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.

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?

Independent Music United (IMU) is an official sponsor of the FTF Music Conference taking place April 22 thru the 25th at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. Our fearless Director of Music Optimism, Jack Storey, will be an active panelist throughout the event and will be on campus all 4 days preaching the gospel of IMU! Come hang out with us and get some great, cheap fun! Details of the event are below:

The FTF Music Conference features 4 days of music and knowledge. Consisting of 4 showcases, and 3 days of industry panels, workshops, and mentoring sessions, the FTF Music Conference is set up to enhance your musical career by providing you with knowledge, connections, and visibility!

Whether you’re a performing musician, aspiring song-writer, artist manager, or just someone who wants to learn more about the business, the FTF Music Conference is right for you!

Join us for 4 days of music, knowledge, and fun!

So, we’ve spent the entire beginning to 2010 working tirelessly on the IMU Business Plan. It is an in-depth, heavily researched analysis of who we are, what we plan to accomplish in the next three years, and how we plan on accomplishing them. We are excited to announce that as of 3:00pm EST on February 23rd, that plan is now complete!

We would like to thank Michael Koch, Steve Burhoe, Brandy Price, Andrew Raut, Matthew Warner, Angela Jarden, and a slew of other amazing individuals who helped us compile, create, edit, revise, transform, and ultimately finish this 30+ page manifesto for the future of our organization. Without them we would never have created such a thorough and exciting road map for the future! We love them and you should too!

Stay tuned for big announcements in March! We’re going to take a couple days to decompress and get our affairs in order. Our friends and family haven’t heard from us in a while :)

Be sure to visit www.independentmusicunited.org and sign up for the mailing list if you haven’t already!