The US's National Association Of Recording Merchandisers, North America's main music retail association, yesterday formally moved into the digital era by adding two digital music chiefs to its board of directors - Napster chairman and CEO Chris Gorog, and eMusic CEO David Pakman.
The new appointments came as the trade body launched a new 'tagline' at its annual conference, designed to better describe the association's role in the ever changing world of recorded music. Announcing that change, NARM President Jim Donio said: "NARM must accurately reflect and represent the entire landscape of how the industry delivers music to consumers, now and in the future, embracing physical stores, online stores, downloads, mobile, and subscription models. NARM's new tagline 'Advancing The Business Of Music," sums it up with a positive and proactive message as we chart the course for the future and continue to best serve our members".
Accepting his place on the NARM board, Napster chief Gorog told reporters: "I am delighted and honored to join the board of NARM as the industry faces both the challenges and great opportunities created by the digital revolution. In this new landscape, I believe that music retailers can play a vital, ongoing and financially rewarding role by supporting their customers with exciting digital entertainment products in stimulating physical retail environments".
Pakman, meanwhile, added: "I am honored and excited to contribute to this fine organisation in many ways and to ensure the continued success and health of the music retail sector. The music and broader entertainment industry indeed has a bright future and is sitting on the cusp of major transformation".
The UK equivalent of NARM, the association formerly know as BARD and now called ERA, has had key players from the digital sector involved at a board level for quite a while, and the general consensus is that that helped in pushing through the inclusion of all download sales on the UK singles charts (which are half owned by ERA).