Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) Joins Operation HOPE to
Launch National 5 Million Kids (5MK) Campaign to Keep Kids in School
Quincy Jones, Tyrese, Join Business, Community and Government Leaders
at Bret Harte Prep Middle School in Los Angeles for Kick-Off Event September 29

LOS ANGELES — September 21, 2009 — The Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) will take part in the launch of Operation HOPE’s Five Million Kids initiative (5MK), a national community-based program designed to keep kids in school. The kick-off event takes place September 29 at Bret Harte Prep Middle School in Inglewood and will bring together community, education, business, entertainment and government leaders who will address the importance of staying in school, and lead more than 70 classroom sessions covering many topics from financial literacy to career opportunities.
 
More than 1300 6th-8th grade students will participate in the educational program hosted by the AIMP and Operation HOPE.  Operation HOPE will lead discussions in financial literacy while AIMP’s volunteers will offer specific insight into careers in the music business, giving students a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the vast array of jobs available to them “beyond being an artist.” In particular one of AIMP’s main objectives is to inspire the next generation to value copyright by presenting tangible evidence for how the exploitation of copyrights means good jobs.

“In this digital age where preserving the value of music is a hot topic, we want to educate young people that when they consume music, it creates jobs for many people—jobs they might want to have one day,” said AIMP Executive Director Kasaan Steigen, who coordinated the organization’s participation in the event. “Young people too often think that being a famous singer or rapper is the only way to be successful in the music business.  Our volunteers are looking forward to sharing their knowledge and expertise and to show students that there are a variety of exciting jobs that require skills other than musical talent, like good math skills, writing skills or a business education.”
 
The AIMP’s team of volunteer instructors draws on executives representing many fields within the music industry including artist managers, publishers, songwriters, attorneys and label personnel representing companies such as Disney/ABC, 20th Century Fox, Universal Music Group, the Recording Academy and many more.  Artist managers who will lead classrooms include Black Eyed Peas’ manager Ben Gross and Troy Carter, manager for Lady Gaga and founder and CEO of The Coalition Media Group.
 
Additional speakers who are expected to address students are: Entertainment icon and National 5MK Co-Chair, Quincy Jones; HOPE Global Spokesman, Ambassador Andrew Young; HOPE Founder and Vice Chairman, U.S. President’s Advisory Council on Financial Literacy, John Hope Bryant; LAUSD Superintendent Ramon C. Cortines; California Superintendent Jack O’Connell; Reverend Cecil Murray; Actor/Model Tyrese Gibson.
 

To view pictures of this event, please click HERE.

About AIMP:

Since its inception in 1977, The Association of Independent Music Publishers has provided a valuable platform for discussion and continued advocacy of the issues, opportunities and challenges facing the music publishing industry. The organization encourages the open exchange of ideas and opinions through a regular schedule of monthly meetings, forums, panel discussions, workshops and special events held in Los Angeles and New York, and covering a wide range of topics. The AIMP serves a worldwide community through its extensive website: www.aimp.org.
 
About Operation HOPE:

Operation HOPE's mission is to eradicate poverty in our lifetime through the "Silver Rights Movement." Operation HOPE, Inc. (OHI) is a non-profit, public benefit organization, founded immediately following the civil unrest of April 29, 1992 in Los Angeles. OHI is America’s leading provider of economic tools and services for families.

About the 5 MK Initiative:

The 5 Million Kids mission is to reach, teach and empower 5 million kids over the next 5 years with a course in dignity, financial literacy, free enterprise and capitalism, ownership, opportunity and entrepreneurship, to help our youth have a bright future. Children need to see and interact with adults around them every day that serve as examples of what they can become. When children do not have role models in their communities, overwhelmingly, they think success, in all its various forms, is for someone else other than them. Our kids are dropping out of high school because they are sharp observers of their environments and they model their lives after what they’re exposed to.