1.   Guys like Dean Broadhead, vice president of marketing and artist development for Sony in Nashville, suffer seizures over such conversations.

2.   However, UMG officials confirmed that many acts will be given pink slips, even while ironically insisting that artist development still would be a priority.

3.   Ivey sidesteps questions about whether he envisions the NEA more in terms of artist development, education, market-building or sociology.

4.   Soundtracks offer instant commercial gratification without the expensive commitment associated with long-term artist development.

5.   The business plan involves combining an aggressive Internet presence with traditional off-line artist development.

6.   Matthews is building a catalog of music, which is why long-term artist development is so important.