When Pieter van Rijn spoke at Mondo in 2024, he reflected on the company’s journey over the two decades since its founding. Through a series of strategic moves amid an ever-evolving industry, Downtown evolved from a traditional music publisher into a comprehensive music services business serving independent artists, songwriters and businesses worldwide

But in the year since van Rijn's last Mondo visit, the next step in Downtown's journey has been one of its most interesting, with the company's December 2024 announcement of its proposed acquisition by Virgin Music Group. Now, with a focus firmly on the future, van Rijn and Larry Miller will discuss the growing needs of independent artists, songwriters, and the businesses that support them, how technology is influencing a changing industry, and how a collaboration between Downtown and Virgin could provide this generation and the next with the tools they need to unlock their full potential.