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News Bits August 9, 2001, Vol. 1, Issue 9 Published by NARM The
Voice of Music Retailing
1. NARM Refines Focus As ‘The Voice Of Music Retailing’ As part of an overall re-branding effort fueled by the Association’s renewed commitment to stronger advocacy for music retailing community, NARM has announced that the tag line, “The Voice Of Music Retailing,” will soon appear on all Association materials, along with a redesigned logo. NARM has also retained The Dutko Group, a full service Washington, D.C.,-based public policy management firm named by Fortune magazine as one of the “Top 10” lobbying firms in the nation. “The Board concluded that adding this tag line would better reflect our role in the industry and a tighter focus on music retailing,” says President Pamela Horovitz. “With digital distribution issues becoming more pressing than ever, the Board also decided that our efforts to preserve a healthy retail marketplace must be enhanced by providing timely research and technical data, fostering dialogue with the content community, and making sure our views and positions are heard loud and clear in the courts and in Washington.”
For
more information, click here:
2. NARM Applauds Proposed Legislation Promoting Online Competition Expressing concern about the licensing practices of the major media companies in the past year, Congressmen Rick Boucher (D-Virginia) and Chris Cannon (R-Utah) have unveiled proposed legislation that aims to mandate that label groups offer all online music services the same licensing deals. The bill also sides with NARM’s stance that the online sampling of music for promotional purposes should be allowed. “We are extremely gratified that, through the leadership shown by Reps. Boucher and Cannon with the introduction of the Music Online Competition Act of 2001, a necessary public policy dialog can be initiated on many of the important issues surrounding the digital distribution of music,” says NARM President Pamela Horovitz. “The retailers of music represented by NARM have grown increasingly concerned that the marketplace of the future, as envisioned by the entertainment conglomerates, is one in which the consumer will not enjoy the variety of options in selection, service, convenience, and price which competition between retailers has always ensured.”
To download a copy of the proposed legislation, click here: http://www.narm.com/government/Public_Affairs/CANNON_Letter.PDF
To view NARM’s response to the legislation, click here: http://www.narm.com/news/Press%20Releases/2001/August_2001/MOCA.htm
3. Revised Parental Advisory Materials Now Available The Parental Advisory materials developed for retailers to use as educational pieces in stores have been revised. “The material has been changed to address consumers in general, rather than just parents, and www.ParentalGuide.org, the Web site that explains the ratings systems for the various entertainment media, has been added,” says Holly Rosum, NARM’s Director of Membership & Public Affairs. “Considering the FTC’s scrutiny of the music industry regarding violence in the media, I strongly urge members to take advantage of these materials.”
The
pieces, which include a 16” x 24” poster and 8” x 12” counter
card, are available for order on the NARM Web site.
-Fall Conference
4. Mini-NARM To Feature More Space, More Program, More Music. Preparations for the 2001 NARM Fall Conference are in full swing, so don’t miss out on this important event that features a number of firsts. For the first time, it will be held at the beautiful Sheraton Bal Harbour Beach Resort (near Miami and Ft. Lauderdale), which offers more space for meetings and programming than ever before. Also for the first time, the Fall Conference will feature a keynote speaker: Consumer Electronics Association CEO Gary Shapiro. And Webnoize will give Fall Conference attendees the first look at the results of their research on how portable and wireless devices are being affected by the digital delivery of content and services. Plus, seven musical acts - more than ever before - will perform at the Conference. Newly added to the musical roster is James Mathus, Mammoth Records. Registration
information has been mailed and is also available on the NARM Web site. The
cut-off date for NARM to make hotel room reservations is August 24.
Visit our Fall Conference Web page for complete information and to take a
Web tour of the Sheraton Bal Harbour: http://www.narm.com/events/conference.htm
For more information, contact Linda M. Still at still@narm.com.
-Membership
5. Membership Dues Renewal Notices Mailed Renewal notices for NARM membership dues for the 2001-2002 Association year have been mailed. Stay connected and make the most of NARM’s member benefits: access to the Fall Conference, Annual Convention and the new Interactive Membership Database, to name a few. For more information, contact Holly Rosum at rosum@narm.com.
6. Have You Used NARM’s New Interactive Membership Database? Response to NARM’s new Interactive Membership Database has been overwhelmingly positive. The Database brings NARM’s entire database to users in a searchable, interactive form, and allows members to update their own information as needed.
Don’t
miss out on this new service, visit this link:
For your ID number, contact Evelyn Dichter at dichter@narm.com.
7. NARM Seeks Web Site Feedback This
is your last chance to provide NARM with suggestions for improving our Web
site. Complete the NARM Web Survey by clicking on this link and help us
serve you better:
8. NARM Welcomes New Members
-Issue Forums
9. Classical/Jazz Issue Forum Debuts Blues CD Sampler The NARM Classical/Jazz Issue Forum and the Blues Music Association will be releasing their first Blues CD sampler,“Get The Blues!” on September 18. Produced in cooperation with the Blues Music Association, this 18-track, 70-minute sampler has a suggested retail price of $1.98. It features some of the biggest names on today’s Blues scene (Keb’ Mo, Robert Cray, Koko Taylor) as well as great names of the Blues tradition (Sunnyland Slim, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Honeyboy Edwards). The sampler is being manufactured by Denon Digital and will be distributed by Ryko Distribution. For more information, contact Holly Rosum at rosum@narm.com.
-Scholarship
10. Smart Investments: Scholarship Forms Available Online Members seeking the 2002 Scholarship Applcation forms may now download PDF versions of the forms from the NARM Web site. For more information, contact Foundation Executive Director Pat Daly at daly@narm.com.
To download the forms, visit: http://www.narm.com/programs/Scholarship/scholarship_Apps.htm
11. Remember To Submit Your Recipes For ‘Sound Bites’ Don’t forget to submit your recipes for Sound Bites, the Scholarship Foundation’s industry cookbook being developed as a fundraiser for additional scholarships. Deadline for submitting your favorite recipes has been extended to October 15. For more information, contact Pat Daly at daly@narm.com.
To submit a recipe, click here: http://www.narm.com/programs/Scholarship/Sound_bites_recipe_form.htm
Click
here for a listing of industry-related events:
National Association of Recording Merchandisers 9 Eves Drive, Suite 120 Marlton, NJ 08053 Phone: 856.596.2221 Fax: 856.596.3268 Web: www.narm.com
For comments or suggestions, contact Communications Manager Susan L’Ecuyer at lecuyer@narm.com.
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