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Americana Music Conference
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Nashville
Nashville, TN
9/23/2004 - 9/25/2004
By: Lindsey M. Keen
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With its roster of superb vocalists such as the legendary Cowboy Jack Clement and New Artist of the Year Award winner Mindy Smith, it's no wonder that Americana is considered one of the fastest growing genres.
The Americana Music Association held their third annual three-day conference and award show in Nashville. As well as the daily panels and mentoring sessions, the AMA also hosted evening showcases at Mercy Lounge, 12th & Porter and the renowned bluegrass bar Station Inn along with open mic-style events. The first night of showcases started out with a bang, featuring newcomer Tift Merritt - a reincarnated Janis Joplin (no joke, she wails and really gives it her all on stage), Nashville's own Todd Snider and renowned musician Delbert McClinton, who played until 2 AM.
Each conference panel session was a glimpse into the Americana music industry. The seminars told musicians, members and those in the industry insider secrets: what Vanguard Records looks for in musicians, advanced publicity, technology and the future of digital music.
"We give artistic freedom to musicians," said Lellie Capwell, Vice President of Vanguard Records when referring to their emerging musician Mindy Smith. "We base our signing off of what they give us, not what we want from them." And that's just what Vanguard did when releasing Mindy Smith's debut single, a soul tugging rendition of Dolly Parton's "Jolene." This hit launched Smith into stardom and opened a flawless marketing campaign for her self-written, controversial single "Come to Jesus."
"The best way to get into MOJO magazine is to record an obscure album, die, and wait thirty years," said a joking Andria Lisle, a freelance writer for the publication. "Artist are not static, they're dynamic," said Bob Mehr journalist for the Chicago Reader, Harp Magazine and Rolling Stone. Their AMA panel chairperson introduced Lisle, Mehr and other panelists to the conference attendees and then opened the floor to a question and answer forum.
The AMA also indicated that the future of technology in the music industry is rapidly changing, and with it, artist rights in the digital age are transforming. "Cancel out the need for any digital rights, by a copyright tax collected at the source," said David Ross of Music Row Magazine. "A senate sub-committee is reviewing this issue, where as the rest of the world has already established a collection model with standardized fees," rebutted Ralph Cavallaro of Universal Music Group. The panel openly explained how evolving technologies are having trouble keeping up with the music industry's sometimes selfish users' demands.
The 2004 AMA conference exceeded my expectations and redefined my view of "alternative country" by hosting such a grand event - one that gives back to its community of AMA members, Americana musicians and those in the music industry who are working hard to get music out there to the listeners - the true fans. For those of you who are interested in attending this event, keep an eye out in magazines such as Harp, Paste and the Americana Music Association Web site for enrollment details.
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