NARM (National Association of Recording Merchandisers) has confirmed it will sponsor Record Store Day, April 18, 2009, for which planning has already begun. The sponsorship of the leading trade association for music retailers, wholesalers, distributors, record labels, multimedia suppliers, suppliers of related products and services, and individual professionals and educators in the music business will help the organizers prepare for the targeted event in April '09 as well as continue to keep promoting Record Store Day and the unique culture of indie record stores all year long, in the media and on www.recordstoreday.com.
"NARM is so pleased to be sponsoring Record Store Day 2009," said President Jim Donio. "The extraordinarily successful debut of Record Store Day in 2008 served to perfectly underscore how vibrant and vital record stores are to communities and economies around the world. NARM hopes that its support will enable organizers to make next year's event an even bigger and better celebration of independent music retailers' passion and commitment to the music that enriches and inspires us all."
Event organizers include the Music Monitor Network, the Coalition of Independent Music Stores (CIMS), Alliance of Independent Music Stores (AIMS) and Newbury.
Music Monitor prez, Michael Kurtz says, "The Music Monitor Network was happy to see NARM get involved with indie-retail's recent Noise In The Basement Creative Conference in Baltimore and is excited to have NARM's sponsorship of Record Store Day. We look forward to now turning our attention to Record Store Day and working with Jim Donio and his crew on Record Store Day 2009. It will be hard to top last year's event but we are going to put our heart and soul into it."
Don Van Cleave of Coalition of Independent Music Stores adds, "The Coalition of Independent Music Stores is very stoked to include NARM in this year's planning for Record Store Day. While the event is targeted at independent music stores, the good vibes from last year's celebration were felt at all of the music retailers that NARM represents. NARM will help us to spread the message that stores that sell music are a very important part of the culture of music. We are looking forward to their help."
April 2008 marked the first Record Store Day event to great success with over 300 stores participating, not only stateside, but overseas as well. Paul McCartney, Norah Jones, Henry Rollins, Shelby Lynne, Tech N9ne, Raheem DeVaughn and scores of other artists and music industry luminaries all offered votes of confidence to Record Store Day which spiked revenue for indie retailers and inspired coverage in such media outlets as National Public Radio, the New York Times, Rolling Stone, the BBC, and even American Idol. In addition, retailers hosted in-store appearances and performances by both top name and local artists, including Metallica, (who started it all with the announcement of the Record Store Day vinyl re-issue of some of their classic albums, along with an in-store signing session), Panic At The Disco, Dresden Dolls, Regina Spektor, Steve Earle, and Billy Bragg.
NARM advances the promotion, marketing, distribution, and sale of music by providing its members with a forum for diverse meeting and networking opportunities, information, and education to support their businesses, as well as advocating for their common interests. NARM's retail members operate thousands of physical, digital and mobile storefronts that account for about 85% of the music sold in the US market. Established in 1958, NARM is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year.
posted November 14, 2008
Source: http://www.pluginmusic.com/news/archive.php?id=4283