Congratulations to the following bluegrass-related artists nominated for Americana Music Association honors and awards: The Avett Brothers, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Sam Bush and Sarah Jarosz.
May 17 was the new deadline for all U.S. non-profit organizations, regardless of income size, to file a Federal 990 form. Those who missed the deadline are invited to go ahead and file, a procedure that should take less than five minutes for groups with revenues under $25,000. Most tax-exempt organizations, other than churches, must file a yearly return or notice with the IRS. If an organization does not file as required for three consecutive years, the law provides that it automatically loses its tax-exempt status. Loss of exempt status means an organization must file income tax returns and pay income tax, and its contributors will not be able to deduct their donations. In the past, non-profits with receipts of less than $25,000 did not have to file a tax return on form 990. Those small nonprofits must now file a postcard 990 return, “Form 990-N.” Info: http://www.irs.gov/charities/article/0,,id=169250,00.html For a list of non-profits out of compliance with the IRS, see http://nccsdataweb.urban.org/PubApps/statePicker.php?prog=epostcard&display=state.
The Recording Academy (NARAS) and MusiCares have established the MusiCares Nashville Flood Relief Fund in response to the devastating flood in Nashville and the surrounding area the first weekend of May. Info: www.musicares.com/NashvilleFloodRelief.
BMI has launched a mobile version of its website, www.bmi.com, for iPhone, Android, Palm, Symbian and the upcoming Blackberry 6.0 phones.
Leadership Music’s Digital Summit and Next BIG Nashville have united to create a week-long conference and festival, set for Sept. 28-October 2, in Nashville. Karen Oertley, new executive director at Leadership Music, says, “By combining Leadership Music’s Digital Summit and Next BIG Nashville, we are able to offer the best of the best in one event. Attendees will learn from a stellar lineup of speakers and panelists by day and hear incredible music by night. This promised to be a ‘must attend’ event for everyone with an interest in the future of music and entertainment.” Info: nextbignashville.net