By Staff, October 3, 2003
A new nonprofit organization intends to be the voice and advocate for a unified professional audio industry. The Professional Audio Manufacturers Alliance (PAMA) made its debut at the recent NSCA Show in Dallas, just one of the several trade shows members of the pro audio industry attend. Organized and directed by veteran industry executive Paul Gallo, PAMA will be the collective voice and forum for the senior executives of the more than 400 branded manufacturers of professional audio products.
With a broad and comprehensive mission, PAMA will strive to promote the growth and profitability of professional audio manufacturing at a time when the industry is experiencing unprecedented change. It will serve as spokesman, advocate and ombudsman for the industry while providing a forum for issues, trends and innovations. Finally, it will share and promote common goals and policy concerns.
According to PAMA executive director Gallo, PAMA will achieve its mission through the implementation of highly specific and targeted program elements. These include:
- Defining and promoting the industry and the markets it serves while highlighting the contributions of the high-tech, value-added products the industry manufactures.
- Executing and offering valuable benchmark research, the compilation and dissemination of market data, including legislative and legal news.
- Sponsoring an executive level annual retreat and summit, as well as alliance business meetings tied to existing events.
- Monitoring what's going on internally in the industry and reporting on external developments via a Web-based executive-level digest of news/trends.
- Building connections on common issues, interfacing as a group with other associations and trade show organizations that already serve niche market segments.
- Lobbying to enhance relations with the financial and legal communities and the public sector.
- Serving as a conduit to other associations to provide input and support on standards, education and other industry initiatives.
Gallo said, "In the smallest personal room and in the world-class recording complex; from the smallest church to the largest stadium; in theaters, in stores, at concerts and at theme parks, the products of professional audio manufacturers are used and heard every day
. Now, thanks to the Professional Audio Manufacturers Alliance, the voice of pro audio as an industry will be heard, too."
Gallo continued, "AES speaks for the engineering community. NSCA speaks for the systems contractors and installers. NAMM speaks for the retailers of musical merchandise. And NAB speaks for the broadcast community. PAMA has been formed to speak for the executives of a unified professional audio industry. We will work with all existing associations to help make them and their shows more effective for the manufacturers that support them. PAMA will not host trade shows."
Gallo's decision to create PAMA comes after serving the worldwide professional audio industry for more than 25 years. In 1978, Gallo co-founded Pro Sound News. He was executive director of United Entertainment Media, responsible for more than 20 magazines serving the entertainment technology industry. Most recently, he was a board director of Mackie Designs. "I have been a member of the professional audio industry for most of my adult life," he pointed out, "and I view the formation of this critically important, nonprofit manufacturers alliance as essential in this challenging business climate. The industry needs its own voice, and PAMA will be that voice. It will provide a unified presence as the industry seeks new opportunities for future growth and profitability."
PAMA will be a board-directed, nonprofit trade alliance that represents pro audio companies of all sizes. Charter regular membership will be offered to senior executives of professional audio manufacturers. Executives of companies affiliated with the pro audio industry can enroll their company as an associate member. PAMA will be based in New York City and retain Washington, DC legal representation to ensure that it complies with all anti-trust policies and procedures. The alliance's by-laws and financial records will be available to all for review.
PAMA
212-696-1799
pgallo@pamalliance.org
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