SoundExchange Appoints Indie Music Leader Richard James Burgess to Board of Directors

WASHINGTON, March 4, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- SoundExchange announces the appointment of Richard James Burgess, chief executive officer of A2IM (the American Association of Independent Music) to its Board of Directors. Burgess, known for his extensive background in the independent music community, brings experience as a businessman, artist manager, musician and producer to the SoundExchange board. 

"I am thrilled to welcome Richard to the SoundExchange Board of Directors. His vast background and knowledge of the independent music community make him a strong ally for indie labels in the marketplace and on Capitol Hill. He is an asset to our organization, and his credentials in the independent music community distinguish him as true indie leader," SoundExchange President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Huppe said.

"It is a great privilege to join the SoundExchange board during this incredible period of change in the music industry. The independent music sector is on the rise, and now more than ever independent artists and labels can reach and engage music fans worldwide through thousands of digital music services. SoundExchange is an exciting bright spot in the industry, and incredibly important to our community. I am excited to work with such an outstanding group of individuals who are committed advocates for recording artists and rights owners. Together, we have the potential to truly shape the future of music," said Burgess.

Burgess will fill the position previously held by Molly Neuman. The SoundExchange Board of Directors is comprised of 18 individuals, split evenly between artist representatives and label representatives, serving virtually all aspects of the recorded music industry.

Prior to his role as CEO at A2IM, Burgess served for 14 years as the associate director for business strategies at Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, one of the nation's oldest and most successful independent music labels.

About Richard James Burgess
Richard James Burgess is currently the chief executive officer of A2IM, a non-profit trade organization representing a broad coalition of over 382 independently owned U.S. music labels.  Most recently, Burgess led the business strategies of the non-profit Smithsonian Folkways Recordings in Washington, D.C. He has managed artists and producers and has recorded, produced and performed on many multi-platinum albums. In 1997, he authored "The Art of Record Production" and the second, third and fourth editions now entitled "The Art of Music Production: The Theory and Practice." Oxford University Press published his latest book in 2014, "The History of Music Production."

About SoundExchange
SoundExchange is the independent non-profit collective management organization representing the entire recorded music industry. The organization collects royalties on behalf of recording artists and master rights owners for the use of their content on satellite radio, Internet radio, cable TV music channels and other services that stream sound recordings. The Copyright Royalty Board, created by Congress, has entrusted SoundExchange as the sole entity in the United States to collect and distribute statutory digital performance royalties from more than 2,500 services. SoundExchange has paid out approximately $3.5 billion in royalties since its inception. For more information, visit www.SoundExchange.com or www.facebook.com/soundexchange.

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SOURCE SoundExchange

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