Creator Economy Summit · RAG Awards · RAG Icon Experience
RAGS TO RICHES™ 2026
WHERE ARTISTS BECOME ENTERPRISES™
A three-day experience built around one idea — helping creators transform talent into ownership, ownership into enterprise, and enterprise into wealth.
The Three-Day Story
One Journey. Three Days.
RAGS To Riches is not simply an awards show. The RAG Awards are the celebration. The RAG Stage is the showcase. The RAGS To Riches Summit is the education. The RAG Icon Experience is the spectacle. RAG is the community that connects all of it.
CONNECT
Meet the people who can change your career.
RAGS To Riches opens with a day built around connection — registration, the State of the Independent Creator, a Creator Expo, an artist business workshop, speed networking, an artist showcase, and the transition into Las Vegas evening festival activities.
BUILD
Learn how to turn creativity into enterprise and wealth.
The RAGS To Riches Summit — a full day of keynotes and panels on ownership, audience, investing, real estate, brand building, the new era of music, crypto and tokenization, capped by the featured panel "Who Owns the Future of Music?" and The RAG Stage™ live performance showcase that night.
CELEBRATE
Recognizing the artists, innovators and icons moving culture forward.
The RAG Awards™ red carpet and ceremony, the RAG Icon Experience™ — an immersive celebration of the icons who shaped music — and the RAG Icon Award™, one of the highest honors presented by the Recording Artists Guild.
RAGS TO RICHES — CONNECT
Meet the people who can change your career.
Registration / Check-In
Attendee registration, credentials, music, sponsor activations, creator introductions and networking.
Welcome to RAGS To Riches
Byron Booker · Founder & Chairman, Recording Artists Guild
Opening presentation on the mission of RAGS To Riches and the evolution of the independent creator economy.
The State of the Independent Creator
Opening conversation on the changing music business, creator ownership, AI, distribution, monetization and the creator economy.
Creator Networking + Expo
Meet creators, brands, media, producers, technology companies and industry professionals.
Artist Business Workshop
Practical education designed to help independent artists think and operate like businesses.
R2R Speed Networking
Fast-paced networking connecting artists, brands, media, producers, technology, investors and industry professionals.
Artist Showcase / Listening Session
Selected creators present music and projects.
Day One Wrap
Preview of Saturday’s RAGS To Riches Summit and weekend programming.
Vinyl Room Mixer
An exclusive evening mixer at the Vinyl Room — drinks, music and conversation with fellow creators, executives and industry professionals.
Las Vegas / Neon City Festival Activities
RAGS To Riches attendees transition into evening entertainment, performances and networking throughout Las Vegas.
RAGS TO RICHES SUMMIT
Build. Learn how to turn creativity into enterprise and wealth.
Doors / Coffee / Networking / Sponsor Activations
From Artist to Enterprise
Byron Booker · RAG Chairman
Opening Keynote
Core idea — Talent creates opportunity. Ownership creates wealth. Introducing the RAGS To Riches journey: Talent → Audience → Revenue → Assets → Ownership → Wealth.
Own Your Audience
Jason Ma · OpenWav
The Direct-to-Consumer Model
- › Direct-to-consumer relationships
- › Superfans
- › First-party fan data
- › Subscriptions
- › Merchandise
- › Fan monetization
- › Recurring revenue
- › Owning versus renting your audience
Your Network Is Your Net Worth
Ty Scott · Single Life
Working Your Network
- › Building authentic industry relationships
- › Networking without being transactional
- › Maintaining relationships
- › Turning relationships into opportunities
- › Leveraging your existing network
Artists Need Portfolios Too
Marilyn Booker · Retired JPMorgan
Stock Investments & Long-Term Wealth
- › Investing fundamentals
- › Compounding
- › Diversification
- › Long-term investing
- › Assets versus consumption
- › Turning entertainment income into long-term wealth
This presentation is for general educational purposes and is not individualized investment advice.
From Royalties to Real Estate
Tai S · Agents of LA
- › Real estate investing
- › Asset ownership
- › Equity
- › Using creative income strategically
- › Building wealth outside of entertainment
You’re Not Just an Artist. You’re a Brand.
Jonathan Write · Radio Pushers
Brand Building
- › Brand positioning
- › Storytelling
- › Audience development
- › Marketing
- › Media
- › Consistency
- › Building perceived value
The New Era of Music
Da Mizza · Pizza TV
- › The future of the music industry
- › Independent distribution
- › Streaming
- › Content
- › AI
- › Direct-to-fan
- › Media ownership
- › The changing role of traditional record labels
The Ownership Economy
Maverick Approach
Crypto for Creators
- › Crypto fundamentals
- › Digital ownership
- › Wallets
- › Community
- › Utility
- › Creator applications
- › Opportunities and risks
- › Blockchain and entertainment
Tokenizing Creativity
Patrick Maddren · ChainFuelz
- › Tokenization
- › Fan participation
- › Digital assets
- › Community economics
- › Entertainment intellectual property
- › Emerging creator funding models
Featured RAGS To Riches Panel — Who Owns the Future of Music?
Moderated by Taki · Vegas Circle
A featured panel with Jason Ma, Jonathan Write, Da Mizza, Maverick Approach, Patrick Maddren and Byron Booker.
- › AI vs. Artists
- › Labels vs. Independence
- › Streaming vs. Direct-to-Consumer
- › Fans vs. Algorithms
- › Web2 vs. Web3
- › Exposure vs. Ownership
- › Who controls the next generation of music?
RAGS To Riches Summit Closing
Byron Booker
Closing message and transition into evening programming.
Saturday Evening · Nov 21 · 7:00–11:00 PM
THE RAG STAGE™
6 MINUTES. ONE STAGE. MAKE IT COUNT.
The RAG Stage is a live showcase featuring selected RAG members and RAGS To Riches artists performing live in Las Vegas. Each selected act receives a maximum 6-minute performance slot.
Selected RAG members will receive an opportunity to perform live on the RAG Stage during RAGS To Riches weekend.
Evening Structure
RAG Stage Soundcheck & Production Reset
DJ / Audience Warm-Up
RAG STAGE — Block One
DJ / Sponsor Break
RAG STAGE — Block Two
RAG / Sponsor Moment
Promote RAG membership, the RAGS To Riches mission and Sunday’s RAG Awards.
RAG STAGE — Block Three
DJ / Sponsor Break
RAG STAGE — Featured Performance Block
RAG STAGE Finale
Thank performers and sponsors and promote Sunday’s RAG Awards.
RAG Stage Artist Requirements
- › Selected performers receive a maximum 6-minute performance window.
- › All music / playback files must be submitted in advance.
- › No plugging personal phones or laptops into the production system during the show.
- › Artists should check in at least 60 minutes before their scheduled performance block.
- › Performance slots may be forfeited if artists miss their call time.
Selected artists are identified as OFFICIAL RAGS TO RICHES PERFORMERS.
Performer Benefits
- ✓ RAG Stage performance opportunity
- ✓ Official performer credential
- ✓ RAGS To Riches performer promotional graphic
- ✓ Networking access
- ✓ Potential RAG / Lookhu media exposure
- ✓ Red carpet opportunities where applicable
- ✓ Future RAG showcase consideration
RAG AWARDS + RAG ICON EXPERIENCE
Celebrate. Recognizing the artists, innovators and icons moving culture forward.
RAG Awards Registration / Nominee Check-In
RAGS To Riches Weekend Recap + Creator Conversations
Highlight creators, speakers, lessons and moments from Friday and Saturday.
VIP / Media / Artist Arrivals
RAG Awards Red Carpet
Nominee arrivals, artist interviews, sponsor interviews, photography, media coverage and social content.
The RAG Awards™ — Opening Performance
Followed by a welcome from Byron Booker.
RAG Awards — Act I
Categories may include Genre Awards, Regional Awards, Independent Artist Categories and Song Categories.
Featured Performance
RAG Awards — Act II
Categories may include Songwriter, Producer, Creator, Innovation, Industry and Community Impact.
RAG Icon Experience™
A major visual and storytelling moment exploring the creators and innovators whose influence changed music and culture. An immersive celebration of the icons who shaped music — combining digital / holographic storytelling, historical imagery, live musicians, modern interpretations, narration, visual media and educational storytelling showing how classical music continues to influence modern music, film scoring, popular music and contemporary culture.
The RAG Icon Award™
One of the highest honors presented by the Recording Artists Guild — recognizing extraordinary legacy, innovation, influence and impact on music and culture.
RAG Awards Finale / Closing
RAGS To Riches Closing Celebration / Las Vegas Festival Activities
The Spectacle
RAG Icon Experience™
An immersive celebration of the icons who shaped music — combining digital and holographic storytelling, historical imagery, live musicians, modern interpretations, narration and visual media to show how classical music continues to influence modern music, film scoring and contemporary culture.
Tributes to icons such as Bach, Mozart and Beethoven. Specific holographic appearances are confirmed only once production and rights clearance are finalized.
Sponsor Integration
Partner Across the Experience
Sponsor logos and CTAs are integrated elegantly throughout the RAGS To Riches experience — without overwhelming the brand. From the Summit to the Stage to the Awards.