Overview

The Classical Music Archives (CMA) is the largest classical music site on the Internet, with over 29,000 musical files by over 1800 composers from all periods. The CMA has been in existence since 1994, and now receives over 2 million unique visitors each month. By typing in the words "classical music" or even "classical" on Google, the CMA appears consistently as the first or second site listed - a ranking based on number of outside links to our site. While the majority of the files offered on the site are in MIDI format, a growing percentage comes from our roster of Featured Artists, who voluntarily offer their live recordings on our site to be streamed (WMA) and downloaded (MP3) by our subscribers. In return, the CMA provides them with a wonderful promotional vehicle, where huge numbers of potential fans and industry professionals can review their material in an elegant online environment -including not only their recordings, but likewise their photo, biography, reviews, and contact information. These Featured Artists come to us through the lobbying efforts of our Talent Scouts.

Our Moscow Senior Representative has been brilliantly successful in bringing to the CMA a wide array of talented performers, composers, conductors and ensemble from throughout Russia, as well as such neighboring countries as Armenia and Ukraine. She locates these artists through personal contacts, professional references, and by immersing herself within the musical communities where she recruits, particularly in Moscow. By virtue of her efforts, we are adding nearly a dozen new artists per month, all of extremely high abilities.

In the next few months, we will be commencing with a more comprehensive means to bring new artists to the CMA, namely by signing licensing deals with the Major Record companies (EMI, Sony, BMG, Warner, UMG), whose recordings we will both stream and sell as on-demand downloads. And yet, we are still very eager to continue adding on to our roster of Independent Artists, who as yet are not affiliated with a record label. These Independent Artists will still be offered a position of great prominence on our site, with the same benefits currently available. Their music will be offered as streams (WMA) and, with their permission, free audio downloads - although their music can be limited to streams if they so chose.

As such, the need for effective and motivated Talent Scouts is as strong as ever, particularly in the US. We aspire to be the definitive hub of the classical music world, for established and aspiring artists, composers, conductors and ensembles. We plan on expanding our resources to include postings of competitions, and to work directly with high-level competitions on promotional and content-related programs. This is an exciting time at the Archives, and we look forward to working with you to help us reach our potential.



Talent Scout's Role

The role of the Talent Scout is to elicit interest among talented performers, composers, conductors and ensembles in creating an affiliation with the CMA. Suggested venues for locating artists would include musical schools and conservatories, local recital venues (churches, halls, etc.), new music societies, festivals, competitions and public concert halls. You will need to devise your own method of approaching these artists, and we encourage you to have your presentation well rehearsed. You will want to articulate to them the benefits of submitting their music to the CMA - including the over 2 million unique visitors our site generates each month. You should also let them know that we can offer sales of their CDs through Amazon (one-click) or another on-line retailer. The recordings they submit need not be affiliated with a record label, but they do need to be of professional quality - both in terms of the Audio fidelity and the actual performances. If the recording is affiliated with a label, they need to possess the full authority to offer us the right to stream (and download) their music at no charge to us.

Once you have successfully garnered their interest, you will need to provide them with a form of consent and to oversee the process whereby they will send you their materials - including CDs, a photo, a bio, reviews and contact information. You will also need to review with them the submission materials - in particular noting the need for full and accurate information about each composition submitted (including composer's full name, full title of work, complete list of key performers, etc.). You will then collate these materials for shipment to us by DHL - at the CMA's charge. You will receive a total of $500 for every 10 (ten) CDs you send, with a minimum of 10 (ten) CDs being sent out to us at one time. Note that the CMA reserves the right to reject any CD at its sole discretion - in which case they can be returned at the CMA's expense.

The Submission Agreement for Artists (printed out partly below) is found at the following URL address: http://www.classicalarchives.com/artists/agreement.html. You should have a hard copy of this agreement with you when you present your pitch to the Artists. The Artists will need to send you a completed and signed copy of this Form along with their other materials - all of which you will then forward to the CMA.



How To Apply

Please send an application to Nolan Gasser at ngasser@prs.net together with

1. A one page letter indicating why you wish to serve as Talent Scout and the qualifications which make you believe you would be successful in that endeavour.
2. Your resume, including your complete contact info.
3. List of at least two references and their contact info.

• Composer name
• Composer birth/(death) year
• Composer nationality
• CD Track No. - COMPLETE Title of work, Opus No., Key
• CD Track No. - Subtitle of each movement (if any)
• Performer(s) - Soloist(s) and instrument(s)
• Orchestra or Ensemble
• Conductor