Performance
Awards Dinner Finale, Mon., May 17, 6:30 PM

Bio
A songwriter, performer and even occasional standup comedian, Dave Barnes is a master at sharing his insights either through lyrics and melody or humorous reflections on life’s absurdities. His latest album, What We Want, What We Get,  flows from Motown horns to bubbling Reggae to impeccably crafted Pop, all of it riding a current of irresistible groove.

Visit Dave’s Official Web Site for more information and to listen to his latest releases.

Performance
Awards Dinner Finale, Mon., May 17, 6:30 PM

Bio
The singer, songwriter, and musician first achieved prominence via her MySpace profile, and in 2007 debuted her first album “Coco,” which included the hit singles “Bubbly,” “Realize,” and “The Little Things.” Her 2008 duet with Jason Mraz, “Lucky,” earned her her first Grammy, and her sophomore studio album “Breakthrough” — also nominated for a Grammy — debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in August of last year. The current hit single “Falling For You,” is featured on that album.

Visit Colbie’s Myspace Page for more information and to listen to her latest releases.

2010 Harry Chapin Memorial Humanitarian Award Recipient
Awards Dinner Finale, Mon., May 17, 6:30 PM

Click here to view the full press release.

Bio
A gay rights and environmental activist as well as a cancer survivor, Etheridge supports a number of non-profit organizations spanning a range of health, human rights, and ecological causes including the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the Human Rights Campaign, and Live Earth. A passionate advocate for the gay community, Etheridge has promoted equal rights and civic consciousness throughout her career. She also established a performing arts scholarship at Leavenworth, Kansas, High School in honor of her father.

In 2000, Etheridge headlined the Human Rights Campaign’s Equality Rocks concert, where more than 45,000 people poured in to Washington, D.C.’s RFK stadium to support equality and hear inspiring performances. For the past three years, Etheridge has been a cornerstone artist in Hard Rock International’s Pinktober campaign, a philanthropic initiative created to support organizations in the fight against breast cancer which includes a series of live music events at Hard Rock establishments around the world.

In 2005, Etheridge’s illustrious career and philanthropy was recognized by Time Magazine, which chose her as one of the most influential 100 people of the year.

Etheridge contributed the theme song, “I Need To Wake Up,” to former Vice President Al Gore’s global warming documentary, “An Inconvenient Truth.” This won her the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2007. In 2005, she recorded the breast cancer survivor anthem “I Run For Life” at the behest of Ford Cares, which was used as the theme song for the Susan G. Koman Race for the Cure and Ford Breast Cancer Awareness “Tied to the Scarf” campaign.

Visit Melissa’s Official Web Site for more information and to listen to her lastest releases.

Performance
Awards Dinner Finale, Mon., May 17, 6:30 PM

Bio
Hailing from Los Angeles by way of Nashville, Ashlyne Huff is an engaging new performer on the contemporary music scene, with a vocal prowess and gift for songwriting you usually only find in veteran artists. Signed to Liquid Digital Media, Huff will release her debut album this spring. She co-wrote every song on the record and the result is a stellar Pop effort that showcases her flair for storytelling.

Visit Ashlyne’s Myspace Page for more information and to listen to her latest releases.

American Idol judge and renowned producer Randy Jackson will present A&M/Octone recording artists Paper Tongues at the Live Musical Showcase at Buddy Guy’s Legends on Sun., May 16 at 9:30 PM.

Bio
Twenty-year music industry veteran and Grammy Award winning producer, Randy Jackson started out at the young age of 13 playing bass guitar and got his big break when he joined the band Journey. As a prolific musician and producer, Jackson also spent eight years, as the VP, A&R at Columbia Records followed by four years as Sr. VP, A&R at MCA Records.  However, it was AMERICAN IDOL that propelled Jackson into public consciousness.

While working on over one thousand gold and multi-platinum albums, which have sold over 200 million albums worldwide, Jackson’s amazing talent, vast studio knowledge, performing, touring and record company expertise, have made him one of today’s highly coveted music industry experts.  He has recorded, toured, performed  and produced records for Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, *NSYNC, Madonna, Elton John, Destiny’s Child, Joss Stone, Travis Tritt, and many, many more. Jackson continues to manage the careers of rising talent such as the critically acclaimed singer Van Hunt and the band Paper Tongues.

2010 NARM Outstanding Achievement Award
For Musical Collaboration Recipient
Awards Dinner Finale, Mon., May 17, 6:30 PM

Click here to view the full press release.

Bio
Spanning six decades, the duo’s songs hit the charts in the US or the UK 76 times for artists such as Elvis Presley, Big Mama Thornton, The Robins, The Coasters, The Drifters, Ben E King, Dion and Peggy Lee, among others.

Their songs were covered by The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Donald Fagen, B.B. King, James Brown, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Beach Boys, Buddy Holly, Fats Domino, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Jimi Hendrix, Muddy Waters, Tom Jones, Count Basie, Eric Clapton, Willie Nelson, Johnny Mathis, Luther Vandross, Neil Diamond, Liza Minnelli, John Lennon, Aretha Franklin, and others.

Elvis Presley’s “Hound Dog” and “Jailhouse Rock” are among their iconic achievements, but music lovers will also recognize “Yakety Yak,” “Charlie Brown,” “Kansas City,” “Stand By Me,” “Love Potion #9,” “On Broadway,” “Is That All There Is?” as just a few of Leiber and Stoller’s many hits.

Leiber and Stoller’s music has also been a smashing success on Broadway. In 1995, “Smokey Joe’s Cafe: The Songs of Leiber & Stoller” opened and was later nominated for seven Tony Awards. Featuring 40 songs by the duo, “Smokey Joe’s Cafe” became the longest-running musical revue in Broadway history.

Their critically acclaimed book, “Hound Dog: The Leiber and Stoller Autobiography,” co-written with David Ritz, will be available in paperback June 1.

Visit Leiber & Stoller’s Official Web Site for more information and latest releases.

Performance
Opening Session, Sun., May 16, 8:30-11 PM

Bio
The McClymonts have arrived in the United States to promote the U.S. release of their Australian debut album, “Chaos and Bright Lights.” Executive Music Group (EMG) will unveil the trio’s magical voices, heartfelt lyrics and unforgettable melodies featured on the album, which will street in the United States in Spring/Summer of 2010. The album has already gone Gold in Australia. EMG is distributed through Fontana.

Visit The McClymonts’ Myspace Page for more information and lastest releases.

NARM Performance Contest Winner
Opening Session, Sun., May 16, 8:30 AM

Bio
As Rockford, IL born singer-songwriter Miles Nielsen explains, “Most of my childhood was spent on a tour bus traveling across the country with Cheap Trick…” where the idea that songwriting is “a way for me to meld the world of dreams and real life together.”  This auspicious upbringing granted Miles a unique musical opportunity.  A colorful childhood education, a family and band driven tutelage that helped him develop solid songwriting skills and a knack for stagecraft that is truly engaging.  With a father like Power-Pop mastermind Rick Nielsen at the helm of his music education, and strong musical DNA running through his blood, Miles is poised to carry a deep Nielsen tradition well into the 21st century.  A challenge that Miles has graciously embraced and a challenge that he is meeting through his moving live performances, his spirited collaborative activities, his astute production work, and his musically rich debut solo album.  Released in 2009 Nielsen’s self-titled release “Miles” is an album full of blooming melodies, hip-shaking rhythms, and moving stories.  A rich and layered recording that seamlessly blends Alternative Country, Blue-Eyed Soul, Folk, Pop, Rock, and Tin Pan Alley song-craft into a unique musical brew Miles calls “Beatle-esque Cosmic Americana.”

Visit Miles’s Myspace Page for more information and to listen to his latest releases.

American Idol judge and renowned producer Randy Jackson will present A&M/Octone recording artists Paper Tongues at the Live Musical Showcase at Buddy Guy’s Legends on Sun., May 16 at 9:30 PM.

Bio
Fusing massive Rock N’ Roll melodies with fiery Hip-Hop beats, the Charlotte-based Paper Tongues conjure an infectious, incendiary sound on their A&M/Octone debut, due out this summer. Embracing elements of Rock, Funk, Rap and Soul, these seven individuals have created something you haven’t heard before. It’s music for dancing, crying, loving and living. Paper Tongues—Aswan North, Devin Forbes, Cody Blackler, Joey Signa, Clayton Simon, Jordan Hardee and Danny Santell—are a collective of artists, and this record is their first masterpiece. Paper Tongues’ eclectic sound ranges from bombastic songs like “For the People” that can light up a packed arena or a dance floor, while the soulful electronica-infused “Trinity” is inspiring and invigorating. Guitarist Devin Forbes comments, “Our music is extremely eclectic because we’re all coming from different places. Aswan grew up with hip hop, Clayton grew up with electronica and I grew up with rock, but it all comes together fluidly in Paper Tongues.”

Visit Paper Tongue’s Myspace Page for more information and latest releases.

2010 Independent Spirit Award Recipient
Awards Dinner Finale, Mon., May 17, 6:30 PM

Click here to view the full press release.

Bio
Tom Silverman is the founder of Tommy Boy and has served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since 1981.  He has over 28 years experience in the Hip-Hop, Urban, Alternative, Dance, Rock and Gospel music markets.  He founded Dance Music Report in 1978, the preeminent newsletter for DJs for over 15 years. He was a founder and partner in the legendary New Music Seminar, the world’s seminal music industry convention through the 80s. Silverman serves on the board of RIAA, Sound Exchange, American Association of Independent Music (A2IM) and Merlin. He also has served for many years on NAIRD/AFIM board, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the Dance Music Hall of Fame, as well as the NARM Manufacturer’s Advisory Board. He was the recipient of the NARAS Heroes Award in 2000. He has a degree in environmental science from Colby College and attended Graduate School at Western Michigan University in Environmental Geology.

2010 Artist Of The Year Awrd
Awards Dinner Finale, Mon., May 17, 6:30 PM

Bio
Four-time GRAMMY award winner Taylor Swift is the top-selling digital artist in music history, has had singles top both the Country and Pop radio charts, and had the #1 best-selling album in any genre of music in both 2009 and 2008. This year, at the age of 20, she became the youngest artist in history, and the first female solo country artist ever, to win the music industry’s highest honor, the GRAMMY Award for Album of the Year. Also at the 2010 GRAMMYs, she took home the awards for Country Album of the Year, Best Country Song, and Best Country Female Vocal Performance. She is currently nominated for five 2010 Academy of Country Music Awards, including Entertainer of the Year.

In 2009, she was named Artist of the Year at the American Music Awards and also became the youngest artist in the 43-year history of the Country Music Association, and the seventh female act ever, to be awarded country music’s top prize when she took home the CMA Award for Entertainer of the Year.

Taylor’s sophomore release, Fearless, reached double-platinum in just four weeks and was voted 2009’s Album of the Year by both the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music. Fearless also won the 2009 American Music Award for Favorite Country Album, and was 2008’s biggest debut for any female artist, and the fourth highest debut of the year, over all. Now quintuple-platinum, Fearless has spent more weeks in the #1 position atop Billboard’s Top 200 all-genre CD sales chart than any other album this century. Taylor, whose career record sales now top 13 million, currently holds the Billboard all-genre records for most first-week downloads by a female artist, for the longest charting album of this century and for most Top 20 debuts in a calendar year, as well as the Billboard record for the largest overall airplay audience for a country-based act. Taylor headlined her first arena tour last year, the TAYLOR SWIFT FEARLESS 2009 TOUR. Every show on the tour sold out within minutes, including Madison Square Garden in one minute, and Los Angeles’ STAPLES center in just two minutes. Taylor’s 40-date FEARLESS 2010 North American tour is on the road now, visiting arenas and stadiums in 32 cities in 26 states and provinces in the US and Canada over the next 3 months.

At the age of 17, Taylor became the youngest person ever to single-handedly write and sing a number-one country single entirely on her own, and Taylor is the first female solo artist in country music history to write or co-write every song on a platinum-selling debut CD. When Taylor was just 14, she signed a publishing deal with Sony/ATV Music, and in 2006 released her self-titled debut CD on Big Machine Records. Taylor Swift has surpassed quadruple-platinum status and spent more than 20 weeks in the #1 position atop Billboard’s Country CD Sales Chart. Taylor is consistently ranked Country’s #1 artist on MySpace, and was named Country Music’s Hottest Female Artist by AOL Music and Best New Artist by the editors of iTunes. Taylor has more than 2 million followers of her Twitter account and has had more than 260 million music plays on her MySpace page.

In 2009 Taylor won AMA Awards for Artist of the Year, Favorite Female Artist (Country), Favorite Female Artist (Pop/Rock), Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist, and Favorite Album (Country). She also took home CMA Awards for Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, Video of the Year and International Artist Achievement. The same year, Taylor was awarded the Academy of Country Music’s Crystal Milestone Award, given for Outstanding Achievement in Country Music. Taylor was the 2nd artist in history to receive this prestigious award — Garth Brooks received the award in 2007. She is also the first Country artist to win an MTV VMA Award, taking home the 2009 Moonman for Best Female Video. In 2009 Taylor won CMT Music Awards for Video of the Year and Female Video of the Year, awards she was also honored with in 2008. In addition, she won 2009 Teen Choice Awards for Choice Female Artist and Choice Music Album – Female Artist. Taylor was named 2008’s Favorite Female Country Artist at the American Music Awards, and Top New Female Vocalist by the Academy of Country Music. She was named Choice Breakout Artist at the 2008 Teen Choice Awards, and was honored as the 2008 Superstar of Tomorrow at the 10th Annual Young Hollywood Awards, making her the first musician to ever receive this prestigious award. She was named Songwriter / Artist of the Year by the Nashville Songwriters Association International in both 2009 and 2007, and she won the 2007 CMA Horizon Award, as well as receiving a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist.

In 2009, NBC dedicated an entire hour to the primetime special “Dateline: On Tour With Taylor Swift.” Taylor’s other television appearances include a guest-starring role on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and in 2009 she became only the twelfth person in 35 years to both host and perform on Saturday Night Live. Taylor’s numerous television guest appearances include The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Ellen Degeneres Show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Jay Leno Show, the Late Show with David Letterman, the Today Show, Good Morning America, The CBS Early Show, The View, and Live with Regis & Kelly. Taylor made her feature film acting debut in 2010, as part of the ensemble cast of the Garry Marshall film Valentine’s Day.

Taylor has been featured on the covers of Rolling Stone (twice), Billboard (twice), Elle, Glamour, People, InStyle, New York Times T magazine, Allure, People StyleWatch, Blender, USA Weekend, Seventeen (twice), Redbook, Self, Us Weekly, CosmoGirl, Girl’s Life, Teen Vogue, Women’s Health, First, Your Prom, and Southwest Airlines Spirit magazine. She was featured in a Vanity Fair spotlight, was named one of People magazine’s 100 Most Beautiful People of 2008 and 2009, was Cosmopolitan magazine’s Fun Fearless Female, was Allure’s Face of December, was named a Style Star of 2008 and 2009 by the editors of Seventeen, and was featured on Maxim’s 2008 & 2009 Hot 100 list.

Visit Taylor’s Official Web Site for more information and to listen to her latest releases.

2010 Presidential Award Recipient
Awards Finale Party, Mon., May 17, 6:30 PM

Click here to view the full press release.

Bio
Jim Urie oversees the activities and business strategies of Universal Music Group Distribution, the sales, marketing, and distribution arm of the Universal Music Group.

Universal Music Group Distribution has been the industry market share leader for the past twelve years and consists of four major divisions: Universal Music Distribution (UMD), Fontana, Vivendi Entertainment (VE), and UMGD Digital. UMD handles the distribution and sales for such labels as Universal Motown Republic Group, Island Def Jam Music Group, Interscope Geffen A&M Records, A&M/Octone Records, MCA Nashville, Universal Records South, Lost Highway, Mercury Nashville, Verve Music Group, Decca Label Group, Universal Music Latino, Universal Music Enterprises, Hip–O, Disa, Machete Music, ABKCO, Concord Music Group, Hollywood, Emusica, Lyric Street, RMM, Thump, Rounder, Fonovisa, Varese Sarabande, Walt Disney, Big Machine, Show Dog Records, VI Music, Sybersound, Hidden Beach, Palm Pictures, and Universal Music Christian Group, among many others. Fontana is the company’s independent sales, marketing and distribution arm, VE is its theatrical and home entertainment division, and UMGD Digital manages and distributes all of Universal Music Group’s digital assets, including mobile.

Mr. Urie assumed the role of President in August 1999 and has played a pivotal role in strategically breaking new ground in the areas of marketing and artist development. He first joined the company in August 1996 as Executive Vice President and General Manager and has since led UMGD to record breaking success. The company became the first in the music industry to achieve the No. 1 position in the top five market share categories in 1999 and remained No. 1 in year end market share for the next nine consecutive years. His efforts have resulted in fueling new market growth for Universal, while further enhancing and broadening its reach with such best-selling and developing artists as U2, Mariah Carey, Kanye West, Elton John, Bon Jovi, Eminem, Sheryl Crow, 50 Cent, Sting, Jay-Z, Andrea Bocelli, Gwen Stefani, Shania Twain, George Strait, Mary J. Blige, Sugarland, Maroon 5, Rihanna, Fergie, Akon, Pussycat Dolls, Fall Out Boy, Nelly Furtado, Reba McEntire and Timbaland, among many others.

Under Mr. Urie’s auspices, UMGD has garnered many awards, including being named the National Association of Recording Merchandisers’ (NARM) Distributor of the Year for 2000, 2001, and 2002, and has achieved finalist status for every subsequent year. The company has received numerous retailer awards from major companies such as Best Buy, Target, Borders and Circuit City. UMGD was also the first music company named as one of six national finalists in the Best Sales Organization category by the American Business Awards.

Mr. Urie began his career in 1972 as a college rep for CBS Records in Washington, D.C. and soon moved up through the company’s ranks with brief stints in promotion and sales. In 1978, he was appointed Miami Branch Manager where, in 1979, the division finished number one in sales out of 21 branches. In 1980, Mr. Urie became New York City Branch Manager for CBS. Later, in 1987, his artist-driven approach to sales caught the attention of PolyGram executive Dick Asher. Soon after, Mr. Asher recruited him to the post of Senior Vice President, Sales and Distribution, for the newly reorganized PolyGram Records. With his dedication to artist development and keen understanding of the creative process, Mr. Urie took on broader responsibilities in 1989 when he was promoted to Senior Vice President of Marketing. In this role, Mr. Urie oversaw artist development, creative services, publicity, video product and product management for the Mercury, Polydor, and London labels. This move made him one of the few executives in the music industry to have held senior positions in both the creative and sales side of the business. In 1993, Mr. Urie joined Arista Records as Senior Vice President of Sales. While at the label, he worked alongside Arista President Clive Davis in building the highly-acclaimed careers of such superstars as Toni Braxton, Whitney Houston, Sarah McLachlan, TLC, and The Notorious B.I.G.

In 1993, Mr. Urie joined Arista Records as Senior Vice President of Sales. While at the label, he worked alongside Arista President Clive Davis in building the highly-acclaimed careers of such superstars as Toni Braxton, Whitney Houston, Sarah McLachlan, TLC, and The Notorious B.I.G.

Most recently, Universal Music Group expanded Mr. Urie’s role by naming him Chief Executive Officer of UMGD, in addition to his title as President.

At the time, Doug Morris, Chairman & CEO of Universal Music Group, remarked that “since joining us, Jim has done a tremendous job in building UMGD into the world’s premier entertainment distribution company. As he continues to expand and diversify UMGD, we look forward to Jim taking the company to even greater heights.”

And Zach Horowitz, President & COO of Universal Music Group, added that “Jim’s track record of success speaks for itself. The creativity, focus and vision that he brings to UMGD on a daily basis is invaluable. The entire Universal Music family joins me in congratulating him on this milestone achievement.”