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, and featured performances by Tayla Parx (Warner Chappell Music) & Yami Safdie (Warner Music Latina).
Full-size photos of all award winners are available here, with all photo credits going to Picture This! Photography. The 2025 Bizzy Award winners are as follows:
- Leading Light Award: Colleen Theis, President & COO, The Orchard
For a company or executive that has supported their staff via internal initiatives aimed at improving mental health & well-being and work/life balance. - Presidential Award for Outstanding Executive Achievement: Cindy Charles, Twitch Posthumous Honor accepted by Charles’ husband & sons
- Marketing Superstar Award: MF DOOM – MM..FOOD (20 Year Anniversary), Rhymesayers Entertainment
For a marketing campaign that was innovative and thought provoking. Candidates can be from any sector of the industry, and campaigns can be physical or virtual. - Maestro of Metadata Award: Elysha Miracle, SVP of Rights Data Management, Concord
For a company or executive who has made a significant impact in the area of data processing, credit clarification, streamlining or otherwise promoting clean data and best practices. - Impact Award for Technological Excellence: DDEX (Digital Data Exchange)
- #NEXTGEN_NOW One to Watch Award: Emily Stephenson, President, Downtown Music Publishing
For an executive under 40 whose work (professional and/or volunteer) has been exceptional, innovative, and stands out as a contribution to the industry. - Frontline Innovator Award: Grimey’s Music, Nashville, TN
For a retail store who showed exceptional inventiveness and ingenuity in their practices during the past year in their interactions with consumers. - Music Business Educator of the Year Award: Jerry Brindisi, Columbia College Chicago
Celebrates a music business educator who inspires students to enter the music business. - Agent of Change Award: Equal Access
For a company that exemplifies a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in their hiring practices, executive development, and promotion structure.
This year marks the fourth time that nominations for the Association’s awards program were crowd-sourced, allowing the global music business at large to recognize their companies and peers who are making a difference in improving the global industry.
About Music Biz 2025
Music Biz 2025 takes place May 12 — 15, 2025 at the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly. This year’s event marks the first time a Music Biz Conference will take place in Atlanta, bringing global music professionals together in this thriving music city for industry-defining conversations and connections to help shape our industry’s future. In addition to new agenda items for first-timers and annual attendees alike, Music Biz hosts new editions of longstanding programs such as its 14th annual Metadata Summit, Let’s Talk Physical, Music & Money, and Music Biz Roadshow. Visit musicbiz2025.com for full event information, including the final conference agenda and a list of companies in attendance.
About The Music Business Association
The Music Business Association (Music Biz) is a not-for-profit membership organization that advances, promotes, and invests in the future of the music business by providing a trusted forum where ideas and cooperation flourish. Through events, education, and engagement, the Association brings together the full breadth of the industry for unparalleled access to networking, resources, and thought leadership.
Music Biz Media Contacts
Nicole Hennessey, VP, Music Business Association — nicole.hennessey@musicbiz.org
