May 3, 2010 – NARM, the music business association, announces its first Metal Meet-Up, The Current State Of The Metal Marketplace, to take place during the Association’s annual convention at the Hilton Chicago from May 14-17. This special Metal event is scheduled for Sunday, May 16 from 3-4 p.m.

Metal differs from other genres in that it functions as its own ecosystem within the larger music business and has one of the strongest communities of people who want to make and spend their lives being involved in the scene. Given this, NARM found it only fitting to provide a platform for those involved to get together to discuss where Metal is and where it’s going in the new music economy.

Brian Slagel, 30-year Metal industry veteran and founder of Metal Blade Records, best known for giving Metallica their first break in 1982, says, “I am really looking forward to the Metal Meet-Up at NARM. With the issues we all face in the music business, it will be good to have this discussion. Metal is still a physical product medium and is doing very well. I am excited about those joining me on the panel and it should be a lively and informative time.”

Slagel will lead the discussion and be joined by the following participants:

• Pat Egan, Relapse Records
• Vaughn Lewis, Manager Killswitch Engage
• Austin Stephens, Roadrunner Records
• Bram Teitelman, Metal Insider/The Syndicate
• Sarah Wefald, EMI Label Services/Caroline Distribution

The package cost for this session is $99 and includes entrance to the NARM/A2IM Music Business Crash Course, a two-day educational course that will focus on how independent artists and labels remain current in the transforming music economy, that will take place on May 14 &15; the Metal Meet-up on May 16; and the cocktail reception sponsored by Rocket Science also on May 16.

For more information, or to register for the Metal Meet-Up, attendees should visit http://www.narm.com/metal; or contact Bill Storck at 856.596.2221 or storck@narm.com.

Media Contact: Marla Cimini, 856 616-1194, cimini@narm.com