Posted in Members Only, News by A2IM
We have so many videos to share from Indie Week 2012 that they would just not fit on one post. Below is a continuation of the video series including Rich Bengloff’s A2IM State of the Union Address and Victoria Espinel’s Keynote Address.
The videos are password protected for A2IM members only. Should you need assistance resetting your password or logging in, please contact Sheryl (sheryl@a2im.org)
Posted in Members Only, News by A2IM
We have so many videos to share from Indie Week 2012 that they would just not fit on one post. Below is a continuation of the panels presented on Day 2 including the Digital Case Studies Panel and excerpts 1 thru 6 of the Annual Meeting.
The videos are password protected for A2IM members only. Should you need assistance resetting your password or logging in, please contact Sheryl (sheryl@a2im.org)
A2IM’s Indie Week 2012, which was held in NYC from June 19-21, was a huge success. Over 600 members were in attendance across the three days of events making this the largest gathering in A2IM history. In attendance were delegations from AIM in the UK and China as well as delegates from over 10 other countries around the world and our A2IM members from all across the United States. All the panels are available to watch now and other highlights, which include Rich Bengloff’s State of the Union address and the Obama Administration’s “IP Czar” Victoria Espinel’s Keynote address at the A2IM annual member meeting will be on the website later this week and highlighted in next week’s RoundUp Newsletter
Indie Week 2012 was capped off by the Inaugural A2IM Libera Awards. The Libbies, hosted by John Ross Bowie (Big Bang Theory), were held at Le Poisson Rouge on June 21, 2012. In attendance was a veritable who’s who of the Independent Music Community. A2IM extends a warm THANK YOU to the A2IM Awards Committee for a fantastic event.
Below is a compilation of the press which Indie Week 2012 has received as well as pictures and videos of the panel presentations and annual meeting.
A2IM extends a BIG thanks to our member volunteers (Jeff Kent/Sound Performance, Anna Siegel/7digital, Stacy Karp/A to Z Media, Kyle Olesen/OEM, Jim Logrando/Redeye Distribution, Andrew Keyes/Robot of the Century, Judith Govey, Lara Baker, James Farrelly/AIM, Christina Zafiris, Louis Joachim and Tara Frank) who gave of their time to make Indie Week 2012 run smoothly.
The A2IM staff offer a heartfelt “THANKS!” to our Indie Week 2012 sponsors:
Billboard.Biz (recap of Day One)
Billboard.Biz (recap of Day Two)
Obama Administration’s “IP CZAR”, Victoria Espinel: Indie Week 2012’s Keynote Speaker
Victoria Espinel’s Keynote Address Transcribed
Below are the videos of the panel discussion and annual meeting. Please note, the videos are password protected for A2IM members only. Please contact Sheryl Cohen if you have any difficulties logging in. (sheryl@a2im.org)
Posted in Events, Member Services, Members Only by A2IM
A2IM will be celebrating our 7th Anniversary from June 19-21 at Slate (54 W. 21st Street, NYC, map) with our annual member-only A2IM Indie Week conference and related festivities. A2IM’s committees are planning events and this page will be regularly updated leading up to Indie Week. To see who has already RSVP’ed, click the link below.
In addition to these conference panels and presentations, we will also celebrate the 1st ever American Association of Independent Music Libera Awards.
Members of AIM (A2IM’s sister organization in the UK) will be sending delegates to NYC to attend Indie Week 2012. Read more here: AIM for the US 2012.
Schedule of Events
1PM – 2PM Panel Discussion on Video Monetization (continued from Indie Week 2011)
A panel discussion led by Scott Sellwood of RightsFlow / YouTube, Isaac Bess of YouTube, and Maggie Argyros of The Orchard will discuss best practices and practical strategies for monetizing music copyrights on YouTube. As they will build on information already shared regarding Video Monetization, we recommend that you watch last year’s panel HERE and read the Video Monetization white paper HERE prior to attending this event. We also highly recommend reviewing YouTube’s Partner & Creator Resources HERE.
2PM – 3PM Exporting to the Emerging Music Market in China 
Presented in conjunction with China Audio-Video Association (CAVA). In 2005, per the IFPI, the US share of worldwide wholesale dollar sales, including digital streaming, was 34%. In 2010 & 2011 the US share had fallen to 26% of worldwide wholesale revenues. Exports have never been more important to the financial health of our community. This panel on the China marketplace is the first in a series on International Markets that we need to access for continued financial viability for our community. The panel will be moderated by Robert Singerman of Panel Sponsor 88tc88. The panelists include Anastasia Tonello of Laura Devine Attorneys LLC, Ju Wang of CAVA, Jean Hsiao Wernheim of a-Peer Synergy Shanghai Culture & Technology Co., and Bill Yanbin Zang of Shanghai Synergy Culture & Entertainment Group.
3:15PM – 4:15PM Discussion on Pan-European Licensing
Panelists to include Vickie Nauman of 7digital, Stan Schneider of BMG Rights Management and Simon Wheeler of Beggars Group. This panel will be moderated by Chris Castle.
4:30PM – 6:00PM Licensing Services / Music Supervisors : Executive One-on-Ones with Labels, Publishers & Distributors. – To participate in the One-on-Ones, contact sheryl@a2im.org
1PM – 2PM Featured Speaker: Robert Levine, Author of Free Ride
Robert Levine will be interviewed by Eric German of Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP.
2PM – 3PM “Publicizing Your Press: How Social Media Partnerships Are Amplifying Coverage”A discussion on how media outlets (and the artists they cover) are using social media platforms to cross- and self- promote coverage. Moderated by Shore Fire Media’s Elizabeth Lutz, the panel will feature key decision makers in the press including: Jim Fusilli, The Wall Street Journal’s rock & pop critic; Jonathan Cohen, the music booker for NBC’s “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” and former Billboard editor; Matt Kiser, the digital product manager for SPIN Media and Amy Schriefer, NPR Music Product Manager.
3PM – 4:30PM “Get Your Digital House in Order” Case Studies
A2IM’s Digital Media & Emerging Technologies Committee are completing the “Get Your Digital House in Order” white paper now. This event will feature case studies from a label (Beggars Group), an aggregator (Virtual Label), and a distributor (Redeye Distribution) showing specific examples of how companies are adapting their approach and becoming better organized to embrace innovation and monetization. Gabe Spierer from Beggars Group will present with Perry Turcotte from VEVO and Jake Friedman from We Are Free (manager of Dirty Projectors, Purity Ring, etc.). Peter Wright from Virtual Label will present with Charles Caldas of Merlin and Bob Kohn of Royalty Share. Jim Logrando of Redeye Distribution will present with Portia Sabin from Kill Rock Stars and Ryan Auffenberg of Rdio. Case studies will be moderated by Rob Weitzner of Consolidated Independent.
4:30PM – 6PM Digital Marketing / Digital Revenue / Data Management Services: Executive One-on-Ones with Labels, Publishers & Distributors - To participate in the One-on-Ones, contact sheryl@a2im.org
6PM – 9PM Open Bar & Hors D’Oeuvres
10AM – 1PM Think Tank Roundtable Discussions
1PM – 2PM Lunch Break – Lunch Served
2PM – 5PM A2IM Annual Meeting
A2IM business/board meeting to include State of the Union for Independents and presentations from our sponsors, Consolidated Independent; Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP; Rdio and Section 101. Featured speakers to include Alison Wenham (Chair, AIM/WIN) and Charles Caldas (CEO, Merlin) and keynote to be delivered by Victoria Espinel (U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator).
7PM – 11PM A2IM Libera Awards Ceremony at Le Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker, NYC, Map
If you will be traveling to NYC for this event and are looking for a hotel or apartment for rent for your stay, check our forum suggestions from your fellow members HERE.
Sponsorship opportunities available. Please contact Jennifer Masset or Jim Mahoney for more information.
Big thanks to our sponsors, Consolidated Independent; Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP; Rdio and Section 101!
The not-for-profit, global licensing and rights organization, Merlin, recently surveyed its membership and has issued a press release pointing to many successes and further demonstrating that the music marketed and released by independent labels should be treated by commerce partners on a level equal to that which is released and marketed by major labels. Independents deliver chart toppers, GRAMMY winners, successful veteran artists and exciting music from new artists.
Key points in the release are as follows:
Chart Success
Digital Market Share
The more digital consumers pay, the more independent music they demand
Overall Key point:
“Services that are serious about providing their customers a compelling product … would do well to take the time to understand the new dynamic for indies in the digital market”
By way of background (if required), this is what we have said before….
Merlin has in the past been vocal about services that launch with a few indies and expect their customers to be hoodwinked by a deal with an indie aggregator or two, or worse who expect independents to accept what in our judgment must be inferior terms to those agreed with the majors or, even worse, to believe that there is an “indie” value which is somehow automatically inferior to that attached to repertoire from the majors.
Clearly from Merlin’s perspective, we cannot support the notion that the price for the rights we represent is determined via this false construct, particularly given these figures. If that kind of retrograde thinking goes unchecked, we risk ending up in a market where the opportunities for consumers to legitimately access music online are inferior to piracy. So no one wins.
Commercial music services succeed by offering their customers a full choice of major and indie artists (as, less pleasingly, do illegal services). This is illustrated by the continued strength of iTunes and the massive uptake of users on Spotify, who worked to ensure that via Merlin, independents were included in their business from launch as both content providers and shareholders. Services who are serious about providing their customers a compelling product that encourages them to pay, and stick around, would do well to take the time to understand the new dynamic for indies in the digital market, and analyse carefully what their customers are demanding.
