EMP’s annual celebration of rock-and-roll academia has been a traveling affair for the past few years. This year, the conference is shaking up the format again, holding smaller, one-day affairs in multiple cities—New York, New Orleans, Cleveland, Los Angeles, and Seattle. The 206 program (full disclosure—I sit on the advisory committee) is themed “Begging to Differ,” and will include debates on some of your favorite topics (what is the best Beatles album?) and the academic presentations the event is known for. John Shaw’s “ ‘The Union’ vs. ‘The Battle of Manassas,’ ” about two Civil War-era pianists/composers, is not to be missed; neither is “My Vagina Makes My Musical Decision,” presented by SW contributor Ma’Chell Duma LaVassar. Oh, and in the hour set aside for five-minute conversations, I will explain how this paper’s music section gets put together and how your band can be a part of it. With music journalists tweeting at each other and pouting.

EMP Museum, 325 Fifth Ave. N., 770-2700, empmuseum.org. 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Free.

Chris Kornelis