NARM to honor Record Store Day

MAKING THEIR DAY: This year’s recipient of NARM’s Independent Spirit Award has been revealed, and it’s not a he or a she but an it—Record Store Day, which celebrated its fifth anniversary in 2012. The award will be presented on Wednesday, May 8, at the Opening Session of Music Biz 2013, as the annual NARM convention in now named. The confab, which is co-hosted by digitalmusic.org, the home of NARM’s digital initiatives, will once again be held at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in L.A. “Record Store Day is a big part of the reason why physical formats are still a significant segment of the music business,” said org prexy Jim Donio. “Record Store Day’s efforts on behalf of independent record stores, particularly its annual Record Store Day event, personify the independent spirit and have been enthusiastically embraced by artists and fans alike, leading to increased awareness and sales for these important but often overlooked physical institutions.” Reps from the three founding organizations—the Department of Record Stores (formerly Music Monitor Network), the Coalition of Independent Music Stores and the Alliance of Independent Media Stores—will accept the award. Said DRS head Michael Kurtz, “This event has had a profound impact on independent record stores and artists all around the world, providing a much-needed sales lift that has helped to keep many participants afloat through tough times. We are happy to see that effort rewarded.” (1/23a)