Yamaha artist services opens in NoHo to expand partnerships.

Yamaha Corp., one of the world's leading makers of musical instruments, is expanding its partnerships with the talent that uses its musical gear.

Last week, the American division of the Japanese company opened an expanded artist relations, research and development facility in the North Hollywood arts district called Yamaha Artist Services Hollywood.

The NoHo operation, which joins existing Yamaha Artist Services locations in New York and Nashville, houses both Yamaha's Drum Artist Relations and Guitar Artist Relations divisions, focusing on guitar and drum development.

The Nashville operation handles worldwide relationships with Yamaha artists such as Elton John, Alicia Keys and Paul McCartney, while the New York outpost is geared toward classical performers. All in all, the company represents some 3,500 affiliated artists worldwide.

Locally, Yamaha has had an artist relations group in its North Hollywood since 2005, when it moved from Buena Park. For its expansion, Yamaha leased an additional 6,000 square feet in an adjacent building and spent five months renovating to give the operation a total of 11,000 square feet of space. The complex provides space for a research and development center for guitars and drums; drum and guitar showrooms; photo and recording studios; a live performance room; a repair workshop; offices; and warehouse space.

Internet Equity

Spot Runner Inc., a privately held Internet-based ad agency, is trying to keep up with a fast crowd these days.

The upstart L.A.-based company, which lets small businesses that can't afford local TV advertising break into the medium using its templates, has taken a $40 million equity investment from giants in the media and advertising world.

The investment is sizable for a young company, and comes from CBS Corp., ad agencies and the interactive marketing WPP Group within the Interpublic Group of Cos., Tudor Corp and other participants. The financing round was led by Allen & Co Inc.

"We're going to use the money to better our service and with this money we can accelerate our progress into other platforms," said Spot Runner co-founder David Waxman. "We'll be moving into (Internet television), Internet video and radio. Those are places our advertisers have expressed an interest. We'll have the flexibility that capital brings."

Spot Runner has no formalized business deal with its new corporate backers, but Waxman said the partners have "an understanding" with the ad agencies to help their clients receive exposure through the service.

Spot Runner's services target mom-and-pop businesses (or local franchises of national companies) by allowing them to start campaigns in the hundreds-of-dollars range. "This is a huge validation for us," Waxman said.

The company was launched less than a year ago by Waxman and his business partner Nick Grouf, who previously launched PeoplePC and were part of the team behind Firefly Network and the Passport technology acquired by Microsoft for $40 million in 1998. (The technology, a repository for a consumer data, later fell out of favor over privacy concerns.)

Movie Marketing

It's like a farmer's market, but for the Hollywood power set.

The joint American Film Market and American Film Institute Fest will take place Nov. 1-8 in Santa Monica, and has grown to become the largest gathering of film industry professionals in North America: Some 8,000 industry professionals from more than 70 countries will descend upon Santa Monica for eight days of dealmaking, screenings, seminars and networking.

This year, the market opens with a record 589 films and 384 premiers, a 10 percent increase over last year's 534 films. Notable premiere films from years past include "Monster's Ball," "The House of Sand and Fog" and "Cider House Rules."

Staff reporter Anne Riley-Katz can be reached at [phone] ext. 225 or [e-mail]