NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Bill Ivey of Vanderbilt University is moderating
a roundtable of industry leaders who will meet periodically to discuss
issues shaping the future of the music business.
The roundtable, which was hosted by the National Academy of
Recording Arts and Sciences and co-sponsored with Vanderbilt’s Curb
Center for Art, Enterprise and Public Policy, held its first meeting on
Jan. 15 in Santa Monica, Calif. Attendees included recording artists
Dave Matthews, Brian McKnight, Glen Ballard and Jimmy Jam.
"The idea is to nurture an environment where highly charged issues
can be looked at with light, rather than heat," said Ivey, director of
the Curb Center. Ivey was chairman of the National Endowment for the
Arts from 1998 to 2001.
"At a time when the music industry faces the most serious and
far-reaching challenges in decades, it is imperative that we dedicate
ourselves to open, meaningful and sincere dialogue between all
constituencies who hold a stake in the future creation and distribution
of music," said Recording Academy President Neil Portnow.
Participants discussed music piracy, new business models that would
adapt to the Internet, and how to maintain a dialogue between artists,
the industry and consumers. The group plans to continue to meet to
explore these issues in the coming year.
The Curb Center for Art, Enterprise and Public Policy was
established in 2003 as the first university-based policy program to
fully engage the American cultural policy system. It is funded by a
$2.5 million endowment from music industry executive Mike Curb and the
Curb Family Foundation.
"As a leading research center examining the relationship between the
many aspects of the entertainment industries, the center is uniquely
positioned to assist the recording industry as it develops solutions
for the challenges ahead," Ivey said.
Also attending the discussion were Daniel Carlin, chairman of the
board of trustees of the Recording Industry Association of America;
Mitch Bainwol, chairman and CEO of the RIAA; Les Bider, chairman and
CEO of Warner Chappell Music; Ron Fair, president of A&M Records;
Bruce Flohr of Red Light Management; Michael Ostroff, senior vice
president of Universal Music; Glen Ward, president and CEO of Virgin
Entertainment Group; artist manager Silas White; and attorneys Charles
Ortner and Don Passman.
Media contact: Jim Patterson, (615) 322-NEWS
Jim.patterson@vanderbilt.edu