Father-daughter IndieU founders to speak

Local company connects independent musicians, fans

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Westlake Village native Natalie Edell came up with the idea for IndieU as a sophomore at Northwestern University.

(VENTURA, Calif. – Feb. 13, 2017) The father-and-daughter team that launched an online platform for independent musicians will speak at the next California Lutheran University Corporate Leaders Breakfast.

IndieU co-founders Natalie and Jeffrey Edell will discuss app development and entertainment at the event running from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Friday, March 3, at the Ventura Beach Marriott.

Operating out of Hub101 in Cal Lutheran’s Center for Entrepreneurship in Westlake Village, IndieU helps independent musicians promote their work to college audiences around the country. A website and mobile app bring music fans together. Students can create events, book artists and blast out information to their friends. A network of student representatives at colleges identify new artists and write reviews that are distributed through the mobile app and website. Fans can discover their local music scene and listen to music for free.

Westlake Village native Natalie Edell came up with the idea as a sophomore at Northwestern University, where she observed new artists building audiences and name recognition among college students without the backing of major record labels. Instead, the artists used the internet, the Greek system and other channels. Edell, who interned for Virgin Records and Genuine Music Group, saw a market for helping independent musicians with the process.

She launched IndieU in 2014, the year she graduated from Northwestern with a bachelor’s degree in radio, television and film and a minor in business institutions. She serves as CEO. 

Jeffrey Edell, who has extensive experience with emerging technologies and brand-building, served as a co-founder for IndieU and continues to provide advice as company chairman. He is the chief financial officer of Cinedigm Entertainment and established Edell Ventures to invest in and provide C-level support services to media and technology entities. He is also the president and CEO of Edell Productions and a managing member of Edell Film Fund I and Mindbright Productions. He is the former chairman of Intermix Media, the parent of MySpace. He is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

The Corporate Leaders Breakfast Series brings members of the business and civic communities together to share ideas and hear from prominent leaders in the region. The 2016-2017 series will conclude May 2 with a panel discussion on hospitality industry trends at Cal Lutheran.

Reservations are requested by Monday, Feb. 27. To RSVP, contact Sharon Nelson at smnelso@callutheran.edu. For more information, go to callutheran.edu/clb.

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