MSR is an independent record label committed to a culture of musical excellence and discovery. Founded in 1997 as Musicians Showcase Recordings and renewed as MSR Music in 2006, MSR offers recording artists the opportunity to release a Compact Disc, and to have it distributed and promoted in a worldwide marketplace. Whether releasing a debut or adding to an existing catalogue, artists benefit from the MSR team’s decades of experience. As part of its commitment to excellence, MSR partners with only the most talented recording, design and editorial professionals in the industry, assuring an uncommon integrity in concept, content and realization.

The MSR labels – MSR Classics and MSR Jazz – are under the leadership of Robert LaPorta, a 24-year veteran of the music industry. LaPorta is the former manager of Squires Music Production in Elmsford, New York. He also served as Director of Classics at the Angel-EMI-Virgin Classics-Blue Note label group, Marketing and Production Manager with London-Decca Records, Deutsche Grammophon and Philips Classics of the PolyGram label group and Publicity and Contracts Associate at ICM Artists management in New York. He also served for a time as Vice President in the Global Compliance Group at Deutsche Bank. A mobile recording specialist with a focus on concert band and chorus, LaPorta worked as a studio engineer and on-air host at WRCU Radio in Hamilton, New York. An active participant in the music industry, he is a voting member of National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) and is a former member of the Grammy Classical Committee.

In the performing arts arena, Robert LaPorta founded and served as Personnel Director of the Hudson Valley Wind Symphony and was President of the Westchester Symphonic Winds. He performed as Principal Euphonium with the Hudson Valley Wind Symphony and Westchester Symphonic Winds, and with the Westchester Philharmonic, Norwich Festival Orchestra, Hamilton Festival Orchestra, Cornell Chamber Orchestra, Larchmont Concert Band, Bronxville Concert Band and Armonk Community Band. LaPorta was Principal Timpanist with the Colgate Concert Orchestra, and Director of the Colgate Jazz Band. He has composed several pieces for symphonic band and orchestra, and has arranged numerous baroque works for brass quintet.

Born in New Rochelle, New York in 1965, LaPorta earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music from Colgate University where he studied composition with Dexter Morrill and orchestration with William Skelton. He studied classical and folk guitar with Gus de Gazio, percussion with John F. Sammel and euphonium with Thomas Reichert and Dolores Beck. He also completed course work in graphic design and advertising.

PACKAGE DESIGN & LAYOUT
World-class package design and layout is available to MSR artists through our long-term partnerships with experienced graphic artists. MSR releases have the benefit of being created by design professionals who have worked with internationally known artists on such esteemed record labels as EMI Classics, Blue Note Records, Angel Records, Virgin Classics and Manhattan Records. Art Direction is carried out by our experienced staff, which collectively has managed the design of more than 1000 CDs. Production is carried out by one of the top disc manufacturers in the world to exacting standards. The entire process from planning through design and manufacture is handled with the utmost care and efficiency.

ANNOTATION
While the majority of MSR artists furnish written material for inclusion in their CD packages, MSR offers annotation services for an additional fee. Whether the project calls for a brief overview or a highly detailed musicological analysis, MSR artists are assured of interesting, accurate and appropriate annotation, created by seasoned music professionals, many with conservatory training. In addition, MSR maintains relationships with numerous skilled writers versed in all areas of music performance, history and composition, including Richard Freed, Eric Salzman, Erik Eriksson, Stephen Zohn, and many others.

PRODUCTION
MSR releases are produced to the highest possible technical standards, and with a skilled direction that only dozens of years of experience in this area can provide. The coordination of materials with package designer and manufacturer is handled with expertise, and the manufacture itself is carried out entirely in the United States by one of the largest and most highly regarded disc manufacturers in the world. Through careful project management and long-term industry relationships, MSR disc production is typically accomplished in less than four weeks.

MECHANICAL LICENSING
For projects involving compositions not in the Public Domain, and therefore requiring mechanical licenses, MSR can manage from start to finish the process by which all necessary licenses are obtained, and royalty fees payed. It is not uncommon for MSR artists to benefit from reduced license royalty rates as a function of our ongoing relationship with experienced licensing administrators and the world’s major music publishing houses.

ROYALTY ADMINISTRATION
MSR artists receive detailed Royalty Statements, and are paid generous royalties on net sales of goods (sold and not returned) on a semi-annual basis. Inventory management and all subsequent royalty accounting and disbursement is handled on premises by MSR, reducing the likelihood of error and missed payments. The royalty rates afforded MSR artists are among the very highest in the recording industry, ranging from 30% to 50% of retail.

STORAGE
MSR artists are given the option of storing up to 210 units of their release at the MSR facility at no charge. Having product on-site offers many benefits to the artist. MSR Classics Webstore orders are fulfilled directly and immediately from the on-site warehouse. Artists do not have to bear the burden of storing all quantity of their product on their own. Further, the product is available to the artist at any time during normal business hours. MSR can ship discs at the request of the artist (shipping expenses are charged back per the request).

DISTRIBUTION
Albany Music Distributors - Three to six months after the initial MSR webstore release, the CD is released by Albany Music Distributors to their extensive network of domestic accounts on a consignment basis for traditional retail and internet merchants.

Amazon.com - Immediately upon release, MSR CD releases are available on Amazon.com through the AmazonAdvantage program. The item listing includes a color image of the CD cover, detailed information about the artist and musical selections, and brief audio samples. The site is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

MSR WebStore - Immediately upon release, MSR releases are featured on the MSR Webstore website (www.msrcd.com), with multiple category listings and an individual webpage. The individual page includes a color image of the CD cover, detailed information about the artist and musical selections, press reviews, and an audio sample. Hyperlinks can also be provided, and text attachments. The site is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

International Distribution - MSR Classics is currently in negotiations with several international retail and internet-based distributors to secure the label's presence outside the United States. MSR titles are now selectively available in Canada, and in territories in Europe, South America and Japan.

DIGITAL DOWNLOAD
MSR establishes and administers global Digital Download services.

DIGITAL AUDIO PRODUCTION

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