A2IM: American Association of Independent Music

Average Joes Entertainment, an Atlanta and Nashville-based record label, launched with flagship artist Colt Ford in late 2008. In less than three years, the label has released four Colt Ford titles: Ride Through The Country, Country Is As Country Does (EP/DVD), Live From Suwannee River Jam, Chicken And Biscuits and Every Chance I Get. His two most recent releases have both debuted in the Top 10 on the Billboard Country Music chart. Ford has sold over 900,00 albums, 3.1 million digital singles, 750,000 tickets to shows in 2011, and been nominated for both for ACM and CMA awards.

BANDIT RECORDS was established as an independent record company in 200l as a partnership between country music legend GEORGE JONES and his wife, NANCY; EVELYN SHRIVER; SUSAN NADLER and JOAN and KENNY SIMS. SHRIVER was the first female president of a major label in the history of country music when she took over the helm of Asylum Records (part of the AOL Time Warner Music Group). NADLER was Executive VP/A&R. Though neither had ever worked at a label, their different approach to the record business resulted in two Grammy wins during their first year of business. Among their first signings at Asylum was the legendary GEORGE JONES. BANDIT was established when Asylum Records was closed by AOL Time Warner as part of its corporate consolidation. Though Jones could have remained with Warner Bros. Records, he chose to leave the entertainment conglomerate to create a new company with his friends. The philosophy of BANDIT RECORDS is to create unique, interesting projects with artistic integrity that can operate free from the constraints of the corporate music industry.

Scott Borchetta founded independent label Big Machine Records in September 2005 and serves as its President/CEO. In its first year Big Machine scored its first #1 single (Jack Ingram’s “Wherever You Are”), placed five singles in the Country Top 30, received a nomination for Record Label of the Year, and placed all three of the label's three new artist releases in the Top 10 Most-Played New Artists of 2006 (as monitored by Mediabase and reported by USA Today and Country Aircheck). Big Machine’s signature artist Taylor Swift (the CMA and AP’s reigning Entertainer of the Year and the American Music Awards’ 2009 Artist of the Year) was the best-selling all-genre artist of 2008 and her current album, Fearless, repeated her success when it became 2009’s highest-selling album of the year across all genres. Fearless - the Country Music Association, Academy of Country Music and American Music Awards’ 2009 Country Album of the Year - has spent more weeks at #1 atop the Billboard Top Album chart than any other album in the last 10 years with an astounding 11 weeks at #1. Taylor re-wrote the record books when her worldwide smash single "Love Story" became the first ever Country crossover single to hit #1 on the Billboard and USA Today Top 40 airplay charts. Her follow-up single, “You Belong With Me,” repeated the same feat. Big Machine Records, was Billboard’s #1 Top Country Album Imprint of 2009, decorating it as the highest-selling record label group on Music Row. In 2009, Big Machine partnered with Universal Republic to create Republic Nashville. The Big Machine Label Group’s current artist roster includes Taylor Swift, Rascal Flatts, Reba McEntire, Jewel, Martina McBride, Trisha Yearwood, Jack Ingram, Justin Moore, Steel Magnolia, The Band Perry, Edens Edge, Eli Young Band and Sunny Sweeney. In 4 years, Big Machine Records artists have received 6 Country Music Association Awards, 6 American Music Awards, 4 Academy of Country Music Awards, 4 CMT Music Awards, 3 Teen Choice Awards, 1 MTV Video Music Award as well as 13 GRAMMY Nominations and 5 People’s Choice Award Nominations. Big Machine Records is the parent label for the successful independent label, The Valory Music Company that features the artists Jewel, Reba McEntire, Justin Moore and Brantley Gilbert.

.Somewhere along the line, the term music business began to take on a new meaning. It seems more and more the music has become more about business, and less and less about music. We live in a reality show world, where everything is about shock effect, and substance seems to be taking a back seat to marketing. The problem is, you need something to market. Black River was started for the sole purpose of giving the music back to the fans who long for it. We believe that if you record great artist with great music and get it directly to the fans, they will buy it. It's really that simple. What's complicated is getting past the politics and the industry with the deep pockets who control how music is delivered to the fans. We believe in the power of the internet to connect fans, to promote artists and the music they make, and to allow fans to be the ones who decide whether or not they like or dislike something. It's time for the music business to come of age and accept the realities of the new avenues open to them via the internet. We also believe radio and the internet should be partners, not adversaries in this process. BRMG is dedicated to finding the means necessary to give great music to the fans who want it so much. Also, BRMG will strive to provide conventional radio and retailers the chance to partner with new technology to give music fans more options than ever before to support their artists, while creating exciting opportunities for the industry to grow. Great artists.....great music.....great product. It's a new world for the business of music, and change is in the air. Can you feel it?

Since 1994, Bloodshot Records has championed music that lurks between genres; the good stuff nestled in the dark, nebulous cracks where punk, country, soul, pop, bluegrass, blues and rock mix and mingle and mutate. Bloodshot artists work over American roots forms with chains and velvet gloves with little regard for formality or protocol; they aren't afraid to molest and caress these forms to take music into uncharted and exciting waters. Bloodshot and it's artists share a punk/DIY ethic of expression. Bloodshot's artist roster includes: Bobby Bare Jr., Detroit Cobras, Scott H. Biram, The Bottle Rockets, Deadstring Brothers, Gore Gore Girls, Wayne Hancock, Graham Parker, The Silos, Waco Brothers, and Wee Hairy Beasties. From Bloodshot's shabby offices on a bleak stretch of the Northwest Side of Chicago, the label forges ahead in an environment hostile to the little guy, keeping its steel-toed boot on the throats of the forces responsible for the free fall decline of the contemporary music scene.

Bob Frank Entertainment (BFE) was formed in 2012 as a full service entertainment company including record labels, music publishing companies, a film and graphic novel development division as well holding interests in several new media companies. Record labels include Soul Temple which released the soundtrack to Quentin Tarantino's "The Man With The Iron Fists" in October 2012 as well as Country music legend Charlie Daniels Bluehat Records and Red River Entertainment. In the US distribution is via RED with various partners around the world. Frank was President of Koch Records / E1 Music during their 10 year run as the #1 Independent in the US from 2000 - 2009. He is also a former PolyGram executive.

Curb Records is a record label started by Mike Curb originally as Sidewalk Records in 1963. From 1969 to 1973 Curb merged with MGM Records where Curb served as President of MGM and Verve Records. After MGM Records was sold in 1973 Curb Records has continued to operate as one of the most successful independent record labels in the United States.

Independent label of music legend Dolly Parton

Oh Boy Records is an independent American record label founded in 1984 by singer John Prine, his manager Al Bunetta and their friend Dan Einstein. The label has released more than 40 audio and video recordings by singer-songwriters Prine, Kris Kristofferson, Slick Ballinger, Shawn Camp, Dan Reeder and Todd Snider, along with a dozen reissues of classic country music artists. Oh Boy Records also manages two subsidiary labels, Steve Goodman's Red Pajamas Records and speciality label Blue Plate Music.

Part of Concord Music Group

Founded by Nate Yetton in 2008, sensibility music is an independent company devoted to artist development, management, recording, marketing and licensing. Sensibility’s flagship artist, The Civil Wars, recently won two Grammy Awards for their debut album, Barton Hollow, which has sold over 400,000 records since its February 2011 release.

In the early 1960’s, Eugene (Gene) Lucchesi, Sr. founded The Sounds of Memphis Studio and productions. Over the next few years his company started several publishing companies: Beckie Publishing, Il Gatto, Sounds of Memphis and By-Gene Music; all Tennessee Corporations. He also started his own recording labels: Crystal, X-L, Pen and SOM. In 1965, Gene cut a record on his X-L label on a group called... Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs. Every label he took the record to turned him down. However, Gene believed in this song and ran off 1,000 copies and it soon became a regional hit. It also got the attention of MGM records. Thirty days after being released on the MGM label, this song had sold 1,000,000 copies. This song was a #1 hit in the United States and all over the world. And, it was #1 on the charts in Germany for 42 straight weeks! This song is now a pop classic and its title is “Wooly Bully”! Once the Sounds of Memphis Studio, production companies and Beckie Publishing had attracted national and international notice, MGM and Sounds of Memphis entered into a joint agreement. Over the next few years close to 100 songs were released on the MGM and MGM/SOM labels. In 1984, the SOM studio and publishing companies were each sold separately. Although the studio has changed hands (and names) over the last few years, the publishing company was sold and continues to be owned and operated by Linda Lucchesi, Gene’s daughter. Linda formed Simply Grand Music, Inc. whose catalog includes all of the songs from SOM Publishing, Beckie Publishing, Il Gatto and By-Gene which are affiliated with BMI. In addition, Linda formed Memphis Town Music, Inc. which is affiliated with ASCAP.