A2IM: American Association of Independent Music

Posted in News by A2IM

Last week we shared a guest post from David Macias of Thirty Tigers on the need for AM/FM radio to pay sound recording creators and those that invest in that creation, us!  Roll Call, the on-line publication that everyone in Congress reads, ran an excerpt of David’s item. (also printed below).

Macias: Ending Radio’s Free Ride

David Macias

March 15, 2013

Music is a labor of love, but it’s also a business that works under the same market principles as any other part of our economy.

One of these is that markets only work if everyone plays by the same rules. Secret deals or collusion to fix prices are illegal. Another is the idea (under a federal law called the Robinson-Patman Act) that a business must sell to everyone at the same price. There are lots of exceptions to this “no discrimination” rule (volume discounts, happy hours, qualitative differences), but the basic idea is simple and important. Markets don’t work if competitors don’t have the same access to raw materials or products that they re-sell. A paper mill can’t try and suck up to Staples by charging it a lower price than OfficeMax. If that were allowed, OfficeMax could never compete.

But amazingly, in the music business, that’s what happens every day. When digital broadcasters like Pandora or SiriusXM play a song, they must pay a royalty to the musicians and labels that performed and recorded it. It’s only fair; radio makes money selling ads or subscriptions around that music, the folks who created it deserve just compensation. But when AM/FM broadcasts the exact same song, it pays the musicians and labels nothing. That is the definition of a broken market — one that is failing musicians and their labels while handicapping digital radio. It’s the kind of distortion that would violate the Robinson-Patman Act, except that Congress itself created this loophole in the first place!

Fighting to defend its special deal, broadcasters say that musicians should be thanking them for the airplay, since radio spins create new stars. Things have changed in a digital, social world, including how we find and share new music. Congressional auditors looked at this in 2010 and found the connection between radio play and album sales to be “unclear” at best.

AM/FM has submitted a resolution to Congress claiming that “performers benefit considerably from airplay and other over-the-air broadcasting” — but I can find many performers whose music is used to keep listeners engaged until the next commercial, while they themselves are destitute. It’s a pretty simple issue — if you are going to make money off someone else’s work, you should have the decency to pay them for it.

It’s not that AM/FM airplay has zero promotional value — it still reaches the biggest audiences, and any musician or label that claims not to care about cracking the Top 40 isn’t being straight. But this kind of promotion is just much less valuable today than it once was. That’s not just my opinion. Clear Channel CEO Bob Pittman agrees that “clearly [promotion] is not enough.” Other radio products like sports and talk also benefit from on-air promotion, but they still receive enormous licensing fees on top of that. A few years ago, Clear Channel gave Rush Limbaugh a $400 million contract. Meanwhile, it pays nothing for the vocal work of Beyoncé, Katy Perry and Kelly Clarkson combined.

It’s no surprise that digital broadcasters like Pandora have gotten frustrated by the discriminatory system in which they have to pay while broadcast gets a pass. But it’s disappointing that digital’s response has been to hire its own lobbyist army to try and win loophole protection of its own. The solution here isn’t an ugly race to the bottom that would level the playing field by slashing digital royalties (apparently Pandora’s Internet Radio bill would cut rates a whopping 85 percent). It’s to modernize the entire licensing system and create a fair, transparent market where everyone is paid for their work and the playing field is truly, finally level.

If the label and artist communities continue to have our rights ignored, and we can neither work out a comprehensive solution with our fellow stakeholders nor get relief from the Congress that is supposed to keep the playing field level for competitors in a free market, then I fear that our only recourse is to take our case to the courts and remind them of the tenets of the Robinson-Patman Act.

Musicians, labels, songwriters and broadcasters all have important interests at stake, and we know the health of each of these stakeholders are linked. We all love music and want the system to work and thrive. I’m optimistic (foolish?) enough to believe that, if we can just sit down and talk, a framework that is mutually beneficial to all can be crafted. It’s high time that we try.

David Macias is co-founder of Thirty Tigers, a Nashville record label and artist management company.

Posted in News by A2IM

Our member David Macias of Nashville’s Thirty Tigers wrote an excellent item on Hypebot this week about how AM/FM radio should be paying royalties to sound recording creators, artists and labels. It’s long but definitely worth the read! See more on this issue in a separate item HERE. Also see David and SoundExchange CEO Mike Huppe on a panel on this at SXSW this week on Thursday, March 14 at 5PM in Convention Center Room 12AB. Please note the A2IM Roundup accepts label member guest posts.

Posted in News by A2IM

Following the public announcement of the 1^st Annual American Association of Independent Music Libera Awards (“The Libbies”) via our Shore Fire press release we got coverage in a number of industry trade sources (see below) and heard from many A2IM members expressing interest in submitting their artists/music for nomination consideration.  The A2IM Awards Committee continues to meet and make progress and you can expect more news soon.  Until then, be sure to put a hold on the dates of A2IM Indie Week (June 19-21, NYC) and the A2IM Libera Awards show at Le Poisson Rouge (June 21, NYC).
Billboard.biz
“A2IM To Produce First Ever Independent Music Awards”
Dan Rys
February 22, 2012
http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/indies/a2im-to-produce-first-ever-independent-music-1006252562.story

The American Association of Independent Music (A2IM) annonuced that the launch of the first-ever American Association of Independent Music Libera Awards, or the “Libbies,” this June 21. The award show will be the first of its kind to honor independent labels and musicians as voted on by independent labels and musicians.

The show will be the crown jewel of A2IM’s Indie Week 2012, which will be celebrating the organization’s seventh anniversary with a conference and a series of events the weekend of June 19-21. The invite-only event will be held at Le Poisson Rouge in New York City.

“This is our chance to celebrate the risk-takers of the music industry — the independent labels — and the amazing people we all work with every day, from music supervisors to designers,” said Portia Sabin, President of label Kill Rock Stars and A2IM board member, in a statement. “We want to honor the people who do great work with independent artists, as well as our artists themselves. This is an exciting time for the independent community and we look forward to marking it with the A2IM Libera Awards ceremony.”

The Libbies will decorate indies in a number of categories geared towards celebrating the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit that is required to be successful in the industry, including Road Warrior of the Year for the artist who worked hardest on the touring circuit; the Indie Light Bulb Award for the most innovative marketing campaign; and Indie Label of the Year. Nominees will be selected by a secret industry panel, and each member of A2IM will be allowed to vote on a winner.

Previously, the National Association of Independent Music Distributors (NAIRD) produced the NAIRD Awards, which became the Indie Awards after the organization was renamed the Association For Independent Music. AFIM disbanded in 2004, and A2IM opened its doors the following year.
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Hypebot
“A2IM Announces Libera Awards Show for Independent Artists & Labels”
Bruce Houghton
February 23, 2012
http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2012/02/a2im-announces-award-show-for-indie-artists-labels.html

The Grammys are cutting award categories, but the U.S. independent label community are adding a few of their own. The American Association of Independent Music (A2IM), announced yesterday that it will produce “the first award show for independent artists and labels, nominated and voted on by independent artists and labels”. The new Libera Awards will cap off A2IM’s Indie Week 2012 in New York City this June.

The first A2IM Libera Awards (”The Libbies”) are invite only at NYC’s Le Poisson Rouge on June 21st, and are designed to recognize the growing market share of independent artists and labels with categories including Road Warrior of the Year (for the most engaged, hardest working independent artist), Indie Light Bulb Award (for the most innovative marketing campaign for an indie artist), and Indie Label of the Year.

All independent labels will be invited to submit their artists’ music for consideration with the submissions pared down by a “secret panel of indie experts”.  Winners will be voted upon by all A2IM members and announced live at the June event.

“This is our chance to celebrate the risk-takers of the music industry – the independent labels – and the amazing people we all work with every day, from music supervisors to designers,” said Kill Rock Stars President and A2IM Board Member Portia Sabin in statement. “This is an exciting time for the independent community and we look forward to marking it with the A2IM Libera Awards ceremony.”
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SonicScoop
“A2IM Announces First Annual Libera Awards, for Indie Artists and Labels”
David Weiss
February 24, 2012
http://www.sonicscoop.com/2012/02/24/a2im-announces-first-ever-award-show-for-independents-by-independents-in-nyc/

Ready for another awards show? Well, this seems to be one that NYC and the independent music community can really use.

Expect substance, not an overload of glitz and glamour, at the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM) Libera Awards. According to A2IM, “The Libbies” stand as the first award show for independent artists and labels, nominated and voted on by independent artists and labels.

The event will be the glorious conclusion to A2IM’s Indie Week 2012 taking place this June. The invite-only awards celebration takes place at New York’s Le Poisson Rouge on June 21st.

A2IM describes The Libbies as recognizing the growing support and market share for independent artists, by celebrating the accomplishments of independent musicians and the independent labels who support them in a number of categories including:

– “Road Warrior of the Year” (for the most engaged, hardest working independent artist),
– “Indie Light Bulb Award”(for the most innovative marketing campaign for an indie artist), and
– “Indie Label of the Year.”

All independent labels will be invited to submit their artists’ music for nomination consideration. The submissions will be pared down to final nominees in each category by a secret panel of indie experts that will include the most knowledgeable tastemakers, programmers, and professional supporters of independent music. Winners will be voted upon by all A2IM members and announced live at the June event.

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Billboard.biz

“A2IM Partners with eMusic for Fan Voting at Libera Awards”

Dan Rys

March 21, 2012

http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/indies/a2im-partners-with-emusic-for-fan-voting-1006527762.story

A2IM’s newly-minted indie-centric Libera Awards (or the “Libbies,” as A2IM is calling them) are partnering with eMusic to sponsor an “Up and Comer” category at the award show this June. The category will be split into two awards, with one being voted on by A2IM members and the other voted on by eMusic members.

A2IM To Produce First Ever Independent Music Awards

The “Up and Comer Artist presented by eMusic” award joins the list of accolades that A2IM will be presenting at the New York City-based event, with other categories such as Road Warrior of the Year and the Indie Light Bulb award voted on by a A2IM members, after nominees are selected by a secret industry panel (and managed through a new partnership with Official.fm).

A2IM’s Rich Bengloff Chats About the Buzz In Austin

“We’re thrilled to support the inaugural American Association of Independent Music Libera Awards,” said Molly Neuman, VP of Label Relations and MD Europe at eMusic, in a statement. “Through this partnership, we’ll be giving members a unique way to participate in the exciting conversations about who will be the next big independent music superstar.”

Nominations are still being accepted until March 30, with the award ceremony being held June 21. Check out the A2IM site for submission guidelines and voting details.

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American Songwriter

“A2IM Opens Indie Nominations for 2012 Libera Awards”

March 21, 2012

http://www.americansongwriter.com/2012/03/a2im-opens-indie-nominations-for-2012-libera-awards/

(reposted press release)

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Blurt

“A2IM Nominations Now Open on Blurt Online”

March 22, 2012

http://blurt-online.com/news/view/6116/

Awards event takes place in June.

A2IM is now accepting nominations for the 2012 American Association of Independent Music Libera Awards (”The Libbies”), the first award show for independents, BY independents, taking place June 21st at New York’s Le Poisson Rouge, and capping off A2IM’s Indie Week 2012.

Nominations will be managed via a partnership with Official.fm and can be submitted by all U.S. independents for the below categories.  Additionally, the A2IM Libera Award for “Up & Comer Artist presented by eMusic” will consist of two awards, determined by two separate votes: one by the A2IM member community and another by an eMusic member vote – giving both the music industry and music fans the opportunity to choose the next breakthrough independent artist(s).

Award: Independent Album of the Year presented by Official.fm

Award: Indie Label of the Year Award (5 Employees or less worldwide)

Award: Indie Label of the Year Award (6 Employees or more worldwide)

Award: Up and Comer Award presented by eMusic - celebrating the next independent label superstar artist; to qualify artist must have total career sales not exceeding 5000 full length albums or 25,000 tracks (combined)

Award: Video of the Year

Award: Best Sync Usage - for the most creative or most impactful use of independent music in a film/tv/ad campaign

Award: Music Supervisor of the Year - for the music supervisor/licensing person who was especially supportive of independent music labels and artists in the last 12 months

Award: Light Bulb Award - celebrating the most innovative/creative marketing campaign by an independent label or artist in the last 12 months

Award: Road Warrior of the Year - celebrating the independent label band/artist that worked hardest at their job in the last 12 months

Award: 21st Century Award - celebrating the service provider or platform that was most beneficial to independent labels and artists in the last 12 months

Award: Creative Packaging Award (Physical or Digital) - celebrating the best or most creative packaging – including bundled packages, premium offerings or artwork/design packaging – from an independent label or artist in the last 12 months

The A2IM Libera Awards recognize the growing support and market share for independent artists by celebrating the accomplishments of independent artists and the independent labels that support them.

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Hypebot

“A2IM Announces Libera Awards Show for Independent Artists & Labels”

Bruce Houghton

February 23, 2012

http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2012/02/a2im-announces-award-show-for-indie-artists-labels.html

The Grammys are cutting award categories, but the U.S. independent label community are adding a few of their own. The American Association of Independent Music (A2IM), announced yesterday that it will produce “the first award show for independent artists and labels, nominated and voted on by independent artists and labels”. The new Libera Awards will cap off A2IM’s Indie Week 2012 in New York City this June.

The first A2IM Libera Awards (”The Libbies”) are invite only at NYC’s Le Poisson Rouge on June 21st, and are designed to recognize the growing market share of independent artists and labels with categories including Road Warrior of the Year (for the most engaged, hardest working independent artist), Indie Light Bulb Award (for the most innovative marketing campaign for an indie artist), and Indie Label of the Year.

All independent labels will be invited to submit their artists’ music for consideration with the submissions pared down by a “secret panel of indie experts”.  Winners will be voted upon by all A2IM members and announced live at the June event.

“This is our chance to celebrate the risk-takers of the music industry – the independent labels – and the amazing people we all work with every day, from music supervisors to designers,” said Kill Rock Stars President and A2IM Board Member Portia Sabin in statement. “This is an exciting time for the independent community and we look forward to marking it with the A2IM Libera Awards ceremony.”

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Hypebot

“NEWS BRIEF: Songza Wins, Pandora’s Stock Hold, SXSW $$ Talk, A2IM Libbies + eMusic & More”

Bruce Houghton

March 21, 2012

http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2012/03/news-brief-songza-wins-pandoras-stock-hold-sxsw-talk-a2im-libbies-emusic-more.html

(excerpt)

The A2IM Music Libera Awards (”The Libbies”) has brought aboard eMusic as a partner for the “Up & Comer Artist” category, which will “celebrate the next great U.S. independent artist(s)”.