Frequently Asked Questions

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SHIFT Miami is the next evolution of Miami’s dance-music week, built for artists, industry, and fans who want real access, real connections, and unforgettable moments. Taking place during Miami’s annual dance-music week in March, SHIFT brings the global music community together for a multi-day, multi-venue run of events, showcases, networking opportunities, and cultural moments across Miami Beach—where rising talent meets industry power players through one-on-one sessions with key decision-makers, demo drops, meet & greets, poolside experiences, and intimate gatherings designed to create real opportunities, real connections, and unforgettable moments with performances from some of the world’s most sought-after DJs.

 Last year, our team produced programming in Miami featuring world-class artists such as Above & Beyond, Afrojack, ALOK, Aluna, Armin van Buuren, Becky Hill, Bonnie x Clyde, Cedric Gervais, Cheat Codes, Crystal Waters, D.O.D., Frank Walker, Hardwell, HAYLA, Hugel, Joel Corry, KSHMR, Laidback Luke, Meduza, Sickick, Steve Aoki, Subtronics, and others — alongside industry leaders from 88rising, Armada, Beatport, Billboard, Defected, Dim Mak, DJ Mag, Dirtybird, EDM.com, Neon Owl, Red Light Management, Sony, SoundCloud, Splice, Spinnin’ Records, STMPD, Spotify, The Orchard, Ultra Records, Warner, Wasserman, and more.

You can expect to see many of these same labels and teams here at SHIFT Miami in March 2026 — along with new major players we’ll be announcing soon.

And here’s the difference:
This isn’t a situation where you’re watching from afar and can’t actually talk to anybody. At SHIFT, everyone is in the same rooms. Conversations are face-to-face. Music gets played. Connections happen in real time. No velvet ropes. No “backstage vs everyone else.” Just real access.

No, 

SHIFT is for everyone who’s part of the dance-music community — artists, producers, vocalists, DJs, managers, agents, label teams, creators, influencers, fans, and people who just want to be part of the culture.

You do not need to have music out.
You do not need to already “be somebody.”
You do not need to have a team, manager, or connections.

SHIFT is a space to meet people, discover new talent, collaborate, build relationships, and be in the rooms where things actually happen.
If you’re here for the music, the energy, the culture, or even just the party — you’re welcome.

Some people come to network.
Some come to collaborate.
Some come to break into the scene.
Some come to enjoy the events and the environment.

All of that is valid.
And all of that fits here.

SHIFT is a no-gatekeeping environment — everyone is in the same rooms, same energy, same opportunity.

Yes — and honestly, a lot of people will come to SHIFT solo.

SHIFT is designed for connection. Not cliques. Not “stand in the corner and hope someone talks to you.”

The entire environment is set up so people naturally interact, collaborate, and form real relationships.

And if you’re not very outgoing — that’s exactly who SHIFT works best for.

A lot of artists, producers, vocalists, label people, and even major DJs started out quiet, introverted, or unsure how to approach people. Many still are.
Everyone in the room understands what it feels like to be building.

The programming itself acts as the catalyst — Demo Drops, rooftop listening lounges, pool deck conversations, small-group sessions — all of it is structured to start the conversation for you.
You don’t have to force it.
You don’t have to “know people ahead of time.”
You don’t have to walk up cold.

You just show up — and the environment does the work.

SHIFT is a space where:

• People talk about the music that’s playing
   
• People ask what you’re working on
   
• People collaborate in real time
   

If you come alone, you will not stay alone.
That’s the whole point of SHIFT.

 Your SHIFT Access Pass is your entry into the heart of Miami’s dance-music week — giving you access to the official SHIFT events happening Tuesday through Friday (March 24–27, 2026) at The Clevelander South Beach, plus additional partner venue events as they’re announced.

Included with your Access Pass:

• Entry to the Thursday SHIFT Pool Party and the EDMAs Pool Party on Friday (subject to venue capacity; early arrival encouraged)
• Access to official SHIFT events happening Tuesday–Friday across The Clevelander and partner venues throughout South Beach
• Admission to label & A&R Demo Drop sessions where you can submit your track and connect directly with decision-makers
• Daytime programming & insider sessions with artists, mentors, and industry leaders
• Curated networking experiences with A&Rs, managers, agents, producers, DJs, vocalists, and music professionals
• Entry to select showcases and nightlife events (subject to venue capacity)
• Ability to reserve space in newly added sessions as the week expands
• Access to the SHIFT Artist Discovery Vault:
Upload one track or vocal (released or unreleased). The vault is shared privately with attending labels, A&Rs, managers, booking agents, and A-list artists throughout the week.
If they like what they hear — they’ll reach out.

• Ongoing lineup and partner reveals included with your pass

Note: Event access is subject to venue capacity. Some sessions may require advance reservation. Programming and schedule are subject to change.

 Your SHIFT VIP Access Pass includes everything in the standard Access Pass, plus exclusive perks designed to make your week seamless and stress-free.

Everything in the SHIFT Access Pass, plus VIP upgrades:

• Skip-the-line entry for the Thursday SHIFT Pool Party and EDMAs Pool Party (subject to venue capacity)
• Automatic reserved access to all daytime programming, A&R sessions, and industry access events — no RSVP rush, no waiting lists
• Guaranteed seating where applicable during programmed sessions
• Dedicated SHIFT VIP liaison to handle scheduling and on-site coordination
• Access to VIP-only networking areas and select artist meet-and-greet opportunities (where applicable)
• Exclusive invitations delivered directly to you as new partner events and experiences are added

Note: Pool parties and nightlife events remain subject to venue capacity. Programming and schedule are subject to change.

 Yes. Both the SHIFT Access Pass and the SHIFT VIP Access Pass include entry to the EDMAs Pool Party on Friday, March 27, 2026 at The Clevelander South Beach.

Normally, the EDMAs Pool Party is not open to the public — the only way in is typically to be nominated or win a ticket through radio/partner contests.

SHIFT Pass holders skip all of that — your wristband is your access.

Your pass also includes entry to additional SHIFT pool parties happening throughout the week — with more to be announced as we get closer.

Access vs VIP Difference:

• SHIFT Access Pass: General entry (subject to venue capacity; arrive early)
• SHIFT VIP Access Pass: Skip-the-line priority entry for the EDMAs Pool Party and all SHIFT pool parties (subject to capacity)

Once you have your wristband, you’re in — just arrive early for peak times.

The EDMAs and SHIFT pool parties take place at real South Beach venues, not convention centers or fenced festival grounds.

So when a venue is full, we must temporarily pause entry — that’s just how real clubs and pool decks work.

But that’s also what makes SHIFT different:

• You’re not lost in massive festival crowds
• You’re not watching from 200 feet away
• Surprise talent happens — people pull up
• You can actually meet artists, A&R teams, managers, producers, and other creators
• The crowd itself is the industry — artists, A&Rs, agents, vocalists, DJs, label teams, radio, creators, and media are all in the room

This is a celebration for the culture — so the environment is intentionally intimate, connected, and face-to-face.

So yes, arrive early for the biggest moments — because the value is being inside the room, not watching from afar.

winter music conference is a legendary name in dance culture. The last public edition before 2025 took place in 2019 at the Faena Forum.

In 2025, our team was brought in through a licensing and production agreement to produce the first public wmc edition since 2019 — and when we brought it back, it was a success.

But here’s what we heard directly from artists, labels, managers, and fans who attended:

The culture has changed.
People were looking for something more current, more interactive, and way more connected than the traditional conference model.

Rather than repeat an older format, we decided to build the next evolution.
That’s SHIFT Miami.

SHIFT is designed for:
• Real access
• Real face-to-face connection
• Real-time discovery and collaboration
• Rooms where artists, fans, and industry are together — not separated

wmc is still happening, but it is:
• Run by a different team
• Located in Brickell
• Requires separate tickets
• Follows a more traditional conference programming format

SHIFT is based in South Beach and is built around:
• Live Demo Drop sessions where your track gets heard and the conversation happens right after
• Rooftop sessions where music, ideas, and access move face-to-face
• Interactive experiences with decision-makers (not regular panels you watch from a distance)
• Spaces designed for collaboration, connection, and actually meeting people
• Pool decks packed with artists, fans, industry, and surprise guests all hanging in the same environment

SHIFT is about where dance culture is going — not just talking about where it’s been.
These aren’t speeches or stories you could just go watch on YouTube for free.

This is what’s happening right now, in real time, with the people who are actively shaping the future of the scene — decision-makers with the ability to sign you, book you, fund you, develop you, and move your career forward.

Our programming is built around current artists, active A&R teams, working label executives, managers, agents, producers, vocalists, creators, and industry players who are actually moving culture forward today.

Not nostalgia panels.
Not “former title” name-drops.
Not “back in my day” storytelling.

SHIFT is about what’s next.
And everyone is in the same rooms.

 Yes! We’ve secured discounted hotel rates so you can stay right in the heart of the action.

Official Host Hotels:

• Clevelander South Beach (on-site at SHIFT)
Discounted Rooms: https://ffm.link/clevelandersouthbeach

• Essex House South Beach (just steps away)
Discounted Rooms: https://ffm.link/essexhousesouthbeach

If you’d prefer to stay nearby but want different hotel options, we’ve also partnered with Crewfare to provide a curated list of discounted hotels sorted by distance to SHIFT Miami (closest → further out):

View Additional Discounted Hotel Options:
https://crewfare.com/events/shift-miami-26/

Book early — rates and availability are limited, especially during Music Week.

 Every SHIFT Access Pass holder (including VIP) gets to upload one track or vocal (released or unreleased) into our private Vault. This Vault is shared exclusively with the labels, A&Rs, managers, booking agents, and industry teams attending SHIFT Miami.

How it works:

1. We’ll notify you when submissions open (closer to the event).
    
2. You’ll receive clear step-by-step instructions on how to upload your track.
    
3. You upload one track or vocal (released or unreleased).
    
4. Throughout SHIFT week, attending labels, A&Rs, managers, booking agents, and artists will be listening.
    
5. If someone is feeling your record — they’ll reach out directly by phone or email using the contact info you provide.
    

Why uploads happen closer to the event:
We want the Vault to contain fresh work. The industry teams coming to SHIFT want to hear what you sound like right now, not something you made last year. Uploads will open closer to the event so everyone is reviewing new and current music.

This is not:
• a contest
• a public playlist
• or a submission black hole

This is real access — directly to the people who make decisions.

They’ll be listening all week — so be ready when your phone or email lights up.

*Again - You do not need to upload anything now. We’ll contact every pass holder personally with instructions when it’s time.

 SHIFT’s schedule is not something we lock months in advance — it’s something we build in real time with the labels, artists, managers, and industry teams who are coming to Miami.

A lot of the brands, collectives, and record labels you’ll see at SHIFT are already confirmed — they just haven’t finalized:

• Which A&Rs they’re sending
• Which managers or producers are pulling up
• Which artists are joining them
• What kind of interactive experience, demo session, meetup, or showcase they want to create

And that’s on purpose.

Their goal is discovery — not promotion.
They want to show up with what’s relevant now, not a recycled panel or pre-scripted talk.

The moment we get confirmations, we push updates directly to pass holders.

Expect the schedule to build and evolve as we get closer — because that’s how the music industry actually moves.

And yes — while you’re reading this, we are probably on the phone with a label executive, A&R, management team, or agency, locking in something for you.

Some things will be announced ahead of time.
Some things will drop last-minute.
Some things won’t be announced at all — they’ll just happen in the room.

That’s Miami during dance-music week.
That’s culture in motion.
That’s SHIFT.

Your pass already includes everything — announced and not announced yet.

 SHIFT operates on a tiered pricing system:

• Early Bird (Lowest Price)
Available now while supplies last. Once Early Bird sells out, it does not return.

• General Release (Standard Price)
Activated once Early Bird sells out. Limited quantity.

• Final Phase (Highest Price)
Closer to the event. Best to purchase early to lock in the lowest rate.

Both SHIFT Access and SHIFT VIP Access follow this tier system.
Same pass, different price depending on when you secure it.

 You don’t need to overthink it — but here are the essentials to make your week smooth:

• Valid ID (no entry anywhere without it)
• Portable phone charger (you’ll be networking all day)
• Sunscreen + sunglasses (South Beach sun is real)
• Comfortable clothes and shoes (you’ll be moving between venues)
• Swimwear for pool sessions
• Business cards / QR links / IG ready (people will ask)
• Your music / vocal demos ready to share — streaming link, Dropbox link, private SoundCloud, etc.
• Openness to actually talk to people — SHIFT is built for real connection

No need for:
• Huge gear setups
• Full laptops
• Big backpacks

Pro Tip:
Have your Instagram / Spotify / EPK / Linktree / or artist link ready to pull up fast.
You will be asked for it.

SHIFT moves fast — be ready when opportunity taps you on the shoulder.

 Most SHIFT events are 21+ because they take place at pool decks, nightlife venues, and spaces where alcohol is served.

However, some daytime sessions and interactive programming may be open to ages 18+ — specifically in venues or rooms where alcohol is not being served.

Age access is determined by the venue and its security policies, not SHIFT.

Important:
Entry is always subject to each venue’s security and ID policy. A valid government-issued ID is required. 

If you have any specific questions feel free to email us: info@shiftmiami.com

 All pass sales are final — we do not offer refunds.

However, you can transfer your pass to someone else at no cost.

If you need to transfer your pass, just email us at info@shiftmiami.com with:

• Your full name
• The email used to purchase the pass
• The full name + email of the person you’re transferring it to

We’ll update the registration on our end and send the new attendee their confirmation.

Simple and stress-free.