Press Releases

Music Biz is an essential online destination for members to stay up to date on Association happenings and gather the latest industry statistics. You can view the latest Music Biz press releases below or sign up for our daily web site feed and have these and more delivered daily to your email inbox.

May 20, 2020 – Music Business Association Cancels Music Biz 2020 Conference, Announces Strategic Plans for Rest of 2020

May 20, 2020 — Due to the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis, the Music Business Association (Music Biz) today announced that it has cancelled its Music Biz 2020 Conference, which was set to take place August 16-19, 2020 at the JW Marriott Nashville.  “The COVID-19 crisis has created conditions that we feel will not safely allow us to offer the in-person experience Music Biz Conference attendees are used to, thus we sadly announce the cancellation of our 2020 physical event,” commented Music Biz President Portia Sabin.... Read More

May 4, 2020 – Music Business Association to Host Special Music Biz LIVE Sessions During Original Conference Week

The Music Business Association (Music Biz) today announced that it is hosting four high-level Music Biz LIVE presentations via Zoom set for Monday, May 11 through Thursday, May 14 — the week which normally marks their Annual Music Biz Conference. Music Biz previously announced this year’s Conference would be postponed to August 16 – 19 at the JW Marriott Nashville due to concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. “With all the uncertainty the ongoing health crisis has presented us with,... Read More

March 11, 2020 – Music Business Association to Present Sony Music’s Julie Swidler With 2020 Presidential Award

March 11, 2020 — The Music Business Association (Music Biz) today announced that it will present its 2020 Presidential Award for Outstanding Executive Achievement to Julie Swidler, Executive Vice President of Business Affairs and General Counsel for Sony Music Entertainment, in recognition of her accomplished industry leadership and many contributions to the success of the music business over the course of her career. Swidler will receive her award during the annual Music Biz Awards Dinner, taking place Wednesday,... Read More

March 3, 2020 – Merlin CEO Jeremy Sirota to Give First Public Interview for Music Biz 2020 Global Business Community Program

March 3, 2020 — The Music Business Association (Music Biz) today announces that Merlin CEO Jeremy Sirota will give his first public interview since joining the company in January during Music Biz 2020 at the JW Marriott Nashville. The interview, conducted by Music Biz President Portia Sabin, will take place Tuesday, May 12 at 1:30 pm. Sirota’s interview will commence Music Biz’s Global Business Community program — a series that explores the rising international markets set to make the greatest impact in the near future,... Read More

February 24, 2020 – Kobalt’s Willard Ahdritz to Receive Music Business Association’s 2020 Innovator Award

February 24, 2020 — The Music Business Association (Music Biz) today announces that Kobalt Music Group Founder and Chairman Willard Ahdritz will receive the organization’s 2020 Innovator Award during the annual Music Biz Awards Dinner, taking place Wednesday, May 13 at the JW Marriott Nashville as part of the Music Biz 2020 Conference. Observing how technology rapidly transformed industries in the late 1990s, Ahdritz saw an opportunity in music and wanted to take the music industry into the digital age.... Read More

February 6, 2020 – Music Business Association Announces CD Baby as Recipient of 2020 Music Biz Independent Spirit Award

February 6, 2020 — The Music Business Association (Music Biz) today announces that independent music distributor CD Baby will receive the organization’s 2020 Independent Spirit Award during the Music Biz 2020 Annual Conference, taking place May 11-14 at the JW Marriott Nashville. The award will be presented during the annual Music Biz Awards Dinner. CD Baby was founded in 1998 as a way to easily sell independent music on the internet, circumventing distribution deals of the time that made this difficult.... Read More

December 19, 2019 – Reservoir’s Golnar Khosrowshahi Confirmed as NY:LON Connect 2020 Publishing Track Keynote

Music Biz and Music Ally also confirm slate of speakers for 2020 Startup Showcase & Award Program December 19, 2019 — The Music Business Association (Music Biz) and Music Ally today announce that Reservoir Founder and CEO Golnar Khosrowshahi will keynote the Publishing & Rights program track at the fourth annual NY:LON Connect Global Music Business Summit, taking place January 16 – 17, 2020 at the Dream Downtown Hotel in New York City. The summit is sponsored by Dataclef,... Read More

December 5, 2019 – Music Business Association Taps Kobalt, EMPIRE, mtheory Nashville, Hopeless Records and UnitedMasters for New Board Members

Association Membership Has Expanded To Include 23 Diverse New Member Companies Over Past Three Months December 5, 2019 — The Music Business Association (Music Biz) today announced the addition of five new members to its Board of Directors, with the aim of diversifying the Board to align with the makeup of the Association’s evolving membership. The newly appointed members include: Bob Bruderman, EVP of Global Digital Partnerships at Kobalt Music Group; Ghazi, CEO & Founder of EMPIRE;... Read More

September 10, 2019 – NY:LON Connect Unites Global Music Business Community to Set Agenda for 2020

Spotify’s Cecilia Qvist, YouTube Music’s Sun Lee and WMG’s Scott Cohen confirmed to deliver keynotes September 10, 2019 — The Music Business Association (Music Biz) and Music Ally today announce the preliminary keynote and program details for the fourth annual NY:LON Connect Global Music Business Summit. The event will take place Thursday, January 16 through Friday, January 17 at the Dream Downtown Hotel in New York City, with currently confirmed sponsorship from MQA, AdRev, Dataclef and Gracenote.... Read More

August 8, 2019 – Music Business Association Announces Leadership Transition With Dr. Portia Sabin To Lead Trade Group

Current President James Donio To Remain in Advisory Role The Music Business Association (Music Biz) has announced that longtime President James Donio will be succeeded in this role by Dr. Portia Sabin, who will assume day-to-day operations of the Association beginning September 3. Donio will remain in an advisory role. “We are extremely grateful to Jim for his more than three decades of commitment, leadership and vision,” said Music Biz Board Chairman Matt Signore. “He has passionately guided the organization through any number of seismic industry changes and challenges during his tenure: the shift from a singular focus on the physical business to a broader identity embracing all forms of music consumption;... Read More