The 2012 CMJ Music Maraton takes place October 16-20 throughout New York.

CMJ Music Marathon has come a long way from the college radio networking event it began as in 1980. CMJ is now New York’s requisite platform for discovering new music. With over 1,300 performances in 80 venues, CMJ serves 120,000 fans, industry professionals, members of the media, and (obviously) musicians. Like those at its Texan cousin SXSW, CMJ attendees enrich their experience with panels, seminars, mixers and after-parties. CMJ is headquartered at New York University’s Greenwich Village campus.

Even though CMJ is focused on new artists, the initial lineup includes some familiar names, of varying degree: GZA, Talib Kweli, the Walkmen, Kimbra, Main Attrakionz, Mike Simonetti, Physical Therapy, and many others. As for daytime activities, panels traverse the music industry landscape, from cloud computing to direct-to-fan revenue streams, to replacing record labels and the rise of EDM.

Further information, including how to attend, is available at CMJ’s website.