Sound support

The Alaska Music Alliance, or AKMA, was born.

AKMA works partly on the premise that a lack of coverage is one of the main reasons why local music isn't strongly supported and people simply don't know about a lot of local shows they could attend. To fix that, AKMA organized a 'zine, featuring coverage of major local shows, profiles of local artists, guitar tabs, lyrics, and tips and tricks for aspiring musicians. Organizing and putting together the 'zine was an ambitious task; it proved difficult finding writers dedicated enough to make their deadlines, artists willing to contribute their graphic designs and editors able to devote hours to putting it all together. The 'zine welcomes contributions by anyone who wants to write an article, hoping to draw out all the perspectives present in the music scene -- musicians, promoters, hosts and fans.

Another of AKMA's goals is its incorporation as a nonprofit organization. Some of the benefits of sifting through the necessary paperwork include being eligible for public and private grants. The application process is a lengthy one, not helped by the fact that Thorpe, a college student who has taken on the responsibility of filling out and filing the paperwork, faced rapidly approaching finals as the school year wrapped up. Thorpe hopes to achieve nonprofit status for AKMA soon.

Some important figures in the music scene, including popular venues Club Millennium and the Paddleboat Cafe, have pledged support for AKMA, offering locations to hold meetings and donations to aid in distributing the 'zine, promoting the group and hosting meetings and events for the members.

The organization is so new it hasn't had its first meeting. The meetings are not intended to be business meetings but fun events that bring together different musicians and members of the music scene who might not otherwise meet each other.

The ultimate goal of the group is to strengthen the music scene by helping people form new creative alliances, and that spirit is reflected in the style of the meetings. They might be barbecues, pizza parties, movie nights, bowling or minigolf -- anything to break from the ordinary and engage the group's members.

A benefit show last weekend at the Paddleboat Cafe offered an early 'zine release along with food, prizes and performances by well-known local bands. The goal was to earn enough money to produce the first issue of the 'zine and distribute it throughout Anchorage, Eagle River and Wasilla.

Anchorage's music scene often is perceived as dominated by metal and hard-core bands, without any niches for other styles of music. This perception is one AKMA hopes to counter.

As one entry of the alliance's MySpace blog explains, "If you are a closet bluegrass fan you have the chance (at AKMA meetings) to meet some other people that are also into that music."

New artists from genres as diverse as hip-hop, Christian rock and punk rock represent this growth and expansion of local music. With the goal of promoting unity and cooperation, AKMA hopes to offers a better, stronger local music scene.

Alexa Dobson is a member of the Alaska Music Alliance and a junior at South.

INTERESTED IN JOINING? Fill out the application on the Alaska Music Alliance's MySpace page (www.myspace.com/alaskamusicalliance) and you can begin amassing "points" -- which can be used to buy merchandise, CDs or entry to shows -- by promoting local concerts, designing banners and fliers, and spreading the word to your friends. Helping hands needed