This year’s NARM/A2IM Music Business Crash Course will take place on Monday, May 9 and Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza, the headquarters hotel of the 2011 NARM Convention.

One of the most highly reviewed programs of the Convention, drawing a record crowd of over 175 satisfied people the past few years, the Course features educational presentations and panel discussions focused on the independent sector, a must for independent music labels, artists, technology companies and students to remain current in the the transforming music economy.

Registration Fees

• Industry Professionals (non-members): $119
• A2IM Members: $69
• Artists/Students: $49

Registration Links

• Register Online (Members: If this is your first time using NARM’s new registration portal, click here for log-in instructions. Non-members: Use the link above and, when prompted, click on ‘New Visitor Registration’ to enter your profile into the NARM database.)
• Click here to download a PDF of the registration form and register via fax.

Program

Check back often as speakers will be added as they are confirmed.

In the OLD AM/FM radio and bricks and mortar retail marketplace the music world was simple, but access to sell music was limited.   The cost of promotion and tightened playlists, skewing toward oldies and a few megahits rotating over and over, kept AM/FM radio independent music audience impressions under 10%. Shelf space at retail was controlled by those who could afford the advertising funds required by retailers.

In the NEW marketplace, independent artists and labels all have greater access in the emerging digital world. The next level of promotion and sales is more possible than ever and can now happen in the independent sector. The playing field is being leveled via the numerous promotional channels and the ability to do Direct-to-fan marketing and commerce.

However, to get ahead in today’s marketplace, there are a new set of complex rules you need to learn.

Learn those rules during the 2011 NARM/A2IM Music Business Crash Course. Part lecture, part panels, this 1.5 day course also offers time for open Q & A with presenters and more breaks to network with other industry professionals.

Monday May 9th

8:30-9 AM
The Music Landscape – Where We Have Been, Where We Are, And Where We Are Going

• Presenter: Rich Bengloff, A2IM

9-9:05 AM
Music As A Domain Name Presentation
ICAAN is in the process of adding a .music domain name to the list of .com, .biz, .edu, .org. etc domains. Find out what this means for the industry and you!

• Presenter: Constantine Roussos, Music.US

9:05-9:45AM
Artist/Contract Basic Economics – What Both Artists And Labels Need To Know
Running a profitable career or music company has never been more difficult as the number of revenue streams needed to make a living grow but the costs to support those revenues need to be controlled.

• Presenter: Rich Bengloff, A2IM

9:45-10 AM
Break

10-10:45 AM
Artist/Producer Panel- What I Wish I Had Known And What To Watch Out For
Take a look at some key things every artists should watch out for.

• Moderator: Ted Cohen, TAG Strategic
• Panelists
  • Alison Brown, Grammy winning artist, Compass Records
  • Mike Clink, Mike Clink Productions
  • Colin Hay, artist, GRAMMY-winning “Men At Work”
  • DJ Nu-Mark, formerly of GRAMMY-winning Jurassic 5

10:45-11:45 AM
Publishing & Licensing Income- How Do I Expand My Income Beyond Recorded Music
This panel will take a look at alternative income streams to music sales … some you may have already thought of, and some you may not have.

• Moderator: Michael Kauffman, Rightsflow
• Panelists
  • Jeff Brabec, BMG Chrysalis
  • Nate Nelson, Stones Throw Records
  • Mike Sandoval, Music Dealers
  • Denny Stilwell, Mack Avenue

11:45 AM-12 PM
Break

12-12:45 PM
Touring, Merchandising & Management
Selling recorded music is no longer necessarily the main goal for an artist to make a living, it’s now just one of the revenue streams toward making a living.

• Moderator: Vaughn Lewis, Strong Management
• Panelists:
  • Nic Adler, owner of Roxy Theater
  • James Blades, McGhee Entertainment
  • Brandon Hance, Audio Life
  • Garry West, Compass Records

12:45-1:30 PM
Lunch

1:30-2:30 PM
Label Economics/Contracts- So You Want To Be A Music Mogul? Here’s What You Need To Know.
It’s not just about the creative. Don’t you want to make a living, too? Here’s the business basics that every label head should know.

• Presenters: Rich Bengloff, A2IM and Ted Cohen, TAG Strategic

2:30-2:45 PM
Break

2:45-3 PM
Open Q & A

3-3:45 PM
Label Panel – The Bottom Line Counts Too!
Industry veterans will discuss the trials and tribulations of starting out in the music business. Panelists will tell you what they did wrong and what they would do today, in the current marketplace, if they could do it again!

• Moderator: Rich Bengloff, A2IM
• Panelists:
  • Tomas Cookman, Nacional Records
  • George Davis, Drew’s Entertainment
  • Dan Gill, Vagrant Records
  • Mark Jowett, Nettwerk Music Group
  • Don Robertson, Century Media

3:45-4 PM
Break

4-5 PM
Outsourcing for Knowledge and Profits – Lower Your Cost, Focus Your Efforts
Learn how to lower your costs so you can focus on A&R and marketing plans. Should you, as an artist or label, hire your own internal staff or avail yourselves of external resources? Can you hire resources to create a project by project team? Is it a good choice to hire firms for new revenue streams like concert streaming, virtual goods, etc? How, on a cost effective basis, can you create and run your label?

• Moderator: Adam Rabinovitz, IODA
• Panelists:
  • David Macias, Thirty Tiger
  • Sibley Verback, StreamJam/Electric Sheep Company
  • Rob Weitzner, Consolidated Independent
  • Alicia Yaffe, The Spellbound Group
  • Konny Zsigo, Wireless Developer Agency

5-6 PM
Open Q & A

Tuesday May 10th

8:30-9:30 AM
Keynote – Marketing – Online Direct to Fan Marketing: Foundation to Execution
Noted professor and author (“Music Marketing”), Mike King of the Berklee College of Music shares an overview on how to reach and market to your fans.

• Mike King, Berklee School of Music

9:30-10:15 AM
Direct-To-Fan And E-Mail Marketing
These panelists will build on Mike King’s presentation by sharing examples of how their companies succeed in reaching fans directly for promotion and commerce.

• Moderator: Bill Wilson, NARM
• Panelists:
  • Phil Antoniades, Nimbit
  • Jason Fisher, Epitaph
  • Bob Moczydlowsky, Topspin Media
  • Lou Plaia, ReverbNation

10:15-10:30 AM
Break

10:30-11:15 AM
Social Networks And Traditional Promotion
This panel will not only explore how to get played on radio, but also how to inexpensively navigate through the glut of annual releases. There will be tips for getting noticed via promotions that results in performance income, licensing income and other non-traditional revenue drivers like games and music sales.

• Moderator: Ted Cohen, TAG Strategic
• Panelists:
  • Jim Cady, Slacker
  • Rick Stone, Jeff McClusky Associates
  • Alex White, Next Big Sound
  • Chris Wiltsee, RootMusic

11:15-11:30 AM
Break

11:30 AM-12:30 PM
Going To Market- Digital, Physical & Mobile; How Do I Get My Music Into And Spotlighted By Stores And Not Get Lost?
This session will help you understand how to get your product in physical stores and how to capture consumer attention. We’ll also explore how to get your music into digital stores, and – just as importantly – how to get spotlighted so you’re not lost in the crowd.

• Moderator: Rich Bengloff, A2IM
• Panelists:
  • Mike Batt, Silver Platters
  • Mike Gillespie, Concord Music Group
  • Ben Kline, INgrooves
  • David Orleans, ADA
  • Adam Thibault, Livewire Mobile

12:30-1 PM
Open Q & A