Georgia Music Industry Association is 35-Years-Old ... - Decatur Patch

Georgia Music Industry Association is 35-Years-Old

by Angela K. Durden

In 1978, Tom Long, Larry Latimer (now deceased), and C. Stephen Weaver were young men looking to make a living in the music business. To help with that, they formed the Atlanta Songwriters Association whose mission was to help Atlanta songwriters perfect their craft and pitch their songs to Nashville.

Tom Long sold a few songs, then ended up moving to Nashville where he worked for Sony ATV, ASCAP (a performing rights organization), and managed Ann Murray?s catalog, among other things. Larry Latimer sold a few songs and went into marketing and advertising. And C. Stephen Weaver became an entertainment attorney.

In 1997, the organization changed its name to Georgia Music Industry Association (www.GMIA.org), expanded its scope to the entire state, and clarified its mission to include music business education and information. New president, Deborah Gonzalez, Esq., explained the refined mission of the 35-year-old non-profit organization.

GMIA?s mission statement clearly reflects its role as a knowledge conduit seeking to empower, educate, and elevate songwriters and musicians, and all those in Georgia who aspire to succeed in the music industry. Tom Long loves to remind folks that nothing in the music business can happen until a song is written. ?Yeah, it all begins with a song,? Long said.

?I am not a songwriter or musician; but, as an entertainment attorney, I?ve seen the music business become more complicated than ever. The amount of information needed by songwriters to create, sell and protect their music in order to collect royalties has grown exponentially. GMIA is bringing more opportunities for our members to hone their craft ? something that never stops, and bringing access to knowledge and successful industry superstars with strategic affiliations ? like the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG, Music & Entertainment Section). We know answers and inspiration come from many places.??

GMIA?s popular monthly learning sessions are hosted at the School of Audio Engineering in Atlanta, Georgia (www.sae.com) taught by top professionals who have successfully been in the music business in various aspects and make themselves available for Q&A during and after the session; people such as Eddie Owens, Reo, Tomi Martin, Terrell Sandefur, and others. Song critiques and open mics are held in various locations around the metro area and this year will be expanding throughout the state, Nashville, and Alabama. ??

Tom Long, recent past president, said, ?I am excited about the current direction of GMIA. The world is finding Georgia attractive for many reasons. A wide variety of industries are seeking bases of operation here; that includes the music business. All organizations in our state are ramping up for the influx of business and the opportunities that brings. Unlike a lot of industries, though, the music business is world-wide. As an organization committed to the success of anyone who calls Georgia home, whether by birth or choice, we believe they deserve to have the information they need to operate in that arena.?

Gonzalez said it would be GMIA?s honor to help anyone who lives in Georgia to get the information they need. She invites all who have an interest in the music business to contact the organization at info@gmia.org or visit the website at www.gmia.org.

For more information on how to connect with GMIA, email: media@gmia.org.

For information on signing up for upcoming programs,
email: newsletter@gmia.org

For a complete bio of Deborah Gonzalez, Esq., President: www.dgonzalezesq.com

Source: http://decatur.patch.com/announcements/georgia-music-industry-association-is-35-years-old

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