A2IM Takes Indies To South America

 
A2IM's (American Association of Independent Music) second International Trade Administration (ITA)-funded trade mission will take 11 independent U.S. music delegates to Brazil April 18-22, continuing the organization's crusade to bolster the presence of independent music exports abroad. The mission will introduce A2IM members to potential buyers including distributors, mobile carriers and third-party licensing agents in Rio de Janeiro and San Paulo. 

In Rio, delegates will attend the Worldwide Independent Network's Brazilian Independent Music Association (ABMI) conference and meet with their independent music-label counterparts, representatives from the UBC and Abramus performance rights societies, media giant Som Livre, iMusica, and local representatives from services such as Rdio and YouTube, among many others.

U.S. delegates traveling to Brazil include: Rich Bengloff (A2IM), Andrea DaSilva (ITA), Robert Williams (335 Records), Paul Dryden (ATO Records), Seymour Stein (Blue Horizon Records), Alec Bemis (Brassland), Bruce McIntosh (Codigo/Fania), Phil Waldorf (Dead Oceans/JagJaguar/Secretly Canadian), Jurgen Korduletsch (Lollipop/Radikal), Jim Selby (Naxos USA), Randy Chin (VP Records), Tor Hansen (Yep Roc/Redeye) and Jochen Becker (ZOHO Music). 

Anticipation for the trip is high:
• Randy Chin, VP Records: "Brazil is one of the key international markets for VP Records. Reggae is a growing genre in Brazil, and throughout South America, and many of our acts are touring there. The timing of the A2IM trip to Brazil is perfect with the upcoming World Cup and Olympics games scheduled in Brazil."

• Robert Williams, 335 Records: "I found the Asian trip to be very fruitful. It was well planned, and executed from beginning to end by the A2IM executives, and the wonderful team from the commerce department. We have already experienced positive results. Based on that we look forward to the trip to Brazil, and the possibilities it represents."

• Jim Selby, Naxos of America: "I am extremely excited to be a part of the upcoming trade mission to Brazil. Brazil is important economy and export market for Naxos. I look forward to meeting current and potential new business partners during our visit." 

• Tor Hansen, Redeye Distribution: "I am very excited learn more about Brazil's thriving music market. This trade mission to Brazil will provide a great opportunity to develop further relations and partnerships for Yep Roc and Redeye.' 

The A2IM label members on this Brazil trade mission reflect the genre, label size and geographic diversity of A2IM's membership, including businesses that are minority and woman owned.

ABMI Managing Director and Merlin board member Luciana Pegorer said "Our ABMI members look forward to meeting with our Worldwide Independent Network (WIN) A2IM label member colleagues at our ABMI conference to find ways to collectively move ahead our common business interests, including introducing them to our local Brasilian service providers in Rio and Sao Paulo." Luciana's own music label, Delira Musica, was founded to develop the Brazilian instrumental music scene and already represents A2IM members Alligator Records and Soundbrush Records in Brazil.

With financial assistance from ITA through the music industry's first-ever Market Development Cooperator Program (MDCP) award, half or more of each participant's trip will be reimbursed. Part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, ITA selected A2IM to receive MDCP financial assistance as part of a partnership to support the industry's growth in emerging foreign music markets. A2IM's objective is to obtain tangible economic gains abroad for its members, helping improve the balance of trade and underscoring the Obama administration's initiatives to invest in small- and medium-sized businesses creating intellectual property. 

In 2012, A2IM's pilot STEP trade mission took delegates to Asia with stops in Seoul, Shanghai, and Hong Kong and the first MDCP funded event took delegates to Midem in January.


About A2IM:
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 almost 40% 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. The organization's board of directors is composed of the following: Daptone Records General Manager Cathy Bauer; Sub Pop VP of Business Affairs Eric Brown; Epitaph General Manager Dave Hansen; Yep Roc Records Co-Owner Tor Hansen; Alligator Records Founder/CEO Bruce Iglauer; The Beggars Group Founder/CEO Martin Mills; Glassnote Records General Manager Chris Scully; Naxos of America CEO Jim Selby; Tommy Boy CEO/Founder Tom Silverman; Dead Oceans/Jagjaguwar/Secretly Canadian Founder/Co-Owner Darius Van Arman; Razor & Tie COO Victor Zaraya.