In a move that illustrates the industry’s landscape, the National Assn. of Recording Merchandisers expanded its board of directors by adding two digital music merchants, Napster chairman and CEO Chris Gorog and eMusic CEO David Pakman.
In other organization moves, NARM adapted a new tagline, “Advancing the Business of Music.” And it steamlined its mission statement: “NARM advances the promotion, marketing, distribution and sale of music by providing its members with a forum for diverse meeting and networking opportunities, information and education to support their businesses as well as advocating their common interests”
At the convention, NARM president Jim Donio, presented the organization’s presidential award recognizing sustained achievement to Soul Train founder Don Cornelius. Soul Train, which has been a weekly television show for 35 years, began broadcasting from Chicago, where the NARM convention was being held April 30-May 2. In accepting the award Cornelius thanked NARM for its support, especially the inclusion of the annual Soul Train award shows in the trade group’s merchandising promotions. “I think it is one of the things that has helped [our award shows] to last for 21 years,” he said.
