A2IM: American Association of Independent Music

Posted in News by A2IM

Showing Exports the Love on Valentine’s Day

As you know, the US Department of Commerce ITA has provided a three year funding grant to A2IM’s members which started with Midem 2013. The below two blog posts are from the official blog of ITA which can be read below or HERE:Valentine’s Day Blog Post and HERE: Keeping Tune With American Exports Blog Post.

(Blog Post #1)February 14, 2013

Andrea DaSilva is the Senior Media & Entertainment Analyst for the International Trade Administration (ITA). Chris Higginbotham is a Communication Specialist with ITA’s Office of Public Affairs.

What are you doing with your Valentine today? Maybe a movie? Dancing the night away? Or you could be reading poetry to one another…

Maybe you don’t have a Valentine but you’re doing one of those things anyway. Either way, you’re supporting creative industries that provide the United States with some of its most unique—and sometimes romantic— exports!

Exports in filmed entertainment, which includes movies and television content distributed abroad, reached $14.3 billion in 2011. That includes everything from romantic comedies to game shows, war movies to animated features. This was an increase of almost $700 million from 2010 numbers.

Exports in books, records and tapes achieved $1.3 billion. This category includes everything from easy listening to jazz and metal (romantic or otherwise), romantic novels to cookbooks.

All of these categories include media or entertainment content that is streamed online or digitally downloaded for a fee to protect the intellectual property and copyrights of the owners and creators.

The International Trade Administration (ITA) works closely with professionals in these industries to promote exports and create jobs. We’re supporting both the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM) and the Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA) with Market Development Cooperator Program (MDCP) awards. These are competitive financial assistance awards ITA provides to industry groups pursuing projects that will help U.S. firms export and create jobs.

Whether you’re picking up the tab for your Valentine, going dutch or flying solo, don’t be a cheapskate! Make sure to show love to your date and the creative professionals in these industries by avoiding pirated content or illegal file sharing. Nothing kills the romance more quickly than a computer virus you inadvertently downloaded while stealing music from an illegal site, or if you are an artist, writer, or musician – having your works shared without getting paid.

We hope you enjoy whatever entertainment you’re seeking for Valentine’s Day or any other occasion. And remember, there really is no such thing as free except for sharing romance with a loved one!

———–

February 5, 2013

Keeping Tune with American Exports

(Blog Post #2) February 5, 2013

Nicole Y. Lamb-Hale is the Assistant Secretary for Manufacturing and Services in the International Trade Administration (ITA). Andrea DaSilva is ITA’s Senior Media & Entertainment Analyst and Project Leader for the Market Development Coordinator Program award with the American Association of Independent Music.

Last week, we stood at the intersection of creativity, technology and intellectual property.

We stood there with the American independent music industry, a provider of American jobs and a significant contributor to American culture. It’s an industry facing a difficult road through technology advancements, piracy concerns and a changing business structure.

That’s one reason why the U.S. government is supporting the independent music industry with a financial award. It’s happening through a joint public-private sector program called the Market Development Cooperator Program, or MDCP. This is a competitive financial assistance award the International Trade Administration (ITA) provides to industry groups pursuing projects that will help U.S. firms export and create jobs.

Assistant Secretary Nicole Y. Lamb-Hale (center) and Andrea DaSilva (right) announce the awarding of a Market Development Cooperator Program award to the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM) at a music industry trade show. (photo courtesy A2IM)

In 2012, ITA selected the proposal submitted by the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM) for an MDCP. Indie music artists may not fit the traditional profile of a U.S. exporter, but the music industry directly supports American jobs. Most music labels and music publishers are small businesses. Behind music recordings are musicians, makers of music instruments, sound engineers, recording technicians, tour promoters, band managers, talent agents,  marketing executives,  and myriad other professions.

Indie music constitutes some of the most vibrant and uniquely American exports, supporting American culture and encouraging tourism to the U.S. Supporting American music exports creates American jobs, especially for small and medium sized businesses, and meets our National Export Initiative goals.

As a group representing a wide array of independent musicians, A2IM is working hard to protect the interests of artists in international markets. ITA is partnering with A2IM to help ensure a competitive market for American indie music on the global scene.

We announced this export project at MIDEM, the principal global trade show for the music industry, in Cannes, France in January. Via the MDCP, ITA will accompany A2IM representatives to trade shows, bring delegations to select markets to increase music licensing, and join forces with the music industry to support enforcement of copyright laws and educate consumers on the cost of “free” music. ITA’s Manufacturing and Services unit is providing one-third of the award, or about $285,000, to support A2IM’s mission to increase exports of American culture in the form of music. A2IM provides the remaining two-thirds in financial and in-kind contributions.

ITA looks forward to working with A2IM and the other eight industry groups who earned MDCP awards in 2012. ITA is currently accepting applications for the next round of awards and the 2013 application deadline is February 28. Interested industry associations or nonprofits should visit the MDCP website to learn more about the award and how to apply.

Posted in News by A2IM

2013 marked another strong showing for A2IM members at MIDEM, with over 250 U.S. independent music representatives holding court at A2IM’s American Independents Pavilion. A2IM’s presence in its eighth year attending the international conference was bolstered by the U.S. ITA MDCP grant to support independent music exports, which helped eligible independents cover up to 50% of the expenses needed to make the trip.

Highlights from A2IM’s activities this week included two cocktail mixers, one hosted by SoundExchange and one hosted by Counterpoint Systems, and a press conference to discuss the MDCP grant, counting among its guests the U.S. Commerce Department ITA’s Nicole Lamb-Hale, assistant secretary for manufacturing and services at the United States Department of Commerce’s International Trade Adminstration and Andrea DaSilva MDCP’s Project Leader and Senior Media and Entertainment Analyst. Read the International Trade Administration’s Blog Post HERE.

As reported previously Midem was A2IM’s first MDCP funding initiative and our second trip after the Asia Mission.

Take a look at the nearly 200 pictures below.

Thanks To Our Sponsors

Posted in Member Services, News by A2IM

This year marks significant growth for the music distributor Believe Digital, as the company opened new offices in South America, Canada, Spain and Russia while expanding its team in New York City.

Believe Digital is a global digital distributor and services provider for independent artists and labels, offering innovative digital distribution and promotion technology integrated with several hundred worldwide digital music stores. In addition to delivering thousands of new releases to online platforms, Believe provides trade marketing services, online marketing support including a comprehensive video management service, synchronization service, online social media strategy, and much more.

The company prides itself on meeting the unique requirements of each label they work with. They achieve this by providing tailor-made, personal service and strategies in marketing and distribution via their international network of industry experts. As a result they have won contracts to work with high-profile labels including Soundway (Kartel), Air Records Africa, Southern Fried, Hospital, Tru Thoughts, Blackheart, Dischord, System Recordings, and Latin Cool.

Shane German, formerly of SoundExchange, is now the Head of Label Relations for Believe at their U.S. headquarters in Brooklyn, New York and will be discussing distribution opportunities at Midem 2013. For U.S. inquiries, please contact Shane at shane@believedigital.com and visit the company’s website at www.believedigital.com.

Posted in Member Services, News by A2IM

International Solutions is a fast growing marketing and promotion company that makes going international easy. In fact, it is the first of its kind to offer a global product management service that can formulate and execute marketing & promotion plans in every country in North America, Europe and Australia. (more…)

Posted in Events, Member Services, News by A2IM

MIDEM 2013 (January 26-29, Cannes) will once again feature the A2IM American Independents Pavilion (see pics from last year HERE) as we host 200+ senior executives from the A2IM membership who will hold their meetings, conduct business, and network from our pavilion overlooking the French Riviera.

* See the list of A2IM members registered to attend MIDEM 2013 so far HERE.

* Information for A2IM registrants can be found HERE.

A2IM members are invited to REGISTER NOW at the discounted rate of €495 per registrant.  To use the A2IM discount you must use THIS FORM.

Complete the forms and return them to Sheryl Cohen or via fax to 212 999 7984.

Great news!  Due to new tax laws in France, A2IM members will NOT be charged French VAT (Value Added Tax) which you may recall was 19.6%.

This year, in addition to our discounted registration rate and members’ pavilion eligible A2IM members can also apply to participate in the MDCP grant.  Read eligibility and application guidelines HERE.  This grant will reimburse eligible members up to 50% of the costs associated with attending MIDEM 2013.

A2IM is seeking partner sponsors to co-host our nightly sunset cocktail parties on the Riviera.  If you’re interested in being the co-host to these “must attend” parties that take place at our pavilion from 5pm to 7pm and are attended by several hundred VIPs each night please contact Jennifer Masset.

A2IM thanks Counterpoint Systems and SoundExchange
for being our co-hosting sponsors for the A2IM sunset on the French Riviera cocktail parties
and our complimentary coffee and water bar.

Posted in Events, Special Offers by A2IM

Music Matters is offering A2IM members a discounted registration rate with a savings of 20% off the regular delegate price. A2IM members’ rate is $1399 for both events (Music Matters and Digital Matters) or $949 for each individual event (Digital or Music Matters).

Registration link:

About Music Matters:

Supported by the Singapore government and entering into its 7th year, Music Matters will once again bring together music A-listers from across the globe. With over 1,200 participants and 50+ bands and a previous speaker list that includes household names such as Jason Mraz, Simple Plan, Imogen Heap and Jamie Cullum, among many others, Music Matters has established itself as Asia’s only annual conference and festival dedicated to the business of music. Created by, with and for the music industry, the event brings together major players from the entertainment eco-system to discuss, debate, do business and watch some of the hottest up and coming acts from Asia and around the world. Music Matters is also co-located with Digital Matters in association with CASBAA and Gaming Matters produced with GameSpot, synchronising the entire entertainment eco-system in one place.

Created, managed and promoted by Branded, the Music Matters programme is customised with the assistance of an Advisory Board comprising senior representatives from across the entertainment value chain including major artists, producers, independents, promoters, digital retail, lawyers, financiers, mobile and media.

The ongoing success of Music Matters clearly demonstrates the attention the Asia Pacific Region is deservedly receiving from the rest of the world.

Music & Digital Matters returns to The Ritz- Carlton, Millenia Singapore from the 22 – 26 May 2012. Visit  <http://www.entertainmentmatters.asia/> for updates and new information for 2012.