Association News

Below, you’ll find the latest Association press releases, updates on our upcoming events, introductions to our newest member companies, links to the latest content from Music Biz and our partners, and more.

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May 18, 2020 – The Future of What Episode 188: Music Biz LIVE, Mental Health Focus

While many have speculated about what the long term economic impacts of the COVID-19 quarantine might be, fewer have openly discussed what the long term psychological impacts on society might be. In this episode, Portia speaks with several mental health experts who were actively working with musicians before the quarantine began, and gets their take on what was working for their clients pre-quarantine and what should happen next, if those mental health gains are to be maintained.... Listen

May 8, 2020 – The Future of What Episode #187 – Music Biz LIVE with EU & UK Music Organizations

Over the past several episodes, Portia has had countless discussions with the heads of music business organizations who represent various facets of the industry within the United States. This week, she’s speaking with their peers and equivalents in the U.K. and E.U. about how they’re weathering the pandemic, and what efforts their various governing bodies are making to aid musicians and other cultural workers in this time of crisis. The six person panel also speculates on what happens next within the industry,... Listen

May 4, 2020 – The Future of What Episode #186 — Music Biz LIVE with the Music Biz Board

While the effects of the COVID-19 quarantine on live entertainment and brick and mortar retail are already apparent, other sectors of the music industry like publishing haven’t truly felt the effects of the pandemic yet because of their buffered collection timeline. Will some sectors bare the brunt of this pandemic, while others thrive? Join us this week as Portia speaks candidly with members of the MusicBiz board about how they intend on mediating the effects of this pandemic on their particular niches inside of the music business,... Listen

May 4, 2020 – Music Business Association to Host Special Music Biz LIVE Sessions During Original Conference Week

The Music Business Association (Music Biz) today announced that it is hosting four high-level Music Biz LIVE presentations via Zoom set for Monday, May 11 through Thursday, May 14 — the week which normally marks their Annual Music Biz Conference. Music Biz previously announced this year’s Conference would be postponed to August 16 – 19 at the JW Marriott Nashville due to concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. “With all the uncertainty the ongoing health crisis has presented us with,... Read More

May 1, 2020 – Music Biz President Portia Sabin Appears on Music Policy Forum’s Music Cities Together: Live

Music Biz President Portia Sabin was featured on last week’s Music Cities Together: Live program, hosted by the Music Policy Forum (MPF). Music Cities Together: Live serves to host intimate conversations between leaders across the globe to shine a light on strategies, initiatives and perspectives in this time of crisis with a strong focus on sharing resources across the community. Music Cities Together is a partnership between the MPF and Sound Music Cities that launched with the goal of supporting public officials,... Read More

April 29, 2020 – Record Store Day Announces RSD Drops to Replace June 20th Event

In response to social distancing guidelines, Record Store Day has announced the RSD Drops program, ensuring extra safety when music fans purchase the limited-edition releases intended for RSD 2020 over the course of three Saturdays: August 29th, September 26th, and October 24th. Event organizers are working with artists, labels and other relevant parties to spread out the releases with a mix of genres and artists for each drop. A new version of the Record Store Day list with designated dates for each release will be published on June 1st.... Read More

April 28, 2020 – [Keeping Tempo With Music Biz] — A Conversation on Mental Health in the Music Business with THRIV’s Dr. Chayim Newman

The global conversation behind mental health has dramatically changed over the past decade, with a greater focus than ever on elevating the voices of those in crisis and ensuring that resources are available to them. Our industry — one where artists spend most of their time sharing music that bears their hearts both on record and on stage — is acutely affected by issues of mental health, as long, stressful stretches of studio and touring time takes away from artists’... Read More

April 27, 2020 – The Future of What Episode #185 – Music Biz LIVE with Independent Record Retailers

It should come as no surprise that independent record stores have been particularly hard hit by the “shelter in place” orders established by many states around the country in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. Some retailers have pivoted to online sales and other creative means to keep customers happy, but for many brick and mortars, this move just isn’t enough to maintain community or their bottom line. To make matters worse, the revenue generated by Record Store Day will not be coming anytime soon,... Listen

April 20, 2020 – The Future of What Episode #184 – Music Biz LIVE with NMPA, RIAA, CMA, A2IM & NSAI

On this week’s episode, we’re revisiting another Music Biz LIVE event that features candid conversation about what music business trade associations are doing to help their specific constituencies navigate the COVID-19 quagmire. Joining Portia in conversation about the CARES Act and more are: Mitch Glazier and Michele Ballantyne of the RIAA, Richard Burgess of A2IM, Bart Herbison of the NSIA, David Israelite of the NMPA and Sarah Trahern of the CMA. Listen in to find out what relief is coming your way,... Listen

April 14, 2020 – [Keeping Tempo With Music Biz] — How Indie Records Stores Are Weathering the Storm: Interview with Schoolkids Records’ Stephen Judge

A month or so in, and the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis has already made a lasting impact on not just our industry, but on the ways the international community does business as a whole. As a segment of the industry largely reliant on foot traffic, the indie record store community is working tirelessly to ensure they can keep their doors open and serve their local communities with the music they so desperately look for to help cope in times of crisis.... Read More