A2IM: American Association of Independent Music

Posted in Member Services by A2IM

Our friends at WIN (Worldwide Independent Network) are seeking your answers to a few short, easy questions.  Our growing worldwide membership provides an opportunity to run the first ever global survey of the independent sector of the music industry.

With the support of A2IM members, this survey could result in a very useful report on our sector and for A2IM members themselves through publication of the report.

Please take 1 minute to fill out this survey this week:  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/winglobalsurvey2010

Results will be analyzed and the information provided will  be included in a full WIN global independent music survey report.

Posted in Member Services by A2IM

MUSEXPO LA 2011 takes place May 1-4 at the W Hotel in West Hollywood.  MUSEXPO is once again being presented by the fully independent artist discovery and development team of A2IM Associate Member, A&R Worldwide. The event brings together some of the most innovative and influential minds in the global music, media and technology businesses, as well as showcasing some of the top emerging talent. MUSEXPO is well-known for helping create great new creative and commercial opportunities for its attendees as well as developing lifelong relationships via its unprecedented networking opportunities for those who attend the event and have a vested interest in being a part the future global music eco-system.

A&R Worldwide is offering their fellow A2IM members their discounted Charter Delegate Rate of $495 (good through December 31^st, after which the A2IM member rate goes up to $525).  A2IM’ers registering before December 31^st will save $30 off MUSEXPO’s standard early bird rate of $525.  After December 31st, A2IM members will save $70 off of MUSEXPO’s standard registration rate of $595.

To register for MUSEXPO using the A2IM discounted rate click

The Charter Delegate registration includes all networking events, panels showcases, breakfasts, lunches, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres and includes the option to opt into the Global Synch & Consumer Brand Summit.

To read more about MUSEXPO 2011 visit http://www.musexpo.net/musexpoLA11/.

Posted in Member Services by A2IM

Who are the rising young executives driving our business forward? For the sixth consecutive year, Billboard’s special feature 30 Under 30 will indentify these individuals — and we invite our readers to offer their nominations online here.

Individuals in all aspects of the music industry are eligible if they were born after Aug. 21, 1980. (Our report will be published in the issue dated Aug 21, 2010). Individuals who make their living primarily as artists and/or songwriters are not eligible unless they own their recordings or songs and act in a business or executive capacity to market them.

Billboard editors will choose among the nominees by considering achievements in the past 12 months, the numeric measurement of those achievements, and the nominee’s leadership within the broader industry, as described in his or her nomination.

The deadline for nominations is Friday, June 11.

For more information, read our FAQ here.

Posted in Member Services by A2IM

Jeff McClusky & Associates has been the leading independent radio promotion entity in the United States for the past 28 years. The company represents and has represented virtually every major recoding artist that has had a radio promotion campaign targeted at the following formats: Alternative, Top 40, Hot AC, Rhythm Crossover and Rock. Additionally and of equal importance are the independent labels and artists that JMA have either quarterbacked, advised, or participated in their radio promotion efforts for our entire business career. Over the years, JMA has developed strong relations with independent labels, artist owned labels, international labels, managers and publishers, providing effective, efficient and price-sensitive campaigns of different levels. Our client list includes all the major music conglomerates: Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group and EMI Music Group. There are approximately 22 label entities among those music groups that we do business with. We’ve also proudly represented independent artists, including Peal Jam and The Eagles, as well as artist-owned and/or independent labels from the U.S. and around the world, from SubPop, the Beggars Group, One Little Indian, XL, Next Plateau, Robbins Entertainment, Touch & Go, Mushroom and countless others. “We have a deep belief that if there is a sincere interest and excitement from our staff for an artist or a song, we will find a way to have a promotional relationship.”

McClusky is credited with a complete reinvention of the independent promotion industry where in the late 1980s he developed a business model that although somewhat controversial in its inception, was accepted by the FCC in Washington and became the industry standard for almost 20 years. JMA was credited with taking independent radio promotion out of the back room and making it a legitimate business where the benefits were enjoyed by all rights holders as well as the broadcast industry.

As both the recorded music industry and broadcast industries became severely challenged in the early- to mid-2000s, there became a pushback of the independent promotion business models by some of the major broadcasters as well as the steep decline in dollars being spent by major labels. The investigation into the major labels practices and promotion practices by NY attorney general Elliot Spitzer’s office in N.Y. further challenged the radio promotion community, including label staffs and independent promoters alike.

(more…)

Posted in Member Services by A2IM

A New Name…A New Time

At AmericDirect, we are excited about our future and the opportunity to serve our customers in more ways than ever before. Since 1987, we have partnered with entertainment firms, independent music labels, publishers, CD and DVD manufacturers and related companies whose needs were to get multimedia products to market on time with great accuracy.

Today, under our new name, we have a broader portfolio of integrated services, from procurement and packaging to fulfillment and inventory management — thus giving our customers more time to focus on growing their business in a volatile environment.

What hasn’t changed is the dedication of our people, who go out of their way to meet an incredibly short deadline with flexibility, responsiveness and strong work ethic.

Come discover the new AmericDirect. No matter what your challenge, we have the expertise, equipment and systems ready to perform. Consider it done!

For more info, please contact Kyle Olesen at 516-922-3465 or kyle.olesen@americdirect.com or David McKenzie at 612-581-5772 or david.mckenzie@americdirect.com.

Posted in Member Services, Members Only, Special Offers by A2IM

Thanks to A2IM associate members, Popkomm and Sonicbids, A2IM members attending Popkomm can submit bands for Popkomm showcase opportunities via Sonicbids for $5 (non-A2IM members pay standard rate of $10 per submission).

Submission deadline for showcase consideration is May 14, 2010.

1.    Go to: www.sonicbids.com/popkomm2010 to submit.

So who is Sonicbids anyway? Sonicbids helps artists connect with people who book or license music – from local street fairs, to international music festivals like Popkomm, songwriting contests and opportunities to have your music on compilations CDs, in films and more.

Popkomm Showcase Overview