Headed to Boston for MEIEA Conference

MEIEA is hosting an International Conference on "The New Entertainment Economy" in Boston. Berklee School of Music will host this year. Students, educators, and practioners in the entertainment business will all be in attendance. There will be ample opportunity for networking. Look forward to seeing you there!

www.meiea.org

Music Law Conference University of Florida

The Music Law Conference at The University of Florida Levin College of Law is hosting its 7th annual conference on Feb. 20 and 21, 2009. The conference brings together musicians, lawyers, students, academics, policy makers and entertainment professionals for a weekend to network, learn, and share ideas. It is our goal that everyone, from the disgruntled ex-band member to the seasoned entertainment attorney, that attends the conference will leave with a new perspective on the music industry. Check out the Conference Schedule and Speakers. Soucre

Florida Entertainment Summit

Check out the 4th Annual Florida Entertainment Summit. The event is put together by publicist and event manager Elora Mason, and takes place December 11-14, 2008. The panels feature entertainment professionals in Music, Film, TV, and the Arts.

Source

More GA Tax Credits, and 360 Deals Debated

Georgia’s Tax Credits: Video Games & New Media

"Georgia is one of the few states whose entertainment incentives support the videogame industry, and we're the only commission that has a dedicated videogame business development person," said Bill Thompson, deputy commissioner of the Film, Music and Digital Entertainment Office, a division of Georgia Dept. of Economic Development.

Georgia's video game industry has grown exponentially since 2005, with more than 50 video game companies in operation generating a three-year economic impact of $180 million. Georgia considers Louisiana and North and South Carolina its biggest competitors for film productions.

This is another opportunity for independent artists to network right here in Georgia. Also independent filmmakers should research the incentives offered in the other states. Source


360 Deals, Collection Royalties Debated At Music Matters

360 deals and the systems for royalty collections were one of the highlights of the Music Matters conference. Walt Disney Records president David Agnew said they {360 deals} don't work for everyone. "There's always a sense of unfairness in terms of who gets what piece of the pie," Agnew noted. Panel moderator Harvey Goldsmith, the legendary promoter added, "My concern is that record companies in England are looking for extra revenue (through 360 deals) - they're in panic mode."

Both comments hit the nail on the head. Record companies are scrambling to grab money from new media and touring in particular. Recording artists must consider whether record companies can properly market and manage these areas. Source

Entertainment Attorney Vassall-Gore’s law firm is located in Atlanta, GA. www.avglaw.com

Filmmakers: Georgia Wants You Here

The Georgia State Senate wants filmmakers to know that tax credits are here to stay because they “want to build a long-term relationship with the industry.”

Production Incentives: Georgia now increased the base tax credit from 9% to 20% for all in-state spend on qualified productions, including films, TV series, commercials, music videos and video game productions.

Another 10% tax credit is given to productions that include a qualified Georgia promotion. Examples include a five-second-long animated state logo appearing within a finished film and all promotional trailers, or TV programs. Productions must spend at least $500,000 in Georgia, but the incentive has no cap.

Additionally, the state offers a point-of-purchase sales tax exemption that can save qualified productions up to 8% on most below-the-line materials and service purchases, leases or rentals. Source

All independent filmmakers should be excited about these incentives!

Entertainment Attorney Vassall-Gore’s law firm is located in Atlanta, GA. www.avglaw.com

TV, Music, and YouTube

The Hollywood Reporter featured a story about music supervisors. The fact that music supervisors are turning to outlets like YouTube and MySpace to find music has caught the attention of EMI Music Publishing. EMI launched its own channel on YouTube so its catalog can be easily accessed. Source

This means that independent producers and songwriters should also look to include YouTube as an outlet for exploiting their creative content and expanding their network with music supervisors.



Entertainment Attorney Vassall-Gore’s law firm is located in Atlanta, GA. www.avglaw.com

AOL Launches More Music Sites

Latest News from Hip Hop Press

AOL Music, music.aol.com, announced the launch of two new sites, www.theboot.com (country), and www.theboombox.com (hip hop and R&B), dedicated exclusively to country and urban music genres. Prior to this, AOL launched www.spinner.com (indie) and www.popeater.com (pop). AOL Music is the Web's most trafficked music site, according to Nielsen Net Ratings. Both sites will provide music fans access to their favorite artists, including video and song premieres, news, photos, exclusive interviews, and original editorial features. The sites will be monetized through varying advertising packages that will be sold exclusively through AOL's Platform-A services. Source

Here is another opportunity for artists to be seen and heard.

Entertainment Attorney Vassall-Gore’s law firm is located in Atlanta, GA. www.avglaw.com