Otakon announced that Japanese singer Mell will perform at the event. Mell contributed a number of songs to various anime series, including Black Lagoon, Hayate the Combat Butler, and Shakugan no Shana.

Mell was the first singer to work with Kazuya Takase and Yasutaka Ipposhi, who founded I'VE Sound. She became the label's first singer,though the label quickly enlisted several vocalists including Kotoko, Mami Kawada, and Eiko Shimamiya. Mell launched a successful solo career in 2006 with her single Red Fraction, which later became the opening theme for both Black Lagoon series. Her first album, Mellscope launched last August. The album sold 15,300 copies, and hit the Oricon charts at #13. Mell's next single, Kara no Tsubomi, will hit Japanese stores on July 29. The single already has 4,300 pre-orders, and hit the Oricon charts at #43.

Otakon will run from July 17-19 at the Baltimore Convention Center.