(04.06.09) NARM announces that its upcoming Annual Convention, NARM Connects: Physical… Digital…Mobile, will feature the Noise in the Basement Creative Conference for independent music retailers. NARM’s Convention will take place in San Diego, California from Sunday, June 7, through Wednesday, June 10, 2009, and the Noise in the Basement event is scheduled for June 9 and 10.

Presented by the Music Monitor Network, Noise in the Basement is an independent record store forum developed to foster communication and launch new business concepts. In 2007, the idea for Record Store Day, a global event that NARM will sponsor on Saturday, April 18, took flight at the Noise in the Basement event. This year’s Noise in the Basement will include a variety of innovative “think tank” sessions with independent store owners, joining with representatives from film studios, the independent book store sector, record labels, publishers and distribution companies. All independent retailers attending NARM Connects are invited and encouraged to participate.

NARM President Jim Donio says, “I am thrilled that Noise in the Basement will hold its highly-anticipated event at NARM Connects this year, as this is an optimal environment to bring together key players to explore retail business opportunities and new forward-thinking concepts. NARM and Noise in the Basement are an excellent match, and I am looking forward to hearing the resulting ideas that will most certainly enhance the music community and lead to future success.”

MMN President Michael Kurtz, and co-founder of Record Store Day, says “I’m most excited to be working with the film studios for this year’s Noise In the Basement, along with Oren Teicher – COO for the American Booksellers Association – who represents over 1000 independently owned bookstores, as well as our label and distribution sponsors so that we can engage in constructive dialogue to grow business for the indie retail sector. We are hopeful that we’ll generate as much energy and have as much fun in San Diego as we’ve had in Baltimore in years past.”

The first Noise in the Basement Creative Conference was launched in Baltimore in 2007 by retailer The Sound Garden and the Music Monitor Network. The 2008 event attracted a substantial roster of more than 70 retailers from across the United States and Canada, as well as performances by Motorhead, The Pretenders, K’naan, The Hold Steady, Tom Morello, Kindred The Family Soul, Noah & The Whale, Unearth, and The Black Kids, among many others. A&M/Octone also presented an RIAA platinum plaque for Flyleaf’s self-titled debut album to Noise In the Basement to cap off a three-year innovative campaign with the Music Monitor Network that concluded with a 2007 Flyleaf performance at NITB.

 NARM advances the promotion, marketing, distribution and sale of music by providing its members with a forum for diverse meeting and networking opportunities, information and education to support their businesses, as well as advocating for their common interests. NARM is based in Marlton, New Jersey. Website: www.narm.com.

The Music Monitor Network was formed in June of 1997 to benefit both small and mid-sized independently-owned music retailers and record labels and distributors. As retailers with two to 30 stores, Network account chains can develop marketing efforts and strategies, which allows labels and studios to save time and money by enjoying economies of scale in the execution of innovative promotional/advertising campaigns. Website: www.musicmonitornetwork.com.