From the EMP even site:

“The annual EMP Pop Conference, first held in 2002, mixes together ambitious music writing of every kind, in an attempt to bring academics, critics, musicians, and dedicated fans into a collective conversation.”

This year’s theme: Get Ur Freak On: Music, Weirdness, and Transgression
2015 EMP Pop Conference

I went last year and it was fantastic. Very insightful panel discussions/presentations about a variety of topics.