 New York, NY. (Top40 Charts/ Shore Fire Media) - 'A2IM applauds New York State Governor David Patterson and the members of the New York State legislature, especially Speaker Silver and Senate Majority Leader Smith, for not including the proposed sales tax on digital music in the New York State budget passed last week. We thank them for understanding that, given the current transformative period to digital in the music industry and the current economy, that the last thing our community needs is an increase in music prices due to taxes being imposed on consumers, especially as it relates to the small business owners A2IM represents. A2IM's earlier statement on this issue is here: https://www.shorefire.com/index.php?a=pressrelease&o=2875 'A2IM, which represents independent music labels across the country, will continue to join with other like minded groups to educate legislators around the country on how online music commerce is fundamentally different than the purchase of a physical CD as cash-strapped states keep considering bills that would require merchants to collect sales taxes on digital downloads. Under a Supreme Court ruling, states can only require the merchants to collect the taxes online if they have a bricks-and-mortar presence in the state. In addition A2IM will continue to spread the word that intellectual property creators need to be supported so they can help grow the American economy. As more and more industrial and service businesses move offshore outside of the U.S. the need for government to support intellectual property creators has never been greater.' A2IM serves the Independent music community as a unified voice representing a broad coalition of sic labels that comprises over 30% of the music industry's market share in the U.S. A2IM is a Non-Profit Corporation operated by and for the benefit of its Members. The organization represents the Independents' interests in the marketplace, in the media, on Capitol Hill, and as part of the global music community. A2IM is headquartered in New York City. The organization's board of directors is comprised of the following: Concord Music Group President Glen Barros; The Beggars Group CEO Lesley Bleakley; Razor & Tie Executive Vice President Dan Hoffman: Alligator Records Founder & President Bruce Iglauer; Roadrunner Records Executive Vice President Douglas Keogh; Bar/None owner Glenn Morrow; Lookout Records co-owner Molly Neuman; Tommy Boy Records Entertainment founder and CEO Tom Silverman; Amaechi Uzoigwe A2IM Board Chair and co-founder Definitive Jux. More information can be found at www.A2IM.org
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