Billy Mann, Celebrated Songwriter, Producer, and President of Creative at BMG North America To Be Opening Keynote At NARM Convention
By Guest |
NARM, the music business association, announces that Billy Mann, celebrated song-
writer, producer and label executive, will be the featured keynote during the
Opening Session on Wednesday, May 11 at the 2011 NARM Convention in Los Angeles at
the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza. Mann was recently named President of Creative at
BMG North America, and as a songwriter and producer, he has crafted top hits for
artists including Pink, Celine Dion, and Ricky Martin. Mann will be interviewed by
Tamara Conniff, former chief editor at Billboard and now founder of TheComet.com.
Now in its 53rd year, the NARM Convention is the most important business conference
in the music industry, joining top executives from the physical, digital and mobile
worlds to discuss and explore the music industry today and in the future.
“I performed at NARM back in the 90s as an artist and it's a privilege for me to
come full circle and reflect on how our industry has changed and how NARM continues
to look to create renewed meaning and provide an essential forum to the people and
the music,” said Billy Mann.
“Billy Mann’s broad experience as an artist, manager and label executive gives him a
unique perspective on our industry and its future, and I look forward to hearing his
insights during the Opening Session,” said Jim Donio, NARM President. “Billy can
speak to both the creative process as well as the business realities of today’s
changing music world.”
Hailing from Philadelphia, Mann started his illustrious career as a fledgling
singer-songwriter, living and touring from the back of his car. His self-titled
first album was released to critical acclaim in 1996, and his second release
Earthbound followed in 1998. Mann then focused his creative efforts on working with
other artists such as Martina McBride, Hall & Oates, Kelly Rowland, and many more,
racking up dozens of Top 40 hits across the globe and selling over 85 million
albums.
On the executive front, in 2001, Mann founded Stealth Entertainment, an independent
talent management company. He proceeded to become Chief Creative Officer, and was
later appointed both President of EMI Music International A&R and President of
Global Artist Management from 2007 until 2010. He helped navigate the most
challenging waters in the industry’s recent history by championing key new music
releases and successfully empowering teams around the globe. In January 2011, Mann
was named President of Creative, BMG North America, overseeing the creative staff
and roster integration of recently acquired companies, as well as leading efforts to
attract, develop and sign new talent.
Registration for the NARM Convention is open now, and special rates for first-time
independent retailers, individual members, and music business students are offered.
The four-day event includes a Music Business Crash Course presented in collaboration
with the American Association Of Independent Music (A2IM), an Entertainment &
Technology Law Conference, a Townhall meeting for Artist Managers, a Musical
Celebration sponsored by UMGD, special interest and genre-specific group meet-ups,
the Digital Think Tank update with keynote interview by Roger McNamme of Elevation
Partners, special networking receptions sponsored by WEA, Rocket Science, and Sony
Music Entertainment, and more.
All registrants of the NARM Convention are also invited to attend the Awards Dinner
Finale. Honorees at the event will include American Idol with an Outstanding
Achievement Award celebrating the show’s 10th season; legendary songwriters Ken
Gamble and Leon Huff for the Outstanding Achievement Award for Musical
Collaboration; artist and advocate Annie Lennox for the Harry Chapin Humanitarian
Award; John Marmaduke, Chairman of the Board, President & CEO of Hastings
Entertainment with the Presidential Award for Sustained Executive Achievement; and
Rachelle and Joe Friedman, founders of New York retail icon J&R Music & Computer
World, with the Independent Spirit Award. Additional award recipients will be
announced in the coming weeks.
Recommended Comments
There are no comments to display.