Marlton, NJ – March 22, 2010: NARM, the music business association, and its Digital Think Tank today announce the release of a White Paper that identifies a list of digital operations issues facing the music industry today, along with the initial actions the DTT’s Digital Supply Chain & Operations Work Group Work Group will undertake to being addressing these issues.

The White Paper, titled “Digital Supply Chain & Operations – A Music Industry Initiative,” is intended to provide an understanding of the core issues currently undermining accurate and efficient delivery of music information. It details historical information on standardization both within the music industry and in other industries, along with member-identified and prioritized issues surrounding identification and communication standards for music releases.

Among the digital communications priorities identified:

• Implementation of Digital Data Exchange (DDEX) standards;
• Determining the need for a universal, unchanging ID that would simplify takedowns, rights changes and revocation processes;
• Resolving data integrity issues such as missing or corrupted information or inconsistent nomenclature and taxonomy;
• Creation of easy-to-integrate feeds of marketing information;
• Integrating unique identifiers into royalty processes for multiple digital formats.

NARM Director of Digital Strategy and Business Development Bill Wilson says, “Accurate and efficient communication of release information and sales reporting is the backbone of the current music business, and most importantly, what the business is to become. As the world of digital products becomes even more complex, NARM will continue its operational problem-solving legacy and use our Digital Think Tank to bring commerce partners together to resolve these critical issues.”

The White Paper also outlines the next immediate steps NARM and the DTT’s Digital Supply Chain & Operations Work Group will take to start addressing these issues. This includes a next-generation retooling of the NARM Distributor Database that will allow it to aggregate all formats of physical, digital and mobile products from all major and leading independent suppliers, and help accommodate transition to the DDEX standards.

A copy of the White Paper can be obtained at this link: http://www.narm.com/digital/dtt/white-paper/

The NARM Digital Think Tank is a special task force within NARM dedicated to resolving issues related to the enterprise-level digital music business. The Digital Think Tank’s Digital Supply Chain & Operations Work Group includes Amazon.com, Apple, Consolidated Independent, EMI Music, IODA, Medianet, Mix & Burn, Neurotic Media, Nokia, Sony Music, Topspin Media, Universal Music Group Distribution, and WEA.

About NARM: NARM (National Association of Recording Merchandisers) advances the promotion, marketing, distribution and sale of music by providing members with diverse meeting and networking opportunities, information and education resources, and advocacy for their common interests. NARM is based in Marlton, New Jersey. www.narm.com

Media Contact: Marla Cimini, 856.616.1194, cimini@narm.com