MAY 3, 2010 – NARM, the music business association, announces its first Urban Meet-Up, What’s New, What’s Next, to take place during the Association’s annual convention at the Hilton Chicago from May 14-17. This special Urban event is scheduled for Sunday, May 16 from 2-3 p.m.

Reflecting this market’s continued growth and worldwide popularity, the unique Urban Meet-Up was created to bring together key players within this genre to discuss diverse issues facing the evolving industry. This event welcomes aspiring Urban artists, producers, label moguls, and others to get the real deal on the contemporary business. Offering exceptional learning and networking opportunities, the Urban Meet-Up will enable participants to share music ideas and business strategies for the future.

Ranadeb Choudhury, Chicago-native and founder/CEO of both Ch’rewd, North America’s most successful and innovative Urban marketing and promotion company, and Mid C Media, a new media company specializing in video, TV and film, says “If you want to be in the business of Urban music, you need to be at this workshop. This is your chance to be a part of the conversation that will help the business of Urban music prosper.”

StarrClub Entertainment President Ray Arceneaux, a 17-year Urban industry veteran and former VP of Urban Sales & Marketing at WEA, will lead this discussion. Additional participants include:

• Andrew Barber, Fake Shore Drive
• DJ Tim Buck II, WGCI
• Ranadeb Choudhury, Ch’rewd/Mid C Media
• Marty Gibbs, Sounds of Norristown
• Dedry Jones, The Music Experience
• Eugene Luckett, NERA Coalition
• Barbara McDowell, WPWX
• Ron Spaulding, Fontana 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 Urban 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 Urban Meet-Up, attendees should visit http://www.narm.com/urban; or contact Bill Storck at 856.596.2221 or storck@narm.com.

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