Association News
Below, you’ll find the latest Association press releases, updates on our upcoming events, introductions to our newest member companies, links to the latest content from Music Biz and our partners, and more.
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July 1, 2025 – The Future of What Episode #256 — Jonathan Azu of Culture Collective Walks Through Recent Projects, the State of the Live Industry & Inclusivity!
This week we speak with Jonathan Azu, founder of Culture Collective, on the state of the live industry, along with some exciting projects & collaborations he’s working on! Jonathan discusses how important it is for executives to diversify themselves in the same way today’s artists do, highlighting the multi-hyphenate approach he has taken for his business by working on tours, TV specials, philanthropic and DEI-related work, and developing artists. Jonathan provides us his expertise, evaluating the consistency of our industry’s DEI initiatives born out of the self-reflection that came from the COVID era,... Listen
June 30, 2025 – [Keeping Tempo With Music Biz] — The Confidence to Modernize Sync: Op-Ed by Jennifer Freed & Selina Meere of Trevanna Tracks
A sales department without a CRM. A finance team without accounting software. Publicists without a media database. All unheard of. Look down the list of departments in the entertainment industry and each one has a system built for what it does. Until you get to music. And suddenly, you have stumbled upon a business unit built on spreadsheets — that may even be saved to individual computers — despite the nuances of getting clearances right and the risk a production company,... Read More
June 24, 2025 – The Future of What Episode #255 — The Tech and Music Industry Crossover: A Conversation with OpenPlay’s Edward Ginis @ Music Biz 2025!
Edward Ginis, Founder and CEO of OpenPlay, attended his 15th Music Biz Conference this year. In this episode, he discusses how the Conference continues to evolve with the times, providing true substance and debate over platitudes and hype. In the same vein, Edward touches on just how crucial it is for our industry to nurture entrepreneurs and startups in a mutually beneficial relationship. He discusses how the Conference’s startup programming, including OpenPlay’s “Break The Silos. Build The Future.” Hackathon,... Listen
June 17, 2025 – The Future of What Episode #254 — Hear from Lauryn Menard, Creator of the GOB Sustainable Earplug Brand!
The difficulty common earplugs have conforming to each person’s unique anatomy leads to frequent struggles with actually keeping these devices in our ears – not to mention the poor sound quality they create by blocking out only the top frequencies. Biomaterial professor and industrial designer, Lauryn Menard may very well be revolutionizing the future of earplugs, as she has pioneered a solution that not only resolves these issues but also provides a more sustainable option for our environment.... Listen
May 20, 2025 – The Future of What Episode #253 — The Music Merchandising Experience with Kerstyn Inouye of Top Drawer Merch
Top Drawer Merch began their journey through collaborating with artists to create charity bracelets. Today, they service clients both in and out of the music industry, producing apparel & a variety of other merchandise. Implementing a traditional brand approach, they understand that merch is not just a band’s logo on a t-shirt – it’s a story told through the product that comes back full circle, tying into a much larger ecosystem. Kerstyn Inouye, Marketing Director of Top Drawer Merch joins us this episode to discuss the opportunities superfans bring to merchandising,... Listen
May 15, 2025 – Music Business Association Names 2025 Bizzy Award Winners
Nine award winners crowned during 4th Annual Bizzy Awards Dinner on May 14th May 15th, 2025 — The Music Business Association (Music Biz) announces the winners of this year’s Bizzy Awards, who were honored during the fourth annual Bizzy Awards Dinner on Wednesday evening, May 14th during the Music Biz 2025 conference at the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly. The 2025 Bizzy Awards Dinner was sponsored by Warner Music Group, hosted by artist & Reach Records founder, Lecrae,... Read More
May 15, 2025 – Music Business Association Names 2025 Scholarship Recipients
Three academic institutions will each receive $20,000 to support their financial aid programs May 15th, 2025 — The Music Business Association (Music Biz) announces the list of three academic institutions that will receive financial assistance from its Braylin Campbell Memorial Music Business Scholarship Foundation. Each institution will receive a $20,000 financial aid package from the total of $60,000 the Foundation collected in its latest fundraising period. The 2025 Braylin Campbell Memorial Music Business Scholarship Foundation financial aid recipients are as follows: Berklee College of Music University of Miami Frost School of Music University of North Texas “Congratulations to the schools who will receive funding from the Braylin Campbell Memorial Scholarship Foundation this year,” said Music Biz President,... Read More
May 5, 2025 – [Keeping Tempo With Music Biz] — Should Music Be Free For Brands on Social Media? Op-Ed by Larry Mills of Vobile
Should rightsholders really be going after brands for using music commercially online without a license? The answer is absolutely yes. I rage-baited you with the headline to get you fired up for what’s to come in this think piece, because the amount of copyright infringement by brands on social media should make you angry. And if you’re already angry, then it should make you take action. Every time I see a new music lawsuit against a brand,... Read More
April 29, 2025 – The Future of What Episode #252 — How Friends of Noise is Creating Music Business Opportunities for the Youth of Portland
Friends of Noise, an organization supporting the creative youth of Portland, Oregon since 2016, is expanding their educational programming with the opening of their all-ages venue, “The Off Beat.” The nonprofit hosts professional development workshops and produces all-age concerts where teens can perform on-stage, run sound, accept tickets & create posters, with their youth sound engineers being hired to produce local events ranging from block parties to weddings. In this episode, we speak with their Executive Director,... Listen
April 23, 2025 – [Keeping Tempo With Music Biz] — Authentic Community Building In Marketing & Artist Management: Interview with Jaclyn O’Connell
The digitization of the music industry and our world as a whole has led to vast changes in the places fans listen to music and engage with their favorite artists. The challenge for our entire industry — particularly for those who directly deal with artists and music marketing — has been to meet fans where they already congregate or create spaces for them to connect with the artist & each other. This month, we spoke to Jaclyn O’Connell on their experience building communities for the artists &... Read More
