The global independent music community may never have received as much recognition a as it did this morning when the City of New York turned up at A2IM’s Indie Week conference to officially proclaim June 6, 2017 the "American Association of Independent Music Day.”
The announcement was made at the Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural and Educational Center on NYC’s Lower East Side by Julie Menin, Commissioner of the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment, as part of this June being named NYCs inaugural Music Month.
“I am thrilled that music was added to our portfolio about a year ago,” Menin said in her opening remarks. “It’s actually the first time music has been housed in any city agency.” The commissioner went on to read several highlights from a music economic impact study the city commissioned which included data like the music industry in New York supports 60,000 jobs, provides $5 billion in wages and $21 billion in economic output. The agency also took partial credit in bringing the Grammys back to New York next year.
Menin read the following excerpt from the proclamation:
Where as over the next four days the creativity and diversity that define our great city will be on full display as A2IM hosts its 12th annual Indie Week conference, featuring workshops, panel discussions, networking events and live music showcases, this symposium is a wonderful opportunity for attendees to meet with business leaders and discover more about the latest trends, challenges and technical innovations that are shaping the future of the music business.
The exciting week will be capped off with A2IM’s Libera Awards ceremony where independent artists and record labels from the five boroughs and beyond will be honored for their accomplishments. Where as by providing independent artist and their record labels with the resources they need to thrive expand their reach on public radio and in the global music market place A2IM advances my administration’s efforts to bolster entrepreneurs and small business owners and ensure every resident can experience the city’s phenomenal cultural offerings. As you gather to kick-off Indie Week 2017 you are invited to join with myself and Julie Menin in recognizing everyone associated with A2IM for their commitment to enriching the soundtrack of our lives and shaping the music scene in New York and around the world.
Now Therefore I, Bill de Blasio, the Mayor of the city of New York ,hereby proclaim today June 6, 2017 the city of New York is A2IM day.
A statement to Billboard from A2IM CEO Richard James Burgess read as follows: “A2IM and its members are greatly honored that the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment has proclaimed June 6, 2017 American Association of Independent Music day in New York City. This reinforces the declaration of June as New York Music Month and the Commissioner Menin’s commitment to reasserting New York City’s position as the world’s premier music city.”
Other noted music business figures in the audience included Beggars Group head Martin Mills, Tommy Boy’s Tom Silverman, Secretly Canadian Group’s Darius Van Arman and Pandora CEO Tim Westergren who following the Mayoral proclamation sat down for a discussion on the state of his music platform for which any talk of merger and acquisition was off limits.
