We've questioned whether it makes sense to treat indies as a distinct category of the music industry anymore.The majors are collapsing, artists and labels can communicate directly with their fans, and fans themselves have unprecedented access to whatever music they want— major, indie, unsigned, whatever. On top of that, it's increasingly unclear how to define an indie anymore, and many artists are hybrids.
But is that argument thinking too far ahead? According to one indie label owner, indies need the collective power and representative and negotiation powers of groups like A2IM and Merlin. In fact, this owner is an A2IM member (but preferred to remain unnamed, as just 'An Indie'). It's a response to our piece featuring A2IM and its latest indie label additions ("A2IM Now Has 270 Indies," here).
Thanks, Paul, for the report.
I would like to point out that A2IM is us: the members. Rich [Bengloff, CEO] and the staff work for us but the organization is US independent labels—and I run one and speak to many, many others—so I find it at least a little bit presumptuous (respectfully) to hear you declare that our struggle is imagined. We live it. For as many things that have happened to benefit independent labels since the “digital revolution" I can list off a matching one that has disadvantaged us. And to whatever degree things are better some credit should go to the efforts of A2IM (and Merlin) because we still work in a business in which no quarter is given...it must be worked for/fought for and the best way for indie labels to be heard from is collectively.
It shouldn't surprise anyone that A2IM shares certain views with the RIAA (as instantaneous as the reaction to those 4 letters may be). Afterall both represent master rights owners and there are some commonalities in our agendas. There are, however, nuanced differences even when we agree (ask A2IM associate member Tim Westergren how valuable it was to have an organized indie label voice during the rate talks). And, as you point out there are very important differences between A2IM & the RIAA where it is crucial to have an indie voice...one being Net Neutrality. If there was no A2IM the only known stance from the label community would be the RIAA's alone. Because of A2IM it is well known that independents support Net Neutrality and because of A2IM there is a great deal of education amongst our community about the shades of gray within this complex issue.
Come out to one of our open events and ask us if you want to know the deal. Sadly it appears I'm the only one of our members that posts here so I really can't blame you for not knowing but it is absolutely true (btw-they may not post but they DO read DMN!).
As I've said here, I run an A2IM member label—although not one of the bigger names (haha)— and I'd like to point out in case Rich hasn't ever mentioned it to you that I (like many of my fellow members) find the networking I can do at A2IM events, the sharing of info and ideas amongst my peers whom I might otherwise never meet, & being able to attend the presentation events A2IM hosts (featuring companies like Spotify, ReverbNation, Topspin, Pandora, RightsFlow, etc.) who might never have the time to provide my label an in-person meeting as much a value to my business as any of the advocacy stuff you focus on.
Also, I know later this year at NARM A2IM is organizing one on one meetings for attending labels with senior buyers and executives from Best Buy, Newbury Comics, eMusic, iTunes, Next Big Sound, Amazon & others and this alone will make it worth my trip to attend NARM & hopefully I'll come away with a deal or knowledge I wouldn't get otherwise).
There is a lot going on but I'm afraid the way you framed your piece readers might get the wrong impression that A2IM is somehow only valuable if we can stir up some “fight" between major labels & indies, or worse, amongst “big" and “small" indies. I've seen the list of new members and some you didn't mention include artist owned (DIY) labels Dolly Records (Dolly Parton) and Amee Mann's label and Suzanne Vega's label. It's a big tent and welcoming group...you should come out to one of their open events and find out.
Thanks for the space & opportunity to clarify.
Signed,
'An Indie'
But is that argument thinking too far ahead? According to one indie label owner, indies need the collective power and representative and negotiation powers of groups like A2IM and Merlin. In fact, this owner is an A2IM member (but preferred to remain unnamed, as just 'An Indie'). It's a response to our piece featuring A2IM and its latest indie label additions ("A2IM Now Has 270 Indies," here).
Thanks, Paul, for the report.
I would like to point out that A2IM is us: the members. Rich [Bengloff, CEO] and the staff work for us but the organization is US independent labels—and I run one and speak to many, many others—so I find it at least a little bit presumptuous (respectfully) to hear you declare that our struggle is imagined. We live it. For as many things that have happened to benefit independent labels since the “digital revolution" I can list off a matching one that has disadvantaged us. And to whatever degree things are better some credit should go to the efforts of A2IM (and Merlin) because we still work in a business in which no quarter is given...it must be worked for/fought for and the best way for indie labels to be heard from is collectively.
It shouldn't surprise anyone that A2IM shares certain views with the RIAA (as instantaneous as the reaction to those 4 letters may be). Afterall both represent master rights owners and there are some commonalities in our agendas. There are, however, nuanced differences even when we agree (ask A2IM associate member Tim Westergren how valuable it was to have an organized indie label voice during the rate talks). And, as you point out there are very important differences between A2IM & the RIAA where it is crucial to have an indie voice...one being Net Neutrality. If there was no A2IM the only known stance from the label community would be the RIAA's alone. Because of A2IM it is well known that independents support Net Neutrality and because of A2IM there is a great deal of education amongst our community about the shades of gray within this complex issue.
Come out to one of our open events and ask us if you want to know the deal. Sadly it appears I'm the only one of our members that posts here so I really can't blame you for not knowing but it is absolutely true (btw-they may not post but they DO read DMN!).
As I've said here, I run an A2IM member label—although not one of the bigger names (haha)— and I'd like to point out in case Rich hasn't ever mentioned it to you that I (like many of my fellow members) find the networking I can do at A2IM events, the sharing of info and ideas amongst my peers whom I might otherwise never meet, & being able to attend the presentation events A2IM hosts (featuring companies like Spotify, ReverbNation, Topspin, Pandora, RightsFlow, etc.) who might never have the time to provide my label an in-person meeting as much a value to my business as any of the advocacy stuff you focus on.
Also, I know later this year at NARM A2IM is organizing one on one meetings for attending labels with senior buyers and executives from Best Buy, Newbury Comics, eMusic, iTunes, Next Big Sound, Amazon & others and this alone will make it worth my trip to attend NARM & hopefully I'll come away with a deal or knowledge I wouldn't get otherwise).
There is a lot going on but I'm afraid the way you framed your piece readers might get the wrong impression that A2IM is somehow only valuable if we can stir up some “fight" between major labels & indies, or worse, amongst “big" and “small" indies. I've seen the list of new members and some you didn't mention include artist owned (DIY) labels Dolly Records (Dolly Parton) and Amee Mann's label and Suzanne Vega's label. It's a big tent and welcoming group...you should come out to one of their open events and find out.
Thanks for the space & opportunity to clarify.
Signed,
'An Indie'
