Marlton, NJ – March 23, 2011: NARM, the music business association, announces that Billy Mann, celebrated songwriter, producer and label executive, will be the featured keynote during the Opening Session on Wednesday, May 11 at the 2011 NARM Convention in Los Angeles at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza. Mann was recently named President of Creative at BMG North America, and as a songwriter and producer, he has crafted top hits for artists including Pink, Celine Dion, and Ricky Martin. Mann will be interviewed by Tamara Conniff, former chief editor at Billboard and now founder of TheComet.com. Now in its 53rd year, the NARM Convention is the most important business conference in the music industry, joining top executives from the physical, digital and mobile worlds to discuss and explore the music industry today and in the future.

“I performed at NARM back in the 90s as an artist and it’s a privilege for me to come full circle and reflect on how our industry has changed and how NARM continues to look to create renewed meaning and provide an essential forum to the people and the music,” said Mann.

“Billy Mann’s broad experience as an artist, manager and label executive gives him a unique perspective on our industry and its future, and I look forward to hearing his insights during the Opening Session,” said Jim Donio, NARM President. “Billy can speak to both the creative process as well as the business realities of today’s changing music world.”

Hailing from Philadelphia, Mann started his illustrious career as a fledgling singer-songwriter, living and touring from the back of his car. His self-titled first album was released to critical acclaim in 1996, and his second release Earthbound followed in 1998. Mann then focused his creative efforts on working with other artists such as Martina McBride, Hall & Oates, Kelly Rowland, and many more, racking up dozens of Top 40 hits across the globe and selling over 85 million albums.

On the executive front, in 2001, Mann founded Stealth Entertainment, an independent talent management company. He proceeded to become Chief Creative Officer, and was later appointed both President of EMI Music International A&R and President of Global Artist Management from 2007 until 2010. He helped navigate the most challenging waters in the industry’s recent history by championing key new music releases and successfully empowering teams around the globe. In January 2011, Mann was named President of Creative, BMG North America, overseeing the creative staff and roster integration of recently acquired companies, as well as leading efforts to attract, develop and sign new talent.

Registration for the NARM Convention is open now, and special rates for first-time independent retailers, individual members, and music business students are offered. The four-day event includes a Music Business Crash Course presented in collaboration with the American Association Of Independent Music (A2IM), an Entertainment & Technology Law Conference, a Townhall meeting for Artist Managers, a Musical Celebration sponsored by UMGD, special interest and genre-specific group meet-ups, the Digital Think Tank update with keynote interview by Roger McNamme of Elevation Partners, special networking receptions sponsored by WEA, Rocket Science, and Sony Music Entertainment, and more.

All registrants of the NARM Convention are also invited to attend the Awards Dinner Finale. Honorees at the event will include American Idol with an Outstanding Achievement Award celebrating the show’s 10th season; legendary songwriters Ken Gamble and Leon Huff for the Outstanding Achievement Award for Musical Collaboration; artist and advocate Annie Lennox for the Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award; John Marmaduke, Chairman of the Board, President & CEO of Hastings Entertainment with the Presidential Award for Sustained Executive Achievement; and Rachelle and Joe Friedman, founders of New York retail icon J&R Music & Computer World, with the Independent Spirit Award. Additional award recipients will be announced in the coming weeks.