Music Biz 2012 Attendees To Learn How Metrics Can Drive Sales At Town Hall Meeting On May 8, 2012

New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Jaybird Communications) Music business association NARM and digitalmusic.org, the virtual home of NARM's digital initiatives, are making music metrics and their ability to drive sales the focus of the Music Biz 2012 Town Hall Meeting, which will be held Tuesday, May 8, at 3:45 p.m. in the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles. The event, subtitled "What Gets Measured Gets Managed," will gather representatives from record labels, management companies, and digital service providers to discuss the complex issues surrounding social metrics, including which numbers have meaning, which don't, and which are not being captured. It will also feature a keynote from Paul Mabray, Chief Strategy Officer of Vintank, as well as case studies from representatives of metric companies The NPD Group, Nielsen Entertainment, and Next Big Sound.

"Our Town Hall Meetings are one of the biggest attractions at our annual conferences, so it's important that we make them extremely meaningful for our attendees," said Jim Donio, President of NARM. "We've decide to focus on social metrics because they are growing ever more important in the music industry, providing a blueprint for what will and won't drive sales. However, not everyone is fully aware of how best to use this data, which is where this year's Town Hall Meeting comes in."

The Town Hall Meeting is open to all Music Biz 2012 registrants. For more information or to register for the conference, visit www.narm.com/events/musicbiz2012.

The full schedule for the Town Hall Meeting is as follows:

3:45 PM
NARM/digitalmusic.org's New Approach to Metrics

3:50 PM
Keynote: Paul Mabray, Vintank
The music industry is not the only one to face transformation in the age of big data. Paul Mabray is the driving force behind the modernization of the wine industry, using customer data to revolutionize wine distribution to a direct-to-customer model. In this keynote, he will draw parallels between a common problem shared by both industries, and outline the common solutions.

4:15 PM
Case Study: Russ Crupnick, The NPD Group

4:30 PM
Case Study: David Bakula, Neilsen Entertainment

4:45 PM
Case Study: Colin Willis, Next Big Sound

5:15 PM
Predictive vs. Reactive Metrics: How Data Can and Should Drive Sales (Panel Discussion)

In this roundtable, representatives from record labels, management companies, and digital service providers discuss the challenge and opportunity of sales and social metrics. What numbers have meaning, what don't, and what numbers are we still not getting? The session will feature both insights from the speakers on stage, as well as a Q&A and audience interaction.
• Moderator: Geoff Mayfield, UMG
• Jason Fienberg, Concord Music Group
• Jay Frank, Digsin
• Sanem Alkan, Social Genius
• Rob McDermott, Mad Mac Entertainment
• Mark Keeney, Rhapsody

About NARM
Established in 1958, NARM (National Association of Recording Merchandisers) is the trade association for the business of music, providing the central platform for the discussion of industry‐wide concerns, spearheading the implementation of initiatives to promote music commerce, and advocating for common interests. Members include companies and individuals from all aspects of music distribution, including physical, digital, and mobile outlets as well as gaming, applications, merchandise, video and more. NARM members have access to a variety of conferences, virtual seminars, networking opportunities, information and education resources. NARM is a nonprofit organization based in Marlton, New Jersey. Visit us at www.narm.com.

NARM and digitalmusic.org's Music Biz 2012, one of the most important events in the industry's calendar, will be May 7-10 at the Los Angeles Hyatt Regency Century Plaza.

About digitalmusic.org
digitalmusic.org (DMO) is the home for the digital initiatives of NARM, the National Association of Recording Merchandisers, the trade association for the business of music. NARM provides the central platform for the discussion of industry‐wide concerns and spearheading the implementation of initiatives to advance the business. While primarily focused on physical formats for much of its history, NARM has expanded its mission in the past ten years to include all facets of music commerce. This includes physical, digital, and mobile commerce partners as well as gaming, applications, and other emerging revenue models. DMO is governed under the by‐laws of NARM, by NARM President Jim Donio, the NARM Board Of Directors, and directly by digitalmusic.org Co‐chairs Christina Calio (Microsoft Entrainment), David Levin (Sony Music Entertainment) and Bill Wilson, NARM VP of Digital Strategy & Business Development. Topics and actions for each individual work groups are determined by the individual work group leaders.