IRMA Heads West

International Organization Increases West Coast Presence To Help Reach Out To Los Angeles Entertainment Communities

10-Apr-00

In order to better serve content providers on the West Coast, the International Recording Media Association (IRMA) has established West Coast representation. Now located in Los Angeles, California, as well as the central office in New Jersey, the association plans to expand relationships with the film studios and music labels. As a forum for professionals involved in all aspects of recording production, from home video (VHS, DVD) to music (cassettes, CD, DVD-Audio, SACD), to other digital recording technologies (such as flash memory, TiVo, MP3), IRMA is in a unique position to ensure a unified voice and information resource during this rapid period of digital growth. ""We realize the great value for our members and to the entertainment communities by providing an expansion of integrated activities, programs and events,"" said Charles Van Horn, President, IRMA. ""Our representation on the West Coast will help foster an exchange of information between these groups on the vast trends, innovations and opportunities in recording, as well as the needs and concerns of rights holders."" Current members include a diverse range of domestic and international magnetic and optical media manufacturers, raw materials manufacturers, packaging materials and supplies manufacturers, manufacturers of recording and playback equipment, audio/video tape duplicators, optical disc replicators, process equipment manufacturers and some rights holders. With IRMA's strengthened West Coast involvement, content providers, such as music labels and studios, will have the benefit of constant feedback from these communities as well as a number of programs, such as the ""DVD 2000"" conference in August, which bring these diverse yet interrelated professionals together to investigate issues across the industry. ""We are excited to get more deeply involved with the music and home video industries,"" said Scott Bartlett, Chairman of the Board, IRMA, and Vice President, Custom and Industry Relations, Sony Disc Manufacturing. ""Our mission is to advocate the growth and development of all recording media, and this can only be fully accomplished with input from the entertainment producers, particularly with our programs to protect the rights of their content when faced with the threat of digital piracy."" IRMA's West Coast address is 8730 Sunset Blvd., Suite 500, Los Angeles, California, 90069. West Coast representative Doug Buemi can be reached at 310 967 2962 or via fax at 310 967 2912. The International Recording Media Association is the advocate for the $17 billion worldwide recording media industry, representing all recording media formats, and providing a forum for the exchange of management information on global trends and innovations.