Americana Music Association Kicks Off First Convention at BMI Nashville

Posted in News on November 28, 2000

The Americana Music Association (AMA) completed its first annual convention November 10-11 at the Hilton Suites Hotel in downtown Nashville, with BMI hosting the kickoff reception. Hundreds of people jammed the lobby of the BMI Nashville building and were treated to a high-energy performance by Sam Bush and his band, which included Jon Randall and Sam Bacco.

Jon Grimson, Bill Lloyd, BMI's Roger Sovine

The AMA presently boasts nearly 500 members; more than 350 people registered for the event, spanning the broad range of participants within the Americana field, from musicians to heads of record labels to fans. The association's mission is to provide a forum for the advocacy of Americana music, to promote public awareness of this genre and to support the creative and economic viability of professionals in this field.

Warner/Reprise's Bob Saporiti introduces Sam Bush

During the convention the AMA presented to its members the preliminary results of its initial audience research, a day's worth of seminars, and two evenings of showcases at Jack Legs' in downtown Nashville.

BMI's Roger Sovine, Barbara Orbison, Billy Burnette

At Friday afternoon's general meeting, the AMA's first elected board of directors was announced. The board will begin to serve in January; officers will be elected from among its membership. Board members include: Grant Alden (No Depression), Billy Block (Western Beat Entertainment), Ben Ewing (Envoy Communications Corp.), Stephen Bond Garvan (Garvan Management), Jon Grimson (Counterpoint Music Group), Dennis Lord (SESAC), Allison Moorer (Artist), Al Moss (Al Moss Promotion), Brad Paul (Rounder Records), Nick Pellegrino (GrooveTone.com), Mattson Rainer(KNBT/New Braunfels), Jessie Scott, Traci Thomas (Grassroots Media), Greg Trooper (Artist), John Van Meter (Sony/ATV Music Publishing), Jeff Weiss (Miles Of Music), and Steve Wilkison (Eminent Records).

For more information, visit www.americanamusic.org.

BMI's David Preston, International Bluegrass Music Association executive director Dan Hays, BMI's Mark Mason