If you haven't been to the site for a while, take a minute to look around. Don't worry, everything you were used to seeing before is still here. And you can do a lot more now. The new A2IM.org is about connections and discussions. Watch this VIDEO FOR HELP.
This year at NARM in Chicago, A2IM will be expanding our effort to bridge some of the gaps between the independent music community, distributors, retailers, technology companies and service providers.
1. NARM/A2IM Music Crash Course @ NARM (Friday, 5/14 – Saturday, 5/15) – Agenda and Crash course only Registration HERE.
This year’s NARM/A2IM Music Business Crash Course will take place on Friday, May 14th and Saturday, May 15, 2010 at the Hilton Chicago (720 S. Michigan Ave, Chicago, map).
After drawing a record crowd of over 175 satisfied music industry artists, technology companies, and labels last year, based upon NARM member’s requests, the course has been expanded from one day to two days this year with over two thirds of the course new content. The Crash Course features educational presentations and panel discussions focused on the independent sector, a must for independent music labels and technology companies to remain current in the the transforming music economy. It starts as a music 101 on the first day and moves to music 102 on the second day. Please visit this link for registration information. The Music Crash Course event is free for NARM attendees or $49 registration fee for A2IM members who wish to attend the Crash Course only.
Shore Fire Media has been spreading the word about A2IM, with placements ranging from the Huffington Post to the Op-Ed pages of Billboard and the New York Times, but that’s just one highlight in a busy spring for the PR and Digital Marketing firm. Shore Fire recently expanded their slate of services, formalizing a digital strategy practice that specializes in social media management, digital content and media, SEO/SEM, and targeted online advertising.
Shore Fire president Marilyn Laverty says: “Shore Fire Media recognizes that as image and brand management experts, our efforts must move seamlessly between digital and traditional media opportunities, and our mission is to be a standard-setting public relations firm in the digital age.”
On the PR side, there’s lots of indie action in the coming months, including new releases from The National and The Hold Steady to Ricky Skaggs and The Chieftains with Ry Cooder, following on the heels of “Best Album” Grammy wins for indies such as Levon Helm, Booker T. Jones, Los Texmaniacs and Loudon Wainwright III.
Other highlights include major attention for longtime client and fellow A2IM member Tunecore, work with charities and organizations such as WHYhunger, the Academy of Contemporary Music, and Berklee’s online music school berkleemusic.com — not to mention media breakthroughs for non-indies as well, such as The Zac Brown Band, Maxwell, Elvis Costello, and Bruce Springsteen.
Shore Fire Media has been spreading the word about A2IM, with placements ranging from the Huffington Post to the Op-Ed pages of Billboard and the New York Times, but that’s just one highlight in a busy spring for the PR and Digital Marketing firm. Shore Fire recently expanded their slate of services, formalizing a digital strategy practice that specializes in social media management, digital content and media, SEO/SEM, and targeted online advertising.
Shore Fire president Marilyn Laverty says: “Shore Fire Media recognizes that as image and brand management experts, our efforts must move seamlessly between digital and traditional media opportunities, and our mission is to be a standard-setting public relations firm in the digital age.”
On the PR side, there’s lots of indie action in the coming months, including new releases from The National and The Hold Steady to Ricky Skaggs and The Chieftains with Ry Cooder, following on the heels of “Best Album” Grammy wins for indies such as Levon Helm, Booker T. Jones, Los Texmaniacs and Loudon Wainwright III.
Other highlights include major attention for longtime client and fellow A2IM member Tunecore, work with charities and organizations such as WHYhunger, the Academy of Contemporary Music, and Berklee’s online music school berkleemusic.com — not to mention media breakthroughs for non-indies as well, such as The Zac Brown Band, Maxwell, Elvis Costello, and Bruce
Springsteen.
Broadcaster Corporations Leave DC After Feeding at the Trough
**Inflatable Pig, TV Advertising, Cross-Country Tour**
WASHINGTON – The Radio Accountability Project (RAP) today officially introduced to big radio broadcasters a giant inflatable pig and a piggy TV ad, which are part of a new campaign to highlight the behavior of radio corporations who won’t pay musicians and recording artists for their work. The inflatable pink pig, which is 12’ high, 15’ wide and 18’ long, will start its cross-country tour in Washington, DC at 12:00 PM TODAY at the National Association of Broadcasters building near Dupont Circle (1771 N Street NW). The inflation will occur in conjunction with the launch of a new TV ad that can be viewed at www.piggyradio.com. The pig will visit the headquarters and marquee stations of radio corporations across America in the coming weeks and months.
Below is a press statement issued by Rich Bengloff and serviced by ShoreFire Media today commenting on a report issued by the IFPI highlighting that labels invest $5 billion per year on artists.
On IFPI’s “Investing In Music” Report – Statement From A2IM President Rich Bengloff
A2IM President Rich Bengloff issued the following statement today:
A2IM applauds the IFPI’s “Investing in music” report for noting that “investing in music is the core mission of record companies and that no other party can lay claim a comparable role in the music sector”….and that “No other party comes close to the levels of investment committed by record companies to developing, nurturing and promoting talent. One of the biggest myths about the music industry in the digital age is that artists no longer need record labels. It is simply wrong. The investment, partnership and support that help build artist careers have never been more important than they are today.” Read the rest of this entry »
Perhaps the biggest issue facing the music industry is Net Neutrality.
A2IM has been surveying our members to bring our position into focus and yesterday we filed a statement with the FCC supporting Net Neutrality. Our statement highlights the unique economic needs of the independent music community and the need to balance access versus the need to eliminate illegal acquisition of music.
Below is our press release about the A2IM filing and the actual statement to the FCC.
We seek your feedback and any questions you may have about Net Neutrality or the A2IM statement.
A2IM is a member of the musicFIRST Coalition joining artists and labels across the United States asking Congress to right an 80 year old wrong by passing The Performance Right Act.
The Performance Right Act would require AM/FM radio stations to fairly compensate performing artists & the labels that invest in the creation of music whenever a radio station plays a song.
Learn more about The Performance Right Act by watching this video:
Know The Facts:
*When radio plays music, the recording artist isn’t paid.
*Radio stations are Wall Street-owned corporations making big profits.
*Performance right is a paycheck for middle-class musicians.
