the world’s largest and most active social-professional network for musicians (often dubbed the “LinkedIn for creatives”). With over half a million users, and active in every country on the planet, the music startup has helped fledgling musicians broker over 5 million connections worldwide. Vampr offers a free solution for young musicians, built by a sympathetic founding team of established musicians with Josh’s co-founder, Baz Palmer, best known as the lead guitarist for seminal hall-of-fame rock band, Hunters & Collectors. Simons has grown Vampr into a multi-award winning platform, including a most prestigious nod from Apple with an inclusion in their Best of the Year list. Prior to running Vampr, Josh Simons spent the better part of a decade as a successful artist, songwriter & producer. His artist project Buchanan enjoyed multi-million streams & chart impressions worldwide. They retired from the live circuit following a sold-out arena tour opening for Keith Urban & Carrie Underwood. As a producer and songwriter, Simons has shared credits with Travis Scott, Troye Sivan, and Kanye West to name a few. In April 2020 Simons was named in The Music Network’s 30 Under 30 List in addition to being voted Reader’s Choice. Simons holds a Bachelor of Business from Swinburne University.

ADAM LEON is a critically acclaimed director and writer.  He was born and raised in Manhattan and still proudly resides there.  His three feature films, "Gimme the Loot" (2012), "Tramps" (2016), and "Italian Studies" (2022) all depict the various parts of New York where he grew up thus making the iconic city a character in and of itself that resonates distinctively in each film. "Italian Studies," his most recent film, stars Vanessa Kirby, Fred Hechinger, Maya Hawke, and features the music of Oscar nominated composter Nicholas Britell. Leon graduated from University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in African American Studies.  He began his career as a production assistant and coordinator for some of the industry's most prestigious film festivals.  Adam has now come full circle as a filmmaker whose cinematic contributions have received critical praise and recognition from many of the very same festivals where he got his start. He won the SXSW Grand Jury Award in 2012 for "Gimme the Loot" and in the same year was nominated for the Camera D'or award at The Cannes Film Festival where the movie premiered internationally. "Gimme the Loot" also received the Independent Spirit Award for "Someone to Watch" in 2013 and was nominated for Independent Spirit's "Best First Film" award.

ADAM LEON is a critically acclaimed director and writer.  He was born and raised in Manhattan and still proudly resides there.  His three feature films, "Gimme the Loot" (2012), "Tramps" (2016), and "Italian Studies" (2022) all depict the various parts of New York where he grew up thus making the iconic city a character in and of itself that resonates distinctively in each film. "Italian Studies," his most recent film, stars Vanessa Kirby, Fred Hechinger, Maya Hawke, and features the music of Oscar nominated composter Nicholas Britell. Leon graduated from University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in African American Studies.  He began his career as a production assistant and coordinator for some of the industry's most prestigious film festivals.  Adam has now come full circle as a filmmaker whose cinematic contributions have received critical praise and recognition from many of the very same festivals where he got his start. He won the SXSW Grand Jury Award in 2012 for "Gimme the Loot" and in the same year was nominated for the Camera D'or award at The Cannes Film Festival where the movie premiered internationally. "Gimme the Loot" also received the Independent Spirit Award for "Someone to Watch" in 2013 and was nominated for Independent Spirit's "Best First Film" award.