digitalmusic.org | Digital Music

digitalmusic.org Music Industry Style Guide Aims to Get Everyone Selling Music Online on the Same Page with Uniform Metadata

May 7, 2013 – digitalmusic.org, the home of music business association NARM’s digital initiatives, is looking to clean up and simplify the listing, ingestion, and management of music at digital retailers with its Music Industry Style Guide, released today during the Music Biz 2013 Metadata Summit. The document outlines a set of metadata guidelines that can be used by musicians, managers, and labels to improve data quality for artist, track, and album information through common naming conventions and data entry standards. This, in turn, will allow digital retailers to create a more efficient ingestion process for songs, albums, music videos, ringtones, and any other product that contains music metadata and make it easier for consumers to find what they are looking for, leading to increased sales.

“Metadata is an often overlooked but critically important element of digital music sales, and we created the Music Industry Style Guide to give artists, managers, labels, and online music stores all the info they need to manage it correctly,” said Bill Wilson, Vice President of Digital Strategy and Business Development at NARM/digitalmusic.org. “In traditional retail, it’s easy to have someone move physical units around a store if they are misfiled. However, with the firehose of information being brought on the business by the huge amount of release information being added every day, digital retailers need uniform metadata to properly organize their music catalogs and make them easily accessible to consumers. By following the guidelines we’ve laid out, those on the artist side can help these retailers ensure that nothing falls through the cracks and, ultimately, make it easier for fans to find their music digitally.”

The Music Industry Style Guide was created by digitalmusic.org’s Digital Supply Chain and Operations Workgroup, co-chaired by Sony DADC’s Chris Read and Neurotic Media’s Shachar Oren, and sourced from members of the workgroup. The guide is available for free and can be downloaded from https://narm.wufoo.com/forms/music-metadata-style-guide-download-form.

Featuring panels and presentations with top digital music executives and thought leaders on May 8th and 9th live from the Los Angeles Hyatt Regency Century Plaza.

LiveMusicStage, an online platform for live-streamed concerts, will be broadcasting select panels in their entirety live from Music Biz 2013, the annual confab of NARM and digitalmusic.com to take place May 6-9 in Los Angeles. This is a great way to check out our panels if you are unable to join us at the Century Plaza Hotel.Streamed panels include among others Selling To Fans vs Selling To Consumers; Monetizing Music, Marketing & Data in the New Music Business; and Discoverability in the Digital Age. They will feature senior executives from leading companies such as Scott Ambrose Reilly (CEO of X5 Music), Steve Savoca (Head of Content at Spotify), Benji Rogers (Founder / CEO of Pledge Music), and Paul Springer (Senior Vice President Product Management of Rhapsody).

“Through the live stream everyone has a chance to participate in top-level panels that are otherwise available for NARM and digitalmusic.org members only, making this an amazing opportunity for anybody in the music business and anyone wanting to get into the business,“ says Antti Eronen, CEO of LiveMusicStage.

The pay-per-view streams cost $5 per panel, or $10 to watch all five at www.livemusicstage.com/music-biz.

LiveMusicStage recently joined as a member of NARM & digitalmusic.org. LiveMusicStage is an online platform where venues, festivals and other event organizers can broadcast their gigs and concerts. Audiences can interact with the performing artists, while enjoying high quality live streams. LiveMusicStage is headquartered in Helsinki with offices in London and New York, currently preparing for its US launch later this year.

digitalmusic.org Shows Bands, Labels, Music Retail Outlets, and More How to Top Search Engine Results Pages in New Infographic

May 6, 2013 – Released today during the Music Biz 2013 event, a new infographic from digitalmusic.org, the home of music business association NARM’s digital initiatives, is giving bands, record labels, physical and digital music retail outlets, and other music companies a crash course in search engine optimization (SEO). Supported by Acquia and titled “Search Engine Optimization for Music Websites,” the infographic walks readers through the basics of how search engines such as Google and Bing work, then provides a series of easy-to-implement tips including the S.T.A.C. (Structure, Topicality, Content, Authority) method, website dos and don’ts, and monitoring strategies that can be used to create a “web of authenticity” that connects their site to other reputable ones on the web, leading to higher search engine results and increased business.

“Whether you’re an up-and-coming band, an established record label, or any other company in the music business, it’s critically important that people be able to find you quickly and easily, and chances are they are going to use a search engine to do it,” said Bill Wilson, Vice President of Digital Strategy and Business Development for NARM/digitalmusic.org. “As DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) compliance forces illegitimate sites down in the rankings, it is crucial for official, licensed sites to implement proper SEO techniques so they can take over the newly vacant spots at the top. This infographic visualizes the steps that must be taken to do so, allowing legitimate sites to easily create connections that will give them the visibility they need to make an impact on the industry.”

“Nielsen’s Global Trust in Advertising report says the fourth most trusted source of information by online consumers is a branded web site. However, the approach of “build it and they will come” simply doesn’t work, especially in the music industry, where millions of artists fight for the attention of music fans,” said Chuck Fishman, media, entertainment and publishing director for Acquia. “Acquia supports digitalmusic.org’s ‘Search Engine Optimization for Music Websites’ infographic because it provides critical and invaluable web development best practices to artists, labels and other music-related businesses, so their sites are easily discoverable by music fans.”

Acquia is joining DigitalMusic.org’s membership in support of its mission to advocate, educate and organize on behalf of the entire digital music ecosystem. Acquia’s passion for connecting performing artists and fans is rooted in its work helping power the digital strategies for many of the industry’s biggest brands, including Warner Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment. Acquia will be present on two work groups, helping to set industry best practices and standards around digital marketing and digital asset management.

The infographic is available for free and can be viewed at http://www.narm.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/digitalmusicorgSEOInfo.pdf.

About Acquia

Acquia is where great digital experiences begin. Acquia is helping some of the world’s leading brands succeed, including Twitter, Mercedes Benz, Warner Music Group, and Stanford University. Join the more than 2,000 organizations that are moving at the speed of the web with Acquia’s solutions for content, community and commerce. Acquia offers developer tools, cloud solutions and global expertise to drive success the open source way.

Dream It. Drupal It. Acquia.

See who’s using Drupal at http://www.drupalshowcase.com, and for more information visit www.acquia.com or call +1 781 238 8600.

More than 100 speakers set to address industry’s most pressing issues

May 2, 2013 – Music business association NARM and digitalmusic.org, the home of NARM’s digital initiatives, have announced the full schedule for must-attend music industry event Music Biz 2013, which will be held May 6-9 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles. The event will simultaneously honor the past while looking to the future, celebrating NARM’s 55th Anniversary while featuring a variety of panels and other events showcasing the musical stars and industry innovators of tomorrow. The annual conference will unite these up-and-comers with key industry decision makers, creating a unique opportunity to address and find innovative solutions to key issues such as product metadata standards, the convergence of streaming music and the automobile industry, and the future of the business as a whole. The event’s wide-ranging program features something for everyone, from large and independent music companies to digital and physical retail to distributors, managers, artists, educators, and students.

More than 100 industry experts are slated to speak at events such as Billboard’s “The Future of the Biz on the Future of the Biz” keynote, which spotlights four members of the publication’s 40 Under 40 Power Players list: Joe Belliotti of Coca-Cola, Ethiopia Habtemariam of UMPG and Motown Records, Rebeca León of AEG Live/Golden Voice, and Tricky Stewart of Epic Records. The keynote is part of a jam-packed Opening Session that, in keeping with the keynote’s forward-looking theme, will be closed by a performance from alt-folk sister act von Grey, whose members range in age from 12 to 18. The session will also feature the presentation of the Independent Spirit Award to Record Store Day, the presentation of the Presidential Award for Sustained Industry Achievement to TAG Strategic Founder and Managing Partner Ted Cohen, and more.

Music Biz 2013 will also play host to the first-ever Music Industry Metadata Summit, which is meant to inform newcomers about the importance of metadata while giving industry executives a chance to hash out solutions to key issues regarding the information systems of the future. Concurrently, digitalmusic.org will present the Music Business Academy, a mix of the organization’s Music Business Crash Course and Music Start Up Academy events. Targeting independent labels, artists, managers, music business students, app developers, and music startups, the event will help those looking to break into the music business get a handle on the tools they will need to establish a successful company.

The growing relationship between music services and the automobile industry will be the focus of Town Hall: The Connected Car Experience, which will feature a keynote from Mitch Bainwol, President and CEO of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and former Chairman and CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), who will then lead a discussion after a presentation by Team Detroit, the agency of record for Ford Motor Company, about its use of digital music as one of the keys to success in creating an emotional connection between with consumers and their cars. The event will bridge the gap between the two industries and address emerging trends, tech developments, and consumers’ in-car listening habits. Continuing the automotive theme, NARM and digitalmusic.org have partnered with rental-car giant Hertz and premier online music creation site Indaba Music for the Music & Brand Partnerships: Take a Swim in the Shark Tank panel. The event’s centerpiece will be an original-song competition in which five up-and-coming bands pitch one of their songs to a panel of experts, with the winner receiving a prime placement on Hertz’s YouTube channel and a one-week luxury car rental. It’s a great way for attendees to both learn about the benefits bands and brands can achieve by working together and see the process unfold live.

Throughout the day on Wednesday, top app developers and service providers will be showing off their wares during the second App Alley. Organized by digitalmusic.org, the event will feature exhibits from 7digital, AccountingSuite, Bandzoogle, Choose Digital, Hearo.fm, Jamplify, Musicmetric, New Releases Now, Playbutton, Spotify, and Vivogig. Music Biz 2013 will close with the annual Awards Dinner Party, featuring a red carpet reception and artist meet and greet. The event will honor blues legend Buddy Guy, who will receive the Chairman’s Award for Sustained Creative Achievement, and U.K. soul-pop sensation Emeli Sandé, who will receive the Breakthrough Artist of the Year Award.

Registration is still open, starting at only $69 for full-time students $349 for individual professional members. Discounts are also available for first-time independent retailers, who may register for $199. For more information or to register for Music Biz 2013, visit www.musicbiz2013.com.

Music Biz 2013 Schedule

Monday, May 6

10 AM-5 PM

Music Business Academy, Part 1

• General Session – Copyright and Royalties
• 7digital’s Product Workshop: Licensing, APIs, Music Rights & Product Development
• Music A-Z: What Labels & Artists Need to Be Successful
• Artist Manager Town Hall
• The ABCs of Music Distribution
• How to Be a No. 1 App and Not Lose Money
• Navigating the Digital Music Licensing Process

10 AM-5 PM

Music Industry Metadata Summit, Part 1

• Information Infrastructure: The Executive Business Case Keynote – Michael Frey, Sony DADC New Media Solutions
• Acronym Salad I
• Information Infrastructure: The Executive Business Case Panel
• Acronym Salad II
• You Are Not Alone: Metadata Lessons from the Book Publishing Industry
• Digital Operations Workshop
• Classical, Jazz & Specialty Genre Metadata Working Session

3-5 PM

One-on-One Meetings

• Presented in conjunction with A2IM
  Pre-scheduled one-on-one meetings include retailers, distributors, labels, artist managers, and digital services suppliers. While limited, meeting slots may still be available – inquire at the Music Biz 2013 registration desk.

Tuesday, May 7

10 AM-3 PM

Music Business Academy, Part 2

• General Session II – Artists, Labels, Touring & Marketing
• Enhancing the Mobile Music Experience
• Exploring Fan Experiences as a Revenue Stream
• Website Demolition Derby
• Opportunities in B2B Music Services

10 AM-3 PM

Music Industry Metadata Summit, Part 2

• Building Efficiency & Transparency in Royalty Reporting
• Managing Photographic & Video Archival Assets
• The Album Credit Ecosystem
• What the Music Business Can Learn from the News Industry

1:30-3:30 PM

One-on-One Meetings

3:45-6 PM

Town Hall: The Connected Car Experience

• Keynote Presentation – Mitch Bainwol, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers
• Team Detroit – Presentation and Discussion
• Automotive Entertainment & The Consumer
• Developing for the Car

6-7 PM

Opening Cocktail Party – Sponsored by WEA

Wednesday, May 8

8:30-11 AM

Breakfast & Opening Session

• President’s Address by Jim Donio
• Chairman’s Message by Rachelle Friedman, J&R Music & Computer World
• Keynote presentation: “The Future of the Biz on the Future of the Biz”
• Presentation of Independent Spirit Award to Record Store Day
• Presentation of Presidential Award for Sustained Industry Achievement to Ted Cohen
• Performance by von Grey

11 AM-5 PM

App Alley

3-5 PM

Independent Label Meetup: Diverse Revenue Streams

Organized and moderated by Rich Bengloff, A2IM

3-4:30 PM

Music & Brand Partnerships: Take a Swim in the Shark Tank

• Finalists for Hertz contest make their pitches, with winner announced at the conclusion of panel.

Afternoon Breakout meetings including:

• Oh Brother, Where Art Thou Digital Music?
• Golden Opportunity Innovation in Music Merchandise
• SOCIAL VISUAL – Making Money via Next-Generation Content Marketing Strategies
• Research: Fans & Forecasts
• Selling to Fans vs. Selling to Consumers: D2F & D2C for Labels & Retailers

Thursday, May 9

Afternoon Breakout meetings including:

• Music & Mobile: Marketing to the Constantly Connected Fan
• Monetizing Music, Marketing & Data in the New Music Business
• How Mobile Is Changing the Future of Live Music and Its Promotion
• Big Data – The New Oil
• Discoverability in the Digital Age

7 PM

Artist Meet & Greet and Awards Dinner Party

• Presentation of Chairman’s Award for Sustained Creative Achievement to Buddy Guy
• Presentation of Breakthrough Artist of the Year Award to Emeli Sandé

• Billboard Keynote Presentation – “The Future of the Biz on the Future of the Biz”

• Independent Spirit Award presentation to Record Store Day

• Presidential Award presentation to Ted Cohen of TAG Strategic

• Live performance from teen alt-folk quartet von Grey

April 26, 2013 – The opening session of NARM and digitalmusic.org’s Music Biz 2013 has its sights set on the future of the industry, featuring the Billboard keynote presentation “The Future of the Biz on the Future of the Biz,” with 40 Under 40 Power Players Joe Belliotti of Coca-Cola, Ethiopia Habtemariam of UMPG and Motown Records, Rebeca Leon of AEG Live/Golden Voice, and Tricky Stewart of Epic Records, and a performance from the teen alt-folk sister act von Grey, who have previously performed on The Late Show with David Letterman, Conan, Rock Center with Brian Williams, and at the SXSW festival.

In addition, Record Store Day will receive the Independent Spirit Award in celebration of its work promoting the ongoing commercial and cultural contributions of the global independent retail community, and music and tech evangelist Ted Cohen, Founder and Managing Partner at TAG Strategic, will receive the Presidential Award for Sustained Industry Achievement. NARM President Jim Donio will begin the session with his President’s Address, recapping the previous year’s key initiatives and providing a preview of what’s ahead for the association. He will be followed by Rachelle Friedman, NARM Chair of the Board and CEO of J&R Music and Computer World, who will announce the Scholarship Foundation Class of 2013 and the 2013-2014 Board of Directors. The Opening Session will be held Wednesday, May 8, from 8:30 to 11 a.m. at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles.

“Each year, the Music Biz Opening Session sets the stage for the entire event, and this year, the theme is definitely the future of the business,” said Donio. “From the perspectives of these young industry executives to the performance from von Grey, whose members range from 12 to 18 years of age, we’re presenting some of the best rising talent from both the business and the creative sides. Their perspectives make me optimistic about what lies ahead for music.”

The Opening Session is open to all Music Biz 2013 attendees. For more information or to register for the conference, visit www.narm.com/events/musicbiz2013.

The full Music Biz 2013 event runs May 6-9, and includes a comprehensive slate of panels, keynotes, and townhalls such as the Music Business Academy program, the Connected Car Town Hall, the Metadata Summit, and many more specialized panels and industry work groups. The event closes with the Music Biz Awards Dinner, where Buddy Guy will receive the Chairman’s Award for Sustained Creative Achievement and Emeli Sandé will receive the Breakthrough Artist of the Year Award. The dinner will be preceded by a red carpet reception featuring Tom Jones, Natalie Cole, Buddy Guy, Jason Derulo, Kelly Rowland, Emeli Sandé, Troy Landry of the History Channel’s Swamp People, Booker T of Booker T & The MGs, Jessica Sanchez of American Idol, Olly Murs, Trevor Jackson, Cher Lloyd of the U.K. version of The X Factor, and more.

April 18, 2013 – With Juniper Research predicting that nearly 20% of consumer cars in North America and Western Europe will feature mobile-app integration by 2017, the idea of the “connected car” is quickly becoming a reality. With that in mind, music business association NARM and digitalmusic.org, the home of NARM’s digital initiatives, are set to tackle in-car music listening trends during Music Biz 2013 at a Town Hall entitled “The Connected Car Experience,” which will be held Tuesday, May 7, from 3:45 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles. During the Town Hall, representatives from top companies in the space such as the Warner Music Group, Pandora, Slacker, Gracenote, Aha Radio/Harman International, and Kenwood USA Corporation will be on hand to discuss how both the music and auto industries can take advantage of these trends and examine exactly what consumers want from their music experience while on the road.

“With streaming services and cloud-based music lockers announcing deep integrations with top auto companies, the ability to safely and efficiently enjoy next-gen music services while driving is becoming more and more important,” said Jim Donio, President of NARM. “This forum will provide an in-depth look at this trend and give music and auto industry executives a chance to put their heads together to build the cars of the future.” Read More »

April 17, 2013 – digitalmusic.org, the home of music business association NARM’s digital initiatives, is bringing the popular App Alley popup demo and exhibit showcase back for a second year at Music Biz 2013. The event will be held Wednesday, May 8, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles. It is designed to give established and aspiring app developers and service providers a chance to put their products in front of a high-powered audience, while allowing industry executives to get a first look at the powerful new innovations set to impact the music business in the year ahead.

Companies currently confirmed to participate at App Alley 2013 include:

• 7digital
• AccountingSuite
• Almighty Music Marketing
• Bandzoogle
• Choose Digital
• Hearo.fm
• Jamplify
• Musicmetric
• Playbutton
• Spotify

“The inaugural App Alley was a big success last year, with a steady stream of people flowing through the exhibit space all day checking out a great slate of innovative apps, many of which have made a serious name for themselves over the past year,” said Bill Wilson, Vice President of Digital Strategy and Business Development at digitalmusic.org. “We’re excited to repeat that success this year with another lineup of companies that highlight the limitless potential of the music space and illustrates how technology can be used to bring it to reality.”

A limited number of Basic Display packages, which include a high-top table, signage, wired internet, electricity, one complimentary full registration to Music Biz 2013, and two 2-day passes to the event, are still available for $499 each. Those who would like to reserve a space can do so by contacting Pat Daly at daly@narm.com. Those who would like to attend App Alley can do so by registering for Music Biz 2013 at www.narm.com/events/musicbiz2013/rates-registration. To see a video recap of last year’s App Alley, visit http://bcove.me/i18xb8s4.

The full Music Biz 2013 event runs May 6-9, and includes a comprehensive slate of panels, keynotes, and townhalls ranging from the Music Business Academy for those just starting out to the first-ever Metadata Summit for those already immersed in the business, to the Billboard “Future of the Biz on the Future of the Biz” panel followed by a performance by alt-folk sister act von Grey. The event closes with an Awards Dinner, where Buddy Guy will receive the Chairman’s Award for Sustained Creative Achievement and Emeli Sandé will receive the Breakthrough Artist of the Year Award. Other honorees include Ted Cohen, Founder and Managing Partner at TAG Strategic, and Record Store Day, who will receive NARM’s Presidential Award for Sustained Industry Achievement and Independent Spirit Award, respectively, with more to be announced.

Hertz, Indaba Music, NARM and digitalmusic.org Team to Give Bands a Shot at Stardom During Music Biz 2013

Ketchum Sounds-led panel “Music & Brand Partnerships: Take a Swim in the Shark Tank” to also showcase newest music marketing innovations

April 17, 2013 – Music business association NARM and digitalmusic.org, the home of NARM’s digital initiatives, have joined forces with rental-car giant Hertz and premier online music creation site Indaba Music to give up-and-coming bands a chance to earn some serious exposure. Five artists will be chosen to pitch one of their songs to an esteemed group of music marketing experts at Music Biz 2013’s “Music & Brand Partnerships: Take a Swim in the Shark Tank” panel, which will be held Wednesday, May 8, from 3 PM to 4:30 PM at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles. The winner will have their song featured on Hertz’s YouTube channel and receive a one-week luxury car rental.

“This panel not only gives great new artists a chance to get discovered, but also illustrates exactly what we mean when we talk about partnerships between brands and musicians,” said Jim Donio, President of NARM and digitalmusic.org. “Brands need music and artists need to put themselves in front of as many people as possible; it’s a mutually beneficial relationship. By actually bringing these two sides together during this panel, we will be able to go beyond the discussion and show attendees how these partnerships actually come together in real life.”

“Hertz has always believed in the natural alignment of music and the travel experience,” said Jerry Preyss, Hertz Senior VP of Global Branding & Innovation. “From being the first rental car company to offer satellite radio to the creation of our Movin’ With Music Program featuring Hertz Road Trip Radio, music continues to play a part in our marketing programs. So we’re excited to work with Indaba Music, NARM and digitalmusic.org to find the next great band and help give them a boost up the music industry ladder.”

To enter, artists must submit a song that embraces the spirit of travel while capturing the essence of Hertz’s speed and highlighting our nation’s love of cars. Submissions will be powered by Indaba, opening April 15 and closing April 25 at https://beta.indabamusic.com/opportunities/narm-original-song-competition. Each submission will be judged based on quality of the artist’s interpretation of the provided Hertz brief; overall quality of the composition including song structure and lyrics; and production value of the track including vocals and instrumentation. Those selected to play back and pitch their song at the panel will be notified by April 30 and given 7-10 minutes each for their pitch.

The session, organized by Marcus Peterzell, Exec. VP of Entertainment at Ketchum Sounds, the music marketing subsidiary of Ketchum Sports & Entertainment and public relations firm for Hertz, will also highlight some of the newest innovations in the music-marketing world while pointing out some of last year’s best campaigns and providing tips for landing music partnerships with high-profile corporations. In addition to Peterzell, who will moderate the session, confirmed panelists include:

• Marcie Allen, MAC Presents
• Brittany Hodak, Zinepak
• Doug Mark, Mark Music & Media Law, P.C.
• Jerry Preyss, Hertz
• Matt Ringel, Managing Partner, Red Light Management
• Nate Lew, Indaba Music

NARM and digitalmusic.org will host Music Biz 2013 from Monday, May 6, through Thursday, May 9, at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles. The conference will also feature the annual Awards Dinner, where master bluesman Buddy Guy will receive the Chairman’s Award for Sustained Creative Achievement, R&B/soul-pop rising star Emeli Sandé will receive the Breakthrough Artist of the Year Award, and Ted Cohen, Founder and Managing Partner at TAG Strategic, will receive the Presidential Award for Sustained Industry Achievement, with more to be announced. The Awards Dinner closes this annual music industry must-attend event, which includes a wide variety of panels, keynotes, and townhalls from the Music Business Academy for those just starting out to the first Music Industry Metadata Summit for those already immersed in the business. For more information or to register for Music Biz 2013, visit http://www.musicbiz2013.com.

About Hertz

Hertz operates its car rental business through the Hertz, Dollar and Thrifty brands from approximately 10,400 corporate, licensee and franchisee locations in North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia, Australia, Africa, the Middle East and New Zealand. Hertz is the largest worldwide airport general use car rental brand, operating from approximately 8,800 corporate and licensee locations in approximately 150 countries. Hertz is the number one airport car rental brand in the U.S. and at 111 major airports in Europe. Dollar and Thrifty have approximately 1,580 corporate and franchisee locations in approximately 80 countries. Hertz is an inaugural member of Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards Hall of Fame and was recently named, for the thirteenth time, by the magazine’s readers as the Best Car Rental Agency. Hertz was also voted the Best Overall Car Rental Company in Zagat’s 2012/13 U.S. Car Rental Survey, earning top honors in 14 additional categories, and the Company swept the global awards for Best Rewards Program and Best Overall Benefits from FlyerTalk.com. Product and service initiatives such as Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, NeverLost®, and unique cars and SUVs offered through the Company’s Adrenaline, Prestige and Green Traveler Collections, also set Hertz apart from the competition. Additionally, Hertz owns the vehicle leasing and fleet management leader Donlen Corporation and operates the Hertz On Demand car sharing business. The Company also owns a leading North American equipment rental business, Hertz Equipment Rental Corporation, which includes Hertz Entertainment Services.

NARM and digitalmusic.org’s Music Business Academy Targets Labels, Artists, Managers, Startups, Developers, Students, and More at Music Biz 2013

April 17, 2013 – Music business association NARM and digitalmusic.org, the home of NARM’s digital initiatives, are zeroing in on the concerns of labels, artists, managers, students, app developers, startups, and more with their Music Business Academy, which will be held during the first two days of Music Biz 2013, May 6-7, at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles.

The event combines two of the organizations’ most popular series, the Music Business Crash Course and Music Start Up Academy, to give both beginners and industry veterans a place to brush up on the skills they have and soak up expert knowledge on those they don’t. It will feature general sessions each day with appearances from big names in the music industry such as Rich Bengloff of A2IM and John Coletta of BMI; a collection of panels focused entirely on artist managers; breakout sessions covering everything from copyright issues to music distribution to the mobile music experience; and more.

“The Music Business Academy is a great way for industry novices to quickly learn the basics of the music business so they can bring their ideas to life,” said Bill Wilson, Vice President of Digital Strategy and Business Development at NARM/digitalmusic.org. “It’s also an opportunity for those who have been around awhile to refresh and update their own knowledge while getting into the same room with the next generation of music innovators. We hope this event will lead to lasting relationships that have a significant impact on the music industry.”

The complete schedule for the Music Business Academy can be found below. Admission is included with registration to the full Music Biz 2013 event or $119 for those who want to attend the Academy only.

The full Music Biz 2013 event runs May 6-9, and includes a comprehensive slate of panels, keynotes, and townhalls ranging from the Music Business Academy to the first-ever Metadata Summit; the Billboard “Future of the Biz on the Future of the Biz” panel followed by a performance by von Grey; and much more. The event closes with an Awards Dinner, and honorees include Buddy Guy, who will receive the Chairman’s Award for Sustained Creative Achievement; Emeli Sandé, Breakthrough Artist of the Year Award; and Ted Cohen, Founder and Managing Partner at TAG Strategic, receiving NARM’s Presidential Award for Sustained Industry Achievement, with more to be announced. To register for the Music Biz 2013, visit www.narm.com/events/musicbiz2013/rates-registration. To register for the Music Business Academy only, visit http://academyatmusicbiz.eventbrite.com.

(Music Business Academy agenda follows)

Monday, May 6

10 AM – 5 PM

Music Biz Academy, Part 1

A mix of our Music Business Crash Course and Music Start Up Academy, this two-day program is specifically designed for labels, artists, managers, music biz students, app developers and music startups. Today’s general session will discuss the two basic types of copyright that all those involved in the business of music should be aware of: copyrighting the composition, and copyrighting the sound recording. Additionally, we’ll explore the functions of a PRO (performing rights organization) and a music publisher. Speakers for the general session include:

• Rich Bengloff, A2IM
• John Coletta, BMI
• Kathy Spanberger, peermusic
• Bill Wilson, NARM/digitalmusic.org

Targeted breakout sessions in the afternoon will delve deeper into specific issues affecting each segment of the audience. They will include:

1:30 – 2:30 PM

7digital’s Product Workshop: Licensing, APIs, Music Rights, & Product Development

What does it take to launch a music application in 2013? You need music rights, a catalog, the ability to report and pay royalties to rights holders, and importantly a great user experience and a plan to reach music lovers. This is a workshop with 7digital’s team on how to navigate the complex music rights landscape, hone your music product idea, and prepare for a live commercial launch. We invite you to bring your ideas and questions to this workshop and learn from our team of experts. Topics include licensing, APIs, music rights, and product development.

Presenters:

• Matt Jwayad, 7digital
• Vickie Nauman, 7digital
• Kyle Pierce, 7digital

1:30 – 2:30 PM

Music A-Z: What Labels & Artists Need to Be Successful

All the tools that you would need as a label or artist to be successful in this oversaturated digital world, how to stand out and make revenue of your product and merchandise. Radio placement that charts and will help your music reach its goal. Getting involved in upcoming festivals overseas and here in the US. Understanding the retailers roles. Major publicity for you and your product. Branding you and your music.

Moderator:

• Lisa Thomas, LRT Music Group

Panelists:

• Darrell Andrews, FullScreen/Youtube
• Steve Lobel, A2Z Entertainment Company
• Jerrold Thompson, Thompson Branding
• Reyna Trevino, Trevino Enterprises

1:30 – 3:30 PM

Artist Manager Town Hall

Organized and moderated by: Damon Whiteside, Nomad Entertainment Group

Panel 1

YouTube Artist Development: Strategies to Get Discovered, Build Fans, and Make Money on YouTube

In today’s digital world, new music artists are being discovered on YouTube, building tremendous fan bases, as well as sustaining a substantial income just from advertising and sponsorships generated through their YouTube presence. Success in the YouTube space can also lead to label signings, licensing deals, and touring opportunities for these DIY artists. However, with this cluttered environment, it is becoming more imperative that artists have the proper representation and content strategy to help them break through. This panel, consisting of content production companies specific to the YouTube format and successful managers that now rep YouTube sensations, will discuss successes and strategies on effectively leveraging the most powerful music platform in the digital space.

Presenters:

• Nils Gum, Manager of Karmin
• Julia Moonves, Maker Studios
• Sarah Penna, Big Frame
• Dan Rosen, FullScreen

Panel 2

Live Events OnDemand: Bringing the Excitement of Live Music to Fans Without the Expense of Touring

Artists – both major and independent – struggle with consumer demands for exclusive access to them wherever and whenever. Additionally for developing and independent artists, the costs of touring, marketing, and being everywhere they have a fanbase make their live strategy increasingly challenging. Fortunately for all types of artists, the digital space has allowed them to lover cost and time commitments while still generating revenues equal to live shows as well as the fan engagement that their followers desire. This panel consisting of technology companies in the digital events space and managers of artists that have successful used these technologies in place of or in addition to touring, will discuss their successes and key learnings for the future of this digital events business model.

Presenters:

• David Carrico, EvntLive
• Matt Fitz-Henry, HYFN
• Matt Howe, LiveStream
• Evan Lowenstein, Stageit
• Stephen Prendergast, LiveStage
• Tony Riggins, Ustream
• Karl Rogers, iRocke

2:45 – 3:45 PM

How to Be a No. 1 App and Not Lose Money

The goal of this workshop is to provide participants with the tools and the secrets of app marketing and monetization. It is never too early to plan a marketing and monetization strategy and it is recommended to begin prior to development in order to secure success for your app.

Presenter:

• Shawnee Swarengin, App Promo

1:30 – 3 PM

The ABCs of Music Distribution

The process if preparing an album for a national commercial release, and moving that album through the physical and digital supply chain, is both complex and fascinating. This session will examine the process in detail and provide music biz students and junior staffers with the opportunity to ask experienced professionals in this area of the business what it takes to succeed in their positions.

Organizer and Moderator:

• Serona Elton, University of Miami

Panelists:

• Ray Farrell, finetunes

• Brian Felsen, CD Baby

• Gary Scotti, Scotti’s Record Shops

• Brian Shafton, RBC Records

4 – 4:45 PM

Navigating the Digital Music Licensing Process

Companies that are new to music licensing tend to find the process daunting. HFA will unpack the music licensing process so new entrants to this market understand what the process entails and offer solutions to navigating the process. Topics to be covered include: 1. The basics of music licensing 2. License types 3. Obtaining and managing licenses 4. Royalty reporting, calculations and distributions.

Presenter:

• John Raso, VP of Client Services, HFA

Tuesday, May 7

10 AM – 3:30 PM

Music Biz Academy, Part 2

On Day Two of our Music Biz Academy, we’ll focus our attention during our morning portion of the program to the artist and the label. We’ll explore:

• how artists get paid
• economic structure of a typical record label recording contract
• emerging label business models
• trends in touring and merchandise; and
• best avenues for marketing and promoting music.

Speakers:

• Cathy Bauet, DAptone

• Rich Bengloff, A2IM

Targeted breakout sessions in the afternoon will delve deeper into specific issues effecting each segment of the audience They will include:

1 – 1:30 PM

Enhancing the Mobile Music Experience

Two of the great side-effects of the current smartphone boom are the big gains in the number of mobile music consumers as well the increased appetite for music related apps. However, with more and more music fans turning to their mobile devices to listen to, learn about their favorite artists and share their experiences, it becomes increasingly important for app builders and developers to not only drive fan engagement but also to help fans find the information they are looking for via an elegant and simple user interface. It also means “mobile” as a distinct entity will become even more important for artists and their teams and will start to demand more expertise and partnerships.

Presenter:

• Jessica Kahn, Bandpage

2 – 2:45 PM

Exploring Fan Experiences as a Revenue Stream

With income from recorded music sales in decline, artists have had to create new revenue streams. Social media has allowed an deeper fan connection and new opportunities for engagement. This session will go over how artists can sell experiences to their fans – including meet and greets, Skype chats, custom songs, and hang-outs – as a new way of monetization.

Presenter:

• Derrick Fung, Tunezy

2 – 3:30 PM

Website Demolition Derby

This session will offer live critiques of musician websites. Our panelists will assess each site’s design, organization, content and functionality. How does the website fit with the artist’s overall online strategy, and how successfully does it achieve their goals? Our experts are extremely knowledgeable about website best practices and deeply allergic to bad design, Flash widgets and unreadable fonts. Reviews will be ruthless, and diplomacy will be left aside, but all reviews will aim to teach everyone in the room some best practices for musician websites.

Presenter:

• David Cool, Bandzoogle

2 – 3 PM

Opportunities in B2B Music Services

Distributing content is not the only way to work with record labels. Fundamentally, labels are not much different than other content companies, and the label’s scope is far broader than simply licensing our music. B2B solutions are very much required by labels to help them with any number of things, including marketing, analysis, hosting, automation, and supply chain management. Find out some of what is going on in this space, what we still need, and how you can get into the mix.

Presenters:

• Zack Werner, 19 Entertainment

April 4, 2013 – Music business association NARM and digitalmusic.org, the home of NARM’s digital initiatives, have announced that Billboard will present the Keynote Panel at Music Biz 2013, showcasing the perspectives of young executives from its 2012 “40 Under 40” Power Players list, who were honored for “propelling [the] industry with their artistic and business vision.” The panel, named “The Future of the Biz on the Future of the Biz,” will be the centerpiece of the annual industry event’s Opening Session on Wednesday, May 8, at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles. The panel will be moderated by Billboard’s Senior Correspondent Phil Gallo.

The Billboard 40 Under 40 Power Players confirmed to participate are:

• Joe Belliotti (Director of Entertainment Marketing, Coca-Cola), who has created direct relationships with the music industry, making Coke one of the most powerful brands in business.
• Ethiopia Habtemariam (EVP/Head of Urban Music, UMPG and SVP, Motown Records), who is revitalizing the Motown brand with seasoned acts like Stevie Wonder, Erykah Badu, and Ne-Yo along with newcomers like Kevin Ross and B. Smyth.
• Rebeca León (VP of Talent, AEG Live/Golden Voice and Manager, Juanes), who is the most powerful woman in Latin touring, putting together the joint tour of Enrique Iglesias and Jennifer Lopez as well as Mana’s historic seven-night run at the Staples Center.
• Tricky Stewart (President of A&R, Epic Records), who has had a leading hand in songs with sales topping 25 million records, including Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies,” Rihanna’s “Umbrella,” Mariah Carey’s “Touch My Body” and Justin Bieber’s “Baby.”

“These executives are moving the music industry forward in exciting arenas, from artistic to innovative,” said Jim Donio, President of NARM. “Since the goal of Music Biz is to collaborate on new solutions for the music industry of tomorrow, it made perfect sense to partner with Billboard to position these fresh ideas, viewpoints and experiences at the forefront of the program this year.”

The keynote will be open to all Music Biz 2013 registrants. Music Biz 2013 runs May 6-9, and includes a full slate of panels, keynotes, and townhalls ranging from the Music Business Academy for those just starting out to the first Metadata Summit for those already immersed in the business. The event closes with an Awards Dinner, and honorees include Buddy Guy, who will receive the Chairman’s Award for Sustained Creative Achievement; Emeli Sandé, Breakthrough Artist of the Year Award;and Ted Cohen, Founder and Managing Partner at TAG Strategic, receiving the NARM’s Presidential Award for Sustained Industry Achievement, with more to be announced. For more information or to register for the conference, visit www.narm.com/events/musicbiz2013.