Contact: Lauren Veteri
Music Resource Group
973-767-1818
Lauren@MusiciansAtlas.com
Montclair, NJ, January 23, 2006 --- As major record labels continue to grapple with seismic shifts in the music industry and the rise of a thriving independent music community, Music Resource Group (MRG) announces the publication of the 8th edition of its best-selling music business resource, The Musician's Atlas, which is known for supplying independent artists and music business entrepreneurs with the contacts they need to succeed in today's music industry.
"While the record industry remains in flux due to payola scandals, changing business
models and shifting modes of distribution and technology, the creation and
distribution of independent music is experiencing phenomenal growth,"
said Jude Folkman, editor-in-chief of The Musician's Atlas.
"The Musician's Atlas is regarded as the essential resource among artists and other music business mavericks that seek to successfully manage and grow their careers independent of major label support and 20th century business models. Artists, managers, labels, and anyone involved in today's music industry, turn to The Atlas for its accurate and in-depth information that enables them to make, market and sell music more successfully," said Folkman.
Considered the industry's most qualified and comprehensive contact and networking directory, The Musician's Atlas supplies in-depth information for more than 24,000 music industry contacts in over 28 music business categories. Unlike other industry resources, every Atlas listing is contacted and qualified prior to publication. In addition to supplying basic information such as contact names, phone numbers, email and web addresses, entries also include details such as styles of music sought, when to contact, booking and submission policies, stage size, broadcast coverage, audience demographics, business profiles, credits and other category specifics.
"Since we published the first edition of The Atlas in 1998, our team of editors and industry insiders focus on anticipating, responding to and delivering opportunities that will help all facets of the independent music industry prosper," said Folkman. "Our year-round research plus feedback from readers and industry insiders help us identify new markets and categories that will impact artists, labels and their releases now and in the future."
Highlights of the 2006 Atlas include expanded performance, promotion, broadcast and distribution opportunities in categories such as Clubs, College Booking, College, Commercial and Public Radio, Print & Broadcast Media, Festivals, Film & TV, Distribution, etc, plus expanded coverage of Canadian and international markets. New Atlas categories include Song Contests, CD Compilation opportunities and Corporate-Sponsored Tours.
In addition to the 2006 print edition of The Musician's Atlas, MRG maintains an interactive contact/networking database and music business management tool named The Musician's AtlasOnline. The online version delivers 40% more listings than the print edition, with new listings and updates added weekly. AtlasOnline subscribers maintain their own "MyList" folders to store and retrieve custom lists pulled from The Musician's Atlas database. Subscribers may add and maintain their own contacts to "MyList" folders in their account. They then use their "MyList" folders to create customized cover letters, generate mailing labels, program email campaigns, etc. Other interactive tools include advance searches, sticky note reminders and day-by-day task calendar.
Music Resource Group, formed in 1997, develops products and programs used by artists and music business professionals to successfully create, perform, promote and distribute music - with and without label support.
In addition to The Musician's Atlas and the AtlasOnline, MRG launched and coordinates the annual Independent Music Awards (IMAs), a program that delivers real opportunities for independent artists, labels and releases. Celebrity judges and high-profile industry professionals select winners in nearly 40 music categories and a handful of creative design areas.
Winners and finalists of the 5th IMA program are announced and featured in a special, 8-page gatefold section bound into all copies of the 2006 edition of The Musician's Atlas. Additionally, 10,000 copies of an IMA Winners CD are distributed to music fans, talent buyers, programmers, press and other industry insiders throughout the year.
Border's Books & Music directs more than 7 million customers to an online IMA jukebox to learn more about IMA winners; the winners own releases are for sale at the Borders.com site. Additional sponsors supply radio promotion, tracking and other key support for the artists and releases.
The current IMA Jukebox is online at: www.MusiciansAtlas.com/pages/jukebox2006.aspThe 2006 Musician's Atlas retails for $49.95 and is available at bookstores, musical instrument shops and record retailers throughout North America as well as Europe, Asia, Australia and online at www.MusiciansAtlas.com