Playback - Spring 2009 - (Page 31) MUSIC NOTES Free Customized Information to Help Build Your Business REtAILERS CAN PARtICIPAtE IN thE REtAIL CoSt oF DoING BuSINESS SuRVEy AND GEt SPECIFIC IDEAS FoR IMPRoVING thEIR PRoFItABILIty! Market research can provide information on general trends, general figures and general ideas. However, specifics are necessary to know where you stand and what it will take to help your business grow, especially in this changing economy. That’s why NAMM covers the cost for active Member retailers to participate in the Cost of Doing Business Survey, compiled by outside research firm, Industry Insights. The results are presented in the Industry Performance Report, which provides dealers with a comprehensive overview of the financial health of their business and offer areas where improvements can be made to strengthen their profitability. To receive a customized report, your 2009 Cost of Doing Business Survey feedback is due by April 27. Send an e-mail to info@namm.org if you want to participate. Celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month with Your Customers! APRIL MARkS thE SMIthSoNIAN’S ANNuAL CELEBRAtIoN oF thE CuLtuRE AND hERItAGE oF JAzz Each spring, the Smithsonian Institute focuses a public spotlight on jazz during Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM). The museum, which houses many historical pieces from this genre, uses the month of April to look at the history and culture of jazz, as well as the current passion for this much-loved form of music. NAMM Members can benefit from the public interest by plugging into this promotion and following the Smithsonian’s plan to encourage people to study the music, attend concerts, listen to jazz on radio and recordings, read books about jazz and support institutional jazz programs. You can use the museum’s resources to help promote the event—JAM posters, logos and pre-recorded radio commercials help create awareness and excitement around the making of jazz music. JAM dates back to April 2002, when the monthlong celebration first took place, and every year since, the Smithsonian has continued to collaborate with other national institutions in a range of educational and outreach activities. For more information, log on to www.smithsonianjazz.org www.smithsonianjazz.org. Technology Update: NAMM Committee Releases New Version of B2B XML Standards NAMM MEMBERS CAN ACCESS NEW IMPLEMENtAtIoN GuIDE AND SPECIFICAtIoNS oNLINE thAt PRoMotE CoSt SAVINGS AND EFFICIENCIES NAMM’s Ad-Hoc Technology Committee has had one goal over the past two years: the design of a tool to enhance business practices. In this changing and challenging economic climate, it’s become even more crucial to help NAMM Members find efficiencies and cost savings in their business processes. At this year’s NAMM Show, this committee of experts from across all channels of the music products industry released an updated version of its business-to-business (B2B) technology standards. These XMLbased documents, called “Version 2009.1,” are meant to streamline and improve electronic transactions between trading partners in the music products industry. A new Implementation Guide provides the necessary details for trading partners to begin using the standards. This guide and specifications are published on NAMM’s Web site at www.namm.org/initiatives/b2b. This site is open to all NAMM Members and also features related resources. Please log on to learn more about the B2B XML standards, or call NAMM at 760-438-8001. SPRING 2009 31 http://www.namm.org/initiatives/b2b http://www.smithsonianjazz.org
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