(05.12.09) NARM announces that its upcoming Annual Convention, NARM Connects: Physical… Digital…Mobile, will feature the Music Business Crash Course, a comprehensive one-day seminar. NARM’s Convention will take place in San Diego, California, from Sunday, June 7, through Wednesday, June 10, 2009. The Crash Course event is scheduled for June 7.

Presented in collaboration with the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM), The Music Business Crash Course agenda is designed specifically for those in the music content or commerce space who wish to learn more about today’s industry issues. The Crash Course will also provide attendees with the unique opportunity to interact with a roster of top professionals who will share their expertise and personal experiences about succeeding within a challenging industry, and preparing for a career in the world of music.

Tailored especially for individual artists, managers, label personnel, and entrepreneurs as well as music business students, the course is open to NARM members and non-members alike. Sessions will focus on a variety of essential topics such as marketing, publishing, staffing, publicity, and how to obtain royalty and technology support.

NARM President Jim Donio says, “It is exciting that The Crash Course will be held at NARM Connects this year, as our Convention provides an ideal environment to learn a great deal about the music business — directly from seasoned professionals. The course is a valuable, must-attend event for anyone desiring to enhance their knowledge of the constantly changing music industry, especially as the digital evolution continues.” He continued, “NARM would like to thank AFTRA, RightsFlow, SoundExchange and TuneCore for sponsoring the course.”

Music industry professional and A2IM President Rich Bengloff will moderate the Crash Course program, and present portions of his Fordham University MBA program’s music industry course. The Crash Course also features a team of experienced music industry executives from across the United States, including record label owners, retailers, publishers, distributors, and social networking/Internet pros.

A2IM’s Rich Bengloff noted, “Music consumption continues to shift from a purchase model to a listening model and the economics of how to monetize music are undergoing a dramatic transformation. For artists, music labels and others in the music industry to be able to continue to make a living from the music they create or invest in they must learn the new rules of the road. That is the purpose of the music business crash course, to present and discuss the new music economy and how we can make sure profits from all industry sources, including physical and digital distribution, are maximized.

About A2IM
A2IM launched on July 4, 2005, to represent the needs of the Independent music label community. Currently, the organization counts over 225 music label members and 100 associate members. A2IM is a not-for-profit trade organization serving the Independent music community as a unified voice representing a sector that comprises over 30% of the music industry’s market share in the United States (and 37% of SoundScan digital sales). The organization represents the Independents’ interests in the marketplace, in the media, on Capitol Hill, and as part of the global music community. A2IM is headquartered in New York City. More information can be found at www.A2IM.org