New Conference, Showcase Focus on
Entertainment Packaging Issues

Awards To Honor Best in Packaging

New York, May 1, 2003 — The 1st Annual Entertainment Packaging Summit, a two-day seminar and three-day showcase, will focus on packaging issues confronting content holders, retailers, manufacturers, and designers working with CDs, DVD Video, DVD Audio, CD-ROM, Video Games, VHS and vinyl, according to the event’s co-producers United Entertainment Media (UEM) and the International Recording Media Association (IRMA).

"The challenges the entertainment industry faces combating illicit downloads and pirating of content make creative packaging all the more important so that releases stand out at retail," said seminar program director Larry Jaffee, editor of UEM’s Medialine magazine. "The timing could not be better for this summit."

The Entertainment Packaging seminar takes place August 19-20, 2003, at the Universal City Hilton Hotel in Universal City California, and overlaps the 6th Annual DVD Entertainment Conference & Showcase taking place at the same hotel August 20-21, 2003. Interested parties may register for both the Packaging seminar and DVD Conference at a discounted rate, or may register for each event individually.

The Packaging Summit program is divided into three main components: Security, Merchandising, and Design. Security panels and presentations will explore a number of anti-theft packaging devices such as theft-prevention cases and source-tags. Merchandising presentations will focus on the real-world concerns of retailers, such as floor space and fixtures, and unique point-of-purchase displays. The Design roundtables will speak to art directors and designers at record and home video companies, as well as freelance design firms and issues most important to them.

To date, confirmed speakers include Sue Mason, Creative Domain; art directors Spencer Drate and Stefan Bucher; Barbara Motooka of ADT/Sensormatic; Phil Sykes of Emplast; Ross O. Youngs of Univenture; Sandy Weisenauer from Anchor Bay; and Paul Stone of Best Buy.

The Packaging Summit Showcase begins Tuesday, August 19, 2003, with exhibitors focusing on packaging-related products and services. On Wednesday and Thursday, August 20-21, the exhibits will expand to include companies showcasing their technologies for the DVD marketplace.

Honoring the Best
The 1st Annual Entertainment Packaging Awards will be handed out at a gala event on Tuesday, August 19, 2003. Individuals and companies will be honored for outstanding achievement in the following categories:

• Best Design, Regular CD/Photograph Cover
  
• Best Design, Regular CD/Illustration Cover
  
• Best Design, Alternative CD package
  
• Best CD Boxed Set, Overall Design
  
• Best Promotional CD or DVD
  
• Best DVD Package, single disc
  
• Best DVD Package, multi-disc
  
• Best VHS Package, single tape
  
• Best VHS Package, boxed set
  
• Best Vinyl Package
  
• Best Audiocassette Package
  
• Best Disc Decoration, CD
  
• Best Disc Decoration, DVD
  
• Best Entertainment Software Package
  
• Best Entertainment Retail Marketing Materials
  
• Best Functional Solution for a Media Package

To date, corporate sponsors of the 1st Annual Entertainment Packaging Summit include Shorewood; Bert-Co; Information Packaging Corporation; and Rock Tenn.

For more information on the 1st Annual Entertainment Packaging Summit, please visit www.entertainmentpackaging.com or call IRMA at +1-609-279-1700.

For sponsorship or showcase opportunities, contact Larry Spitzer at 212-378-0455 or via email at lspitzer@uemedia.com.