The National Association of Recording Merchandisers (NARM)

What is NARM?

The National Association of Recording Merchandisers (NARM) is the trade association for the business of music, providing the central platform for the discussion of industry-wide concerns and spearheading the implementation of initiatives to advance the business. While primarily focused on physical formats for music for much of its history, NARM has expanded its mission in the past ten years to include all facets of music commerce. This includes physical, digital and mobile outlets as well as gaming, applications, merchandise, video and other ways music is monetized.

Some current NARM programs available include:

• Revitalization of the music industry-wide Give The Gift of Music Downloads  campaign
• The NARM Entertainment and Technology Law Conference Series
• The 2011 NARM Music Business Convention 

The Give The Gift of Music Downloads campaign started over 30 years ago to communicate on simple message, that music is a means of personal expression, thoughtfulness and consideration when given as a gift to a friend or a loved on. 

The NARM Entertainment and Technology Law Conference Series, covers the most update issues dealing with entertainment and law. The most recent conference on November 3, 2011 covered topics of:

• Cloud Media Law: MP3 Tunes, Amazon Cloud Music and Cartoon Network v. Cablevision

Are online services in the clear when providing cloud-based locker services? Are creators cheated by unlicensed cloud-based services? Is it time for Congress to revisit the DMCA safe harbor for user-uploaded content?

• Cloud Media Deals: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly? Or All the Same?

Spotify, Amazon Cloud Player, Apple iTunes Music Store ...So many opportunities, most are fundamentally different. How do you evaluate which deals are good? What are the difference between the models? What are the licensing issues? If regulatory and case law is primarily reactive, then it follows the cutting of music law is contract and how exactly the above questions are answered.

• Creators vs. Corporations: Copyright Termination and Royalty Accounting After the Eminem Case

For decades, there have been issues between creators and their corporate sponsors — record companies and publishers. One issue recently exploded when Eminem successfully sued Universal Music regarding rights and royalties associated with iTunes downloads. Another issue is the 2013 opportunity for artists and songwriters to reclaim assignments of copyright. Is this the dawn of a new day for songwriters and recording artists, or just a bit of turbulence that will be over before we notice?

The Music Start Up Academy is a series of six sessions designed to reduce barriers to entry into the music business for entrepreneurs. The coursework will provide a clear roadmap to success by offering insights in the core structure, legal framework, content deals, business models, and the "nuts and bolts" of getting things done to build a legal, streamlined, and competitive music property. 

The future of the music business is dependent upon technological innovation, but there are very few opportunities that provide the fundamentals of the industry for music entrepreneurs. Whether you are an artist, producer, songwriter, or composer, these are issues that those making music need to be aware of. Artists, producers, and songwriters get so caught up in the creative side, that they forget that this is the music business and the business is just as important as the music. NARM is doing their part in making sure that they provide the resources and materials for artist, producers and songwriters to take care of their hard work.

How Steve Jobs and Apple Changed the Music Industry and the World

How Steve Jobs and Apple Changed the Music Industry and the World

Over the past decade Apple has succeeded in redefining and reinventing certain aspects of the music industry. In particular, Steve Jobs helped create music products and services that impacted four particular areas. 

1.    Musical Consumption Pattern

It's hard to imagine my life without my iPod. Although it wasn't the first portable MP3 player released, the iPod took the best elements from its early competitors and defined a portable listening device and changed the way listeners experienced music. 

People everywhere began to analyze the device's impact. For starters, the iPod meant that a listener could hear any song in their library at any given time. This allowed users to create their own playlist, instead of being constrained by 

In addition, iPods impacted the format of the musical experience. The user could now purchase individual songs. No longer was the album a mandated listening requirement. As a result, the iPod empowered the single track more than ever before, simultaneously diminishing the impact of the full-length album. 

2.    Accessibility of Recording and Production Tools

To put it simply, Apple leveled the playing field. The barrier between writing songs, recording and production lessoned with affordable and easy-to-use software programs like Logic and Garageband. As these programs became available, the lines blurred between professional recording artists and bedroom musicians.

3.    Online Retail and Distribution Models

While many of Steve Jobs and Apple’s services revolutionized the music industry over the past decade, few have made as profound an impact as now eight-year old iTunes.

In 2003, Apple launched iTunes and sold single MP3s for $0.99 each. From that point forward, Apple grew the platform into a widely successful and profitable effort, eventually becoming the number one music retailer in the United States.

iTunes stood out among the early online music retailers and has continued to serve as a model for all other Internet media distributors. By being the first online distributor to secure deals with all four major corporate record labels (Universal, Sony, Warner Music Group and EMI), iTunes effectively legitimized digital music sales

4.    Live Electronic Performance Becomes Reliable

Before Apple, reliable processing for live electronic was touch and go. Through PCs were longed used to process effects, sample instruments and help electronic artists perform their music live. Apple computers like the PowerBook and MacBook have become staples at shows, garnering a reputation for their reliability. 

My mentor Devine Evans is the Pro Tools engineer/programmer for Mary J. Blige, Chris Brown, Nicki Minaj, Joe Jonas, and more, he uses two fully upgraded Macbook Pro's .

Creating Effective Music Partnerships

Authenticity in the Age of Social Media

Once upon a time global stars were beyond the reach of their fans. They were hidden behind sleeve notes on albums, carefully run press interviews, or pre-pared TV interviews. Those were the days when a classic endorsement deal could look convincing even if it wasn’t. There was no platform for the artist to undermine the deal, their personality was still a mystery and you could only imagine them using that product. Twitter, Facebook and the rest of the social web has killed those days.  Fans now feel they know their favorite athlete, singer, or actor intimately, that they can interact with them in real-time.

There is no longer room for deals with disengaged artists or even worse the ‘take the money’ style endorsement. If the artist you sponsor is not a genuine fan of the brand, if they don’t show the same passion when talking about your product as they do when they engage on other topics in social media then the strategy is flawed.

This kind of flawed strategy is all the more dangerous in the current financial state of the music business. Steve Stoute, CEO of Translation, argues strongly traditionally labels and management would protect an artist from unconvincing or inappropriate deals the current state of the music business has meant that the need for brand endorsement and revenues has increased. This sees brand in the dangerous position between artists who are more willing to take less than perfect fits and an audience with a heightened awareness for authenticity.

Creating a True Partnership – Music Sponsorship as Value Exchange

So what makes an authentic partnership? What brings the triangle of the brand, the artist and the target market into alignment so that you have a successful campaign?

Polaroid has clearly led the way; with the signing of Gaga has their Creative Director. They have integrated art and music with their product providing value for both the artists and the brand. Gaga is not just a name, she is her own innovative brand and she is bringing this innovation and life to the new Polaroid Grey Label range.

Las Vegas (01/06/11) Lady Gaga, who serves as Polaroid's creative director, unveiled three new imaging products at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Beats by Dre take on the whole idea of a brand and artist partnership to a completely new level. With Dre’s own brand working with Gaga, Justin Bieber, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and most recently David Guetta on one side and Chrysler and HTC on the other the whole endeavor oozes creativity, authenticity, and passion. 

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs who is currently worth $475 million, is set to become Hip-Hop’s first billionaire with his partnership with Diageo’s Ciroc vodka. Diddy teamed up with alcoholic beverage company back in 2007 with the aim of perking up sales for underdeveloped spirit. In exchange for a 50-50 split of the profits on Ciroc sales, his company Sean Combs Enterprises handles the brand’s marketing, including branding and positioning for the vodka, product placement and public relations. The sales data shows us that Diddy can be a successful brand manager with clever ideas and solutions. 

These are some groundbreaking examples of headline artist sponsorship and endorsement.

Greenburg, Z. O. (2011, March 16). Forbes. Retrieved October 1, 2011, from Forbes.com: http://www.forbes.com/sites/zackomalleygreenburg/2011/03/16/why-diddy-will-be-hip-hops-first-billionaire/

Jackson, S. (n.d.). Midem. Retrieved October 1, 2011, from http://www.midem.com/