Posted in Advocacy, News by A2IM
A2IM is applying for some federal and New York state government funding grant programs to help our members develop their international revenue sources. We would greatly appreciate your support helping us gather the info required to apply for these grants, in particular…
*general estimates of tour support amounts and expenses associated with touring oversees (solo artists, bands, new and established acts)
*letters of support as we need to show member interest in participating
For more information on the proposed programs, please scroll to the bottom of this page.
If you would like to support our efforts in these grants, please use the following text, or some short variation thereof, onto your company letterhead (including office address) to generate two (2) letters – one, if you are based in New York State, that we can use for our NY application and the other for the federal grant.
Please try to get us tour support info and/or the letters of support emailed to Jim Mahoney or faxed to 212 999 7984 today or as soon as possible. The letters should take only half a page on your letterhead.
Sample Federal Letter
(today’s date)
Richard Bengloff
American Association of Independent Music (“A2IM”)
853 Broadway
Suite 1406
New York, NY 10003
We are happy to support the A2IM proposed Music Travels project as an independent music label based in the United States. Exports are imperative to the financial health of our business especially considering the changing market conditions. We are very interested in participating in export training, export travels to trade fairs and meetings abroad, and projects in the U.S. to increase our international revenues.
Sincerely,
Your Name HERE
Job Title HERE
Sample NY State Letter
(today’s date)
Richard Bengloff
American Association of Independent Music (“A2IM”)
853 Broadway
Suite 1406
New York, NY 10003
We are happy to support the A2IM proposed Music Travels project as an independent music label based in New York State. Exports are imperative to the financial health of our business especially considering the changing market conditions. We are very interested in participating in export training, export travels to trade fairs and meetings abroad, and projects in the New York State to increase our international revenues.
Sincerely,
Your Name HERE
Job Title HERE
********************
Overview of the A2IM funding requests:
We request government support for the U.S. independent music industry to remain competitive. Most countries around the world have support programs for their music industries which we see exhibited at the worldwide events that our members attend as essential commerce events. For example, when we went to the Midem conference in Cannes, France in January we did a survey (not 100% of territories) and compiled a list of government supported exhibition stands/meeting areas and found over 30 countries with government support. A2IM is a member of the Worldwide Independent Network (‘WIN”); an organization comprised of 25 independent music label organizations around the world and we have surveyed the support our international colleagues receive from their government. Based upon our survey and the needs of our American independent music community we respectfully request support at trade shows of international business/trade importance and for trade missions to promote exports for the following expense categories which would result in a return on any investment by opening international doors:
- Subsidies for the rental fees, construction and staffing of exhibit stands/meeting areas and staffing support, when required, industry brochures and flash music samplers.
- Subsidies for participants at selected higher prices events and/or transportation/accommodation allowance subsidies for events outside of the U.S.
- Subsidies for tour support (Visas, travel and local ground costs) so that American artists can perform at these trade events like other attending countries
- Funding of A2IM to administer this program and educate our members as well as to attend these events to perform the member support functions.
- Funding/subsidies of trade missions to key overseas markets to allow the A2IM board and its members to meet with organizations that can license/import our repertoire and to meet with local advertisers, film makers, gaming companies, etc. to obtain licensing income.
These costs would be incurred at international events such as Midem in France, Pokomm in Berlin, Womex in Scandinavia, and TAM in Japan on an annual basis plus selected events on less than an annual basis plus trade missions.
