American Association of Independent Music
Encyclopedia
The American Association of Independent Music, or A2IM, is a not-for-profit trade organization serving the Independent music community as a unified voice representing a sector that comprises over 30% of the music industry's market share in the United States (and 38% of SoundScan digital sales). The organization represents the Independents’ interests in the marketplace, in the media, on Capitol Hill, and as part of the global music community.
A2IM is headquartered in New York City. There are also chapters of A2IM located in Nashville, Chicago, Northern California, Southern California, and the Pacific Northwest.
Launched on July 4th, 2005 to represent the needs of the independent music label community, this year A2IM celebrated its fifth anniversary as the sector's pre-eminent advocacy group and trade organization. Currently, the organization counts over 280 music label members and 140 associate members (companies who don’t own masters but rely upon, provide services for, or otherwise support Independent music labels).
A2IM seeks fairness, equity, and transparency for Independent labels via lobbying, commerce, and member services.
Independent music labels may be distributed by the majors, major label owned Independent distributors, Independently owned companies, self-distributed or even digital only companies. Despite differences in distribution methods, music genres, and geographical locations they are all Independent music labels and as such are eligible for membership with A2IM.
A2IM is a member of the World Independent Network, or WIN. WIN is the organization that includes all of the world's independent music label trade organizations, 26 in all, from the Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, New Zealand, South Africa, Sweden, UK, etc.
A2IM was preceded by the National Association of Independent Record Distributors, or NAIRD. In 1997, the 25th anniversary of the group, it changed its name to AFIM (Association for Independent Music).
As AFIM, the organization was best known for the annual issuing of Indie Awards, recognizing artistic and commercial success among artists signed to independent music labels. (These were known as "NAIRD awards" prior to the name change).
The AFIM Indie Awards were last issued in 2003, and the organization dissolved in 2004. The name "Indie Award" has since been adopted by the Canadian Music Week
convention.
A2IM is structured with four main contacts: President Rich Bengloff, Vice President Jim Mahoney, Director of Membership Services Jennifer Masset and Operations Manager Sheryl Cohen. The organization’s board of directors is composed of the following: Concord Music Group
President Glen Barros; Sub Pop
Vice President of Business Affairs Eric Brown; tinyOGRE Entertainment COO/General Counsel Jim Cooperman; Epitaph Records
General Manager Dave Hansen; Yep Roc Records
Co-Owner Tor Hansen; Alligator Records
Founder/CEO Bruce Iglauer; Beggars Group
CEO Martin Mills; Kill Rock Stars
President Portia Sabin; Naxos of America, Inc. CEO Jim Selby; Tommy Boy Entertainment Founder & CEO Tom Silverman and Razor & Tie
COO Victor Zaraya.
A2IM also ensures their members become involved within the organization by inviting them to join A2IM committees. Each committee is focused on a different issue within the music industry. Three main committees within A2IM are the New Media Committee, which focuses on educating other members on new emerging media opportunities, the Licensing & Publishing Committee, which focuses on educating other members on opportunities and best practices in these areas, and the Legislative Committee which focuses on furthering any legislative issue related to the Independent label community.
A2IM is headquartered in New York City. There are also chapters of A2IM located in Nashville, Chicago, Northern California, Southern California, and the Pacific Northwest.
Launched on July 4th, 2005 to represent the needs of the independent music label community, this year A2IM celebrated its fifth anniversary as the sector's pre-eminent advocacy group and trade organization. Currently, the organization counts over 280 music label members and 140 associate members (companies who don’t own masters but rely upon, provide services for, or otherwise support Independent music labels).
A2IM seeks fairness, equity, and transparency for Independent labels via lobbying, commerce, and member services.
Independent music labels may be distributed by the majors, major label owned Independent distributors, Independently owned companies, self-distributed or even digital only companies. Despite differences in distribution methods, music genres, and geographical locations they are all Independent music labels and as such are eligible for membership with A2IM.
A2IM is a member of the World Independent Network, or WIN. WIN is the organization that includes all of the world's independent music label trade organizations, 26 in all, from the Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, New Zealand, South Africa, Sweden, UK, etc.
A2IM was preceded by the National Association of Independent Record Distributors, or NAIRD. In 1997, the 25th anniversary of the group, it changed its name to AFIM (Association for Independent Music).
As AFIM, the organization was best known for the annual issuing of Indie Awards, recognizing artistic and commercial success among artists signed to independent music labels. (These were known as "NAIRD awards" prior to the name change).
The AFIM Indie Awards were last issued in 2003, and the organization dissolved in 2004. The name "Indie Award" has since been adopted by the Canadian Music Week
Canadian Music Week
Canadian Music Week is an industry conference and music festival held over four days in various venues throughout Toronto, Ontario, Canada.-History:...
convention.
A2IM is structured with four main contacts: President Rich Bengloff, Vice President Jim Mahoney, Director of Membership Services Jennifer Masset and Operations Manager Sheryl Cohen. The organization’s board of directors is composed of the following: Concord Music Group
Concord Music Group
Concord Music Group is a record company owned by Village Roadshow formed in 2004 by the merger of Concord Records and Fantasy Records. In 2005, the company acquired the classics and jazz label Telarc International. On December 18, 2006, Concord announced the re-launch of the soul label Stax;...
President Glen Barros; Sub Pop
Sub Pop
Sub Pop is a record label founded in 1986 by Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman in Seattle, Washington. Sub Pop achieved fame in the late 1980s for first signing Nirvana, Soundgarden, Mudhoney and many other bands from the Seattle music scene...
Vice President of Business Affairs Eric Brown; tinyOGRE Entertainment COO/General Counsel Jim Cooperman; Epitaph Records
Epitaph Records
Epitaph Records is a Hollywood, California based independent record label owned by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. The label was originally "just a logo and a P.O. box" created in the 1980s for the purpose of selling Bad Religion records, but has evolved into a large independent record...
General Manager Dave Hansen; Yep Roc Records
Yep Roc Records
Yep Roc Records is an independent International record label based in Haw River, North Carolina and owned by Redeye Distribution . The label has put out albums by artists like The Go-Betweens, The Fleshtones, Gang of Four, The Reverend Horton Heat, and The Minus 5, as well as the work of important...
Co-Owner Tor Hansen; Alligator Records
Alligator Records
Alligator Records is a Chicago-based independent blues record label founded by Bruce Iglauer in 1971.Iglauer started the label with his own savings to record and produce his favorite band Hound Dog Taylor & The HouseRockers, whom his employer, Bob Koester of Delmark Records, declined to record...
Founder/CEO Bruce Iglauer; Beggars Group
Beggars Group
Beggars Group is a British record company that owns or distributes several other labels, including 4AD, Rough Trade Records, Matador Records, and XL Recordings...
CEO Martin Mills; Kill Rock Stars
Kill Rock Stars
Kill Rock Stars is an independent record label founded in 1991 by Slim Moon and based in both Olympia, Washington and Portland, Oregon. The label has released a variety of work in different genres, making it difficult to pigeonhole as having any one artistic mission...
President Portia Sabin; Naxos of America, Inc. CEO Jim Selby; Tommy Boy Entertainment Founder & CEO Tom Silverman and Razor & Tie
Razor & Tie
Razor & Tie is a New York-based corporation founded in 1990 by Cliff Chenfeld and Craig Balsam. The company encompasses a record label with major label distribution , a home video company, a media buying company, a music publishing business, a marketing, promotion and sales team, and a direct...
COO Victor Zaraya.
A2IM also ensures their members become involved within the organization by inviting them to join A2IM committees. Each committee is focused on a different issue within the music industry. Three main committees within A2IM are the New Media Committee, which focuses on educating other members on new emerging media opportunities, the Licensing & Publishing Committee, which focuses on educating other members on opportunities and best practices in these areas, and the Legislative Committee which focuses on furthering any legislative issue related to the Independent label community.