Minutes of July 12, 2020 Board meeting

MINUTES

Colorado Music Business Organization Board of Directors Meeting

Sunday, July 12, 2020 – 7:00 p.m.

Telephone conferencing number & code: 712-775-7031, ID 855-335-896

1. Call to Order at 7:06 p.m.

Present: Barb, David, Lee, Jamie, Johnnie, Sheena, Alex, Angela,

Absent: Tracey Chirhart excused; Annette Cannon, Clark Hagan

Guests: Ean Tafoya

Roll call: Barb Dye, David Barber, Lee Bagby, Clark Hagan, Johnnie Johnson, Jamie Krutz, Sheena Morgan, Alex Teitz, Angela Whaley

Happy birthday, Tracey!!! Wishing you many more!

2. Consideration and Approval of the Minutes of June 7, 2020: David had minor corrections. Motion to approve June minutes – David motioned. Sheena second. Approved.

   • ACTION ITEM – Send David copy of minutes in Word to post on website (March – June)

3. Treasurer’s Report:

Income received:

June Memberships: $ 57.00 (2 Individual: Paypay charge – $3.00)

June Membership: $ 30.00 (check from Steven Morrow)

Interest on Savings: $ .01 (June 30, 2020)

Total: $ 87.01

Expenses paid:

Bank Fees for June: $ 2.00 ($2 for checking)

Possibility Promotion: $ 15.00 (renewal of domain name)

Mailchimp for June:     $  31.28 (e-mail list: $30 + $1.28 local tax)

                                Total: $ 48.28

Checking Balance: $ 1,433.51 (as of 06/30/20)

Savings Balance: $ 1,823.12 (as of 06/30/20)

PayPal Balance: $ 367.75 (as of 07/12/20)

Grand Total: $ 3,623.38

4. Membership Report:

Current Paid Members: Sheena – Total of 34 members. 21 are individual memberships.

New Members:

Supporter: (none)

Individual: 3 – Jeff Norman, Joel Ashmore, Steve Morrow, (Harold Rapp, III, signed up 7/06/20; will be counted next month).

Band: (none)

Business: (none)

Sheena reported that these members have not renewed for June yet:

• We suspended renewals but Steve Morrow renewed on his own in July (7/6)

Sheena reported that the following memberships are up for renewal in July:

• Cass Clayton (TBD)

(Please note that the board voted at the March meeting to suspend renewal notices until a later date due to the coronavirus shut down. These names are for reference only).

Membership Retention:

• ACTION: Remove membership retention (old agenda item per Sheena)

Membership “Welcome Surveys”: Sheena reported that we received 0 (zero) new surveys in June.

5. Unfinished Business:

1. • • 1. Bar code requests: None.

1. • • 2. Upcoming Programs:

a. July 27, 2020: Kori Hazel wrote an article in 303 Magazine about the lack of diversity in the Buying & Booking part of the Music Industry. David, Sheena & Alex took the initiative to set up a meeting on this subject. They have invited several music industry people to join us for a ZOOM meeting on Monday, July 27^th at 7:00 p.m. to discuss this subject. Barb invited Duane Taylor of DT Entertainment to join us. He started his own booking agency and specializes in high-end events (black tie affairs and dinner concerts). David also invited Erica Brown to join us as she has been writing posts on Facebook lately about the lack of people of color in the industry. https://303magazine.com/2020/06/denvers-music-industry-diversity/

• Ean Tafoya read article in 303 Magazine. He contacted Sheena, and Sheena contacted David and Alex.

• Ean (UMS Community Engagement Director, and host and DJ at KGNU, Mr. Denver.)

• Ean – came to COMBO Grammy part. Working in local industry for 10yrs, VP of City Park Jazz, 420 Festival, etc. and now with UMS. Also with Black Actors Guild. CO Festivals & Events Association.

• Indigeous and Latino

• COMBO and CO Festivals & Events Association have a responsibility here to have this conversation, and maybe more than 1 dialogue.

• This discussion will be focused on the lack of diversity in the business

• Potentially 10 panelists already, consider split into two sessions at least – July and August

• Arts Union – potential partnership? Arts of Production, Film & TV

• More female speakers – Lisa G?

• Sheena – 3 potential panels?

[Note: The UMS will be held virtually on Saturday, July 25^th.] – Will give away prizes and surprises. Supporting the Halloween parade?

1. • August 2020: We usually do not hold meetings in August but may want to

   • reconsider for this year depending on the situation with the coronavirus. Dana Cain confirmed that the combination Vintage Voltage Expo, Guitar Show, and Toy & Doll Trade Show, postponed from April to August 2^nd, was cancelled for this year and will be held April 21, 2021.

     • Discussion: Plan is to do Part 2 of diversity program. – Monday, 8/24

c. September 2020: Depending on the situation with the coronavirus, we may want to reschedule those meetings that got cancelled in March and April.

• Will make a decision here during August board meeting

4. Web Reports:

1. Current Email Subscribers: David reported that, as of 7/12/20, COMBO has 2,593 subscribers which is down from the 2,603 reported at the 6/07/20 Board Meeting. As of the July 9^th newsletter, we had 13% opens and 3% click thrus.

2. Twitter Account Followers: David reported that, as of 7/12/20, COMBO has 7,789 followers which is down from 7,855 followers as of the 6/07/20 report.

3. Facebook Account Activity: David reported that, as of 7/12/20, COMBO received 1,455 “likes” which is up from 1,448 “likes” as of the 6/07/20 report.

4. Facebook Analytics – Angela Whaley: (No events) – Page Views up 117%; Post Reach up by 123%; Post Engagement down 18%; Page Likes are up 17%; Page Followers up 27%

5. Google Analytics Report: David reported that in June 2020 there were 26,679 “Sessions” which is up 642% from June 2019 when it was 3,596. The most viewed article in June 2020 was a story regarding Elijah McClain.

Reminder – Our Facebook address is:

http://www.Facebook.com/ColoradoMusicBusinessOrganization

4. Songs on the COMBO Website Player for July 2020:

● “Have Sex, Will Travel” – John Reed Austin

● “Oh, I Wanna Smoka Marijuana” – Laurie Dameron

● “Bree Tree” – Justin Faye

● “Least a Brother Can Do” – Cass Clayton

● “Leanin’ In” – Kerry Pastine & the Crime Scene

4. COMBO YouTube Channel Uploads: Nothing new to upload.

4. Ombudsman Program – Annette Cannon: Annette not present.

4. Meeting Space Ideas: Still need to check on the Roxy on Broadway (f/k/a Syntax) which looks like it has reopened.

4. Designation for Funds: Nothing at this time.

4. Purchase of Promotional Merchandise Items: Barb contacted a friend of hers who does t-shirts. He gave her a price quote of $3 each if we order 100 face masks which come in various colors and will have a small COMBO logo on them. Barb told him that we will put this off until we start having “live” meetings again as there is no place to sell or distribute them at this time. She did not ask him about bandanas.

Tracey also suggested branded hand sanitizers and she found several places that would print them up for us.

• Give a mask to those who renew their membership?

• Mask as a membership benefit?

• Motion to order – Lee motioned to order 100 face masks at $3/ea, David second. All in favor. No opposed.

• Black mask, white logo

4. Promotion/Advertising: Facebook ads for the ZOOM meetings in June & July.

   • Starting tomorrow (possibly)

4. Girls & Science Expo: Nothing at this time.

 

13. Posting on Facebook: Sheena will be in charge of events

14. Secretary Resignation: We still need a secretary!

15. Board Member Bio’s – David & Sheena: 

• David and Sheena working on this

 

16. Website Update. David has been testing out the members only section. Steven Morrow and Joel Ashmore both tried to sign in!

17: Storage for COMBO Stuff: Barb’s neighbor said she has cleared out an area in her storage room that Barb can move some of the COMBO boxes to, so Barb will try to get down there and will contact Mark about moving the stuff he has.

• Lee offered to store some stuff

18. COMBO Organization By-Laws: We approved changes to the first two sections. Barb would like to table this until September.

• Tabled until September

19. California Law on Sub-Contractors: Update: Alex sent an article on this.

• Uber article

6. New Business:

1. Reopening of Bars, Clubs & Theaters: Quite a few have reopened at 50% capacity and with special guidelines. However, due to the uptick in coronavirus cases, many have had to shut down again.

• David went to FoCoMA’s Drive and Jive in Fort Collins

• Opened at 6pm, show didn’t start until 9pm

• Screen was visible but couldn’t see the stage at all

• No PAs, sound came through radio. Radio sounded good but outside of the car could only hear guitars coming through PA

• In between sets they played local music videos

2. ZOOM Account: Angela has been so kind as to let us use her Zoom account for our meetings. However, since it looks like we may have need to use such a service more often, perhaps we should get our own.

• Discussion: Only admins can unmute. We can continue to use Angela’s Zoom.

• ACTION: Angela to setup COMBO Zoom info

3. Name Change for Lady Antebellum: Country super-group Lady Antebellum decided to take the “racism” out of their name and call themselves “Lady A” – which is a name they actually have used for years (rather than saying the tedious “Antebellum”). Unfortunately, it turns out that Anita White, a Blues singer out of Washington state, has used the “Lady A” name for around 30 years. However, she never formally registered the Lady A as her trade-name whereas the country band had registered both names back in 2010 after a wide search turned up no others.

The problem was supposedly worked out between the artists with both being able to use the Lady A name, and they would co-write a song or songs together with all listed as writers for royalty purposes.

However, out of the blue, Anita sent a letter demanding $10m for the band’s continued use of the name. So band found themselves in the position of having to file a lawsuit for the right to continue using the name. Their suit does not ask for monetary damages.

Discussion: Morale of the story – register your name.

==

4. David would like to do the song contest again in 2021. Don’t need a decision until March 2021. David and Rob Roper had this discussion and David is hoping to have Rob join a COMBO meeting soon. Typically runs May – July. Biggest problems previously were judges dropping out or not giving specific critiques.

7. Reports

1. Book, Movie, and Featured Member(s) for June 2020: Book: “A Song for a New Day” about musicians’ lives in a future where concerts become illegal due to a pandemic! This book was written in 2019 and won several awards for fiction. Very ironic! Featured members: Joel Ashmore’s band $50 friend, and Enzi as she has a new song out.

2. June 22, 2020: Virtual “Happy Hour” meeting hosted by Angela on her Zoom account, 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. on Monday, 6/22. Angela, David, D.J. Starchild, Summer _______, Johnny, Alex, and Jamie attended via video, Barb attended via phone. Just a general discussion on what is happening in the music industry with the shutdown from COVID-19. Anyone have an outstanding subject that should be added into the Minutes?

• David and Sheena have been taking photos of local venues for the website.

 

3. Colorado Springs Meeting: Tabled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

4. Denver Balanced Breakfast: Denver is teaming up with National for their regular online meetups. No local meetups planned at this time.

5. Denver Open Media Open Music Sessions: No meeting in July due to the holiday weekend. They are still posting videos of previously taped bands’ performances.

6. Mental Wellness Discussion Group Meeting – Angela Whaley’s report:

Mental Wellness Meetup now meets weekly every Monday, 6-7pm via Zoom. Consider doing a Netflix Party for a COMBO music watch party?

• Univision show on Netflix?

7. Women’s Groups

a. She.E.O.: No update

b. Women Crush Music: No update

c. Setting the Stage with Julie Gellar: Julie sent another update as well as posting a new song which she and her band worked on via ZOOM.

8. Items for Newsletters/Announcements:

   • No update

9. Next General Meeting: Monday, July 27, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. via ZOOM. Subject is on Diversity in the Music Industry’s Buying and Booking Entities.

   • NEW TITLE: A Discussion of the Lack of Diversity on the Business Side of of the Colorado Music Industry

1. • Next Board Meeting: Sunday, August 2, 2020 – 7:00 p.m. Telephone conference. Zoom?

10. Meeting Adjourned at 8:50 p.m.

___________________________________

Angela Whaley, Acting Secretary