Washington Area Music Association records
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of approximately 1,300 compact discs (CDs) and other audio recording formats such as DVDs, pocket CD-Rs, VHS tapes and casette tapes, featuring the music of a wide variety of artists local to the Washington D.C. and Northern Virginia/Maryland area. Additionally, the collection features the files, information, and other records of WAMA while the organization was functional. The Washington Area Music Association website is also part of this collection. The materials range in date from 1984 to 2023; the bulk of the material dates to between 1994 and 2001. This collection of recordings and paper records were originally compiled by the Washington Area Music Association (WAMA), a non-profit organization of music industry professionals dedicated to promoting and celebrating the work of Washington Area Musicians.
Dates
- Creation: 1984-2023
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1994 - 2001
Restrictions on Access
This collection is open for research.
Restrictions on Use
Some material may be copyrighted or restricted. It is the patron's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections.
Historical or Biographical Note
The Washingon Area Music Association (WAMA) is a non-profit organization of music industry professionals dedicated to promoting and celebrating the work of musicians from the Washington and Northern Virginia/Maryland area. Founded in 1985, the organization consists of a board of directors and an advisory board composed of musicians, managers, recording engineers, record industry professionals, lawyers, and others with an active role in the Washington area music community. The organization is run entirely through the effort of volunteers. WAMA sponsors the annual "Wammies" award show, which honors local musicians for achievement in a wide variety of music genre, reflecting the diversity of the DC music scene. WAMA also hosts charitable events and provides services to DC musicians, such as a music calendar, musician directory, and seminars on topics relating to the music business.
Extent
23.5 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
This collection consists of approximately 1,300 CDs representing the work of musicians local to the Washington Area, including Maryland and Northern Virginia. Additionally, the collection holds financial records, marketing material, recordings, photographs, meeting minutes, fundraising records, production records, correspondence, articles, memos, meeting minutes, press releases, early organizational records, websites, and other official papers that document the work of the Washington Area Music Association from 1984 to 2023. The collection was compiled by the non-profit Washington Area Music Association (WAMA) as part of their mission to promote the work of local artists.
Collection Organization
Arranged into 9 series: Recordings of Washington area musicians on CD format, Recordings of Washington area musicians on non-CD formats, Governance, Productions, Audio/Visual materials, Artist/Band Promotional materials, Published materials and Photographs, posters, and Websites (captured using the Internet Archive's Archive-it service in 2023 and then once a year after that).
Collections Location
Materials are stored off-site, and will require additional retrieval time. Please contact the Special Collections Research Center for more information.
Custodial History
Accession 2018.020 was temporarily held by GW Music Professor Christopher Lornell before being transfered to the Special Collections Research Center in 2018.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Washington Area Music Association, 2014 August 27, (2014.029) and 2018 May 17, (2018.020).
Source
- Washington Area Music Association (Donor, Organization)
- Title
- Guide to the Washington Area Music Association records, 1984-2016
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University
- Date
- 2018
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University Repository
George Washington University Gelman Library
2130 H Street NW
Washington DC 20052 United States of America
speccoll@gwu.edu
