SoundExchange Announces New President

Former EVP Michael Huppe hails evolving SX as "eager champion of the industry's future"

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- SoundExchange's Board of Directors announced today that long-time Executive Vice President and General Counsel Michael Huppe has been appointed as the nonprofit's new President. The decision comes as part of a planned leadership transition that began in mid-2010. Huppe's comments of acceptance positioned SoundExchange as "an eager champion of the music industry's future."

"Mike's proven leadership ability and service to the organization cannot be overstated," SoundExchange's Board of Directors said in a statement. "Pair that outstanding record with his innovative ideas about the evolving industry, and this was unquestionably the right choice for SoundExchange's future."  The Board, a cross-section of the industry comprised of equal numbers of artist and label representatives, selected Huppe after a rigorous search process of both internal and external candidates.

"I'm passionate about SoundExchange: who we are, what we've done, and where we're going," Huppe said just following the announcement. "We've grown from a legislative experiment to a major player in the music industry, and that growth has brought with it a host of new challenges. There are exciting opportunities ahead, and I'm proud and honored to be at the helm for the next part of our journey."

Huppe succeeds former head John Simson, who announced his intention in July to return to creative work.

"As the union that represents, and advocates for, recording artists of all kinds, AFTRA is thrilled to have Mike in this important leadership role," said Kim Roberts Hedgpeth, National Executive Director of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, AFL-CIO (AFTRA). "He has proven to be a strong ally of the artists AFTRA represents, and of all music creators, and we look forward to his continued and dedicated leadership in advancing those interests as SoundExchange's work moves forward."

About SoundExchange:

SoundExchange is the non-profit performance rights organization that collects statutory royalties from satellite radio, Internet radio, cable TV music channels and other services that stream sound recordings. The Copyright Royalty Board, created by Congress, entrusted SoundExchange to collect and distribute these digital performance royalties for featured recording artists and master rights owners. SoundExchange represents tens of thousands of artists and labels, and has paid out more than $600 million in royalties since 2003.

SOURCE SoundExchange