Independent Music United is a Cleveland-based nonprofit that focuses on creating a more sustainable independent music community by providing free seminars, workshops, and other resources to musicians, while aiding the redevelopment of Greater Cleveland as a whole. Our unique platform provides these sought after resources in exchange for community service hours that are both manageable and impactful. Our impact includes building a more educated musician base in Cleveland thus making our city more appealing to outside musicians; very directly enhancing downtown vibrancy by consistently performing needed community service tasks; and creating a more business-savvy music community. By the end of 2011, we plan to aid at least 25 bands through our innovative programs, as well as performing over 200 hours of community service.

From time to time we like to showcase our staff, volunteers, consultants, and so forth. Today’s ‘Get to Know Us’ portion is about our fearless founder…

John Michael ‘Jack’ Storey, Managing Director, holds his Masters Degree in Entertainment Business; is a former national touring musician; a past CEO at Next in Line Records; and a frequent guest lecturer on the topics of music business, music distribution, music business history, and other relative subjects at institutions such as Full Sail University and Valencia Community College. He has authored dozens of essays and articles that have been downloaded and viewed thousands of times on social network sites such as Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace. 

Our next installment will be all about our amazing Videographer, Kris Schrader!

The idea for IMU began in late 2008 when two driven, independent musicians began searching for a way to give back to the independent music community, which had given them so much.  During the formation and crystallization of the organization, IMU had a broad, positive impact on those in and around the independent music community. Up to this point IMU has educated independent artists by producing five free independent music industry pamphlets and guides which have garnered over 5,000 downloads online, and has also successfully hosted eight free independent music industry seminars, lecturing to hundreds of independent musicians and those concerned about the state of the independent music community.  Additionally, IMU has specifically assisted the careers of hundreds of independent musicians, bands, and musical groups through online counseling sessions, show reviews, and by answering specific questions from independent musicians of all genres.  IMU also acted as a voice for independent musicians at the 2009 Future of Music Policy Summit in Washington, DC and is an continually active advocate for independent musicians across all forms of online social media.

the City of Cleveland is known across the globe as the birthplace of Rock n’ Roll, a term coined by Alan ‘Moondog’ Freed, a Cleveland radio personality, in 1951.  Cleveland has also long been known for hosting the first ever Rock n’ Roll concert in March of 1952, which was called the Moondog Coronation Ball, hosted by Mr. Freed.

Just one of the many, many reasons we LOVE our hometown!

The goals of IMU are to educate independent artists about the music industry, assist independent artists in building sustainable careers, and to advocate for independent artists both by introducing independent artists to important social issues that affect the independent music community and by educating the general public about independent music by promoting the work of independent musicians and spreading awareness about the independent music community.

Our very first order of 1” IMU buttons have arrived! They are very rad and we can’t wait to start handing them out once we get back to the Cleve on April 5th. We want to take a minute to thank the always-helpful Kyle over at www.cheapestbuttons.net for being so gracious and helping us with this project. He and his company have always been supportive of IMU since before we even had a clear vision, and his caring and kind help deserves to be acknowledged over and over.

If you’re in need of buttons for your band or label or whatever, do yourself a favor and check out CheapestButtons.net

We’re back in Florida after our 10 day journey through Cleveland, and we’re already pining for the Forest City. It was an amazing time full of really great sit downs with some of the Cleve’s finest nonprofit directors, music businesses, and rock n’ roll elite. The overall reception that we received was truly stunning; so warm, welcoming, and supportive!

We are intensely proud to call ourselves Clevelanders, and cannot wait to set up shop in the Rock n’ Roll Capital of the World! 18 days and counting. Time just isn’t moving quick enough.

Thanks to Amy @ Art House Inc., Santina @ Progressive Arts Alliance, Bob @ The Cleveland Foundation, Shelly @ The School of Rock, Jim, Michael, & Robert @ JumpStart Inc., and Chris “Doc Rock” Axelrod for their friendship, support, and continued enthusiasm for the future of our favorite city.

We’re extremely proud to be Cleveland natives, but its been a while since we’ve been able to sit down and enjoy the awesome sights and sounds of the city. We’ve been busy working on the development of the organization while finishing our graduate studies, law studies, and more. It’s been a rough couple years outside of our home.

Next week we finally get to come home (albeit for a very brief 10 days)! We’re meeting with a number of our favorite organizations, individuals, and friends and family to start turning the wheels on Independent Music United there in the Cleve. As we will soon be unveiling our 2010-13 plans for the organization, and the important role that Cleveland will play, we couldn’t be more excited to flee to the Cleve!

Anyone have any suggestions on where we should go eat first?