Music Business Association To Honor Cindy Charles With 2025 Presidential Award
Award will be given during the 4th Annual Bizzy Awards Dinner on May 14th in Atlanta
January 27, 2025 — The Music Business Association (Music Biz) today announces that Cindy Charles will posthumously receive its 2025 Presidential Award for Outstanding Executive Achievement. Charles held the role of Twitch’s Head of Music prior to her tragic passing in October 2024. Charles’ husband, Ricky Fishman will accept the award at Music Biz’s fourth annual Bizzy Awards Dinner sponsored by Warner Music Group, happening Wednesday, May 14 during Music Biz 2025 at the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly.
A digital music pioneer, Charles most recently led the Twitch Music team to build strategic partnerships with major & independent labels, publishers, and PROs to create mutually beneficial opportunities, while helping artists expand their presence on Twitch. Before her time with Twitch, she held leadership roles at Amazon, including Head of Business Development for both Amazon Tickets and Video Shorts. Prior to Amazon, Charles was a digital music consultant who helped leading streaming platforms & music apps including Spotify, Beats Music and SoundHound navigate industry partnerships and develop growth strategies. She began her music industry career as VP of Law & Business Affairs for MTVi, the digital arm of MTV. Charles co-founded Women in Digital Media, a New York-based women’s networking group, and the San Francisco Chapter of She is the Music. She also held advisory board roles with Women in Music and the Board of Governors of the Recording Academy’s San Francisco Chapter. She was recognized in Variety’s 2019 Women’s Impact Report as one of 75 women shaping the entertainment industry.
The Music Biz Presidential Award is one of the Association’s highest and longest-standing honors, presented to individuals or organizations who have contributed greatly to the overall success of the music industry. Past recipients include mtheory’s Cameo Carlson, Gina Miller (fmr. MNRK Music Group), Sony Music Entertainment’s Julie Swidler, Sony Music Nashville’s Randy Goodman, Cary Sherman of the RIAA, Universal Music Group Nashville’s Mike Dugan, Epic Records’ Sylvia Rhone, the Country Music Association, the Recording Academy, and Dick Clark, among others.
“Cindy was a no-nonsense, get-it-done person who loved the music industry. She was a puzzle solver who could see the horizon line when others were under water,” said Music Biz President Portia Sabin. “She inspired people to tackle important issues head-on and solve problems the right way. We wanted to give her the Presidential Award posthumously to celebrate all she did for our industry, for women in music, and to create a space for the many people she touched to remember her life & be a part of her legacy.”
Music Biz previously announced that Digital Data Exchange (DDEX) will receive its 2025 Impact Award for Technological Excellence.The Bizzy Awards ceremony will also celebrate companies & industry executives nominated by their peers in seven award categories. Nominations for the 2025 Bizzy Awards can be cast via Music Biz’s website by Wednesday, January 29th. Details on each category are as follows:
- Leading Light Award — For a company or executive that has supported their staff via internal initiatives aimed at improving mental health & wellbeing and work/life balance.
- Agent of Change Award — For a company that exemplifies a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in their hiring practices, executive development, and promotion structure.
- #NEXTGEN_NOW One To Watch Award — For an executive under 40 whose work (professional and/or volunteer) has been exceptional, innovative, and stands out as a contribution to the industry.
- Maestro of Metadata Award — 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.
- Frontline Innovator Award — For a retail store who showed exceptional inventiveness and ingenuity in their practices during the past year in their interactions with consumers.
- Marketing Superstar Award — 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.
- Music Business Educator of the Year Award — Celebrates a music business educator who inspires students to enter the music business.
About Music Biz 2025
Music Biz 2025 will take 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 more than 2,100 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 will host 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 an up-to-date conference agenda, event registration, lodging & flight discount info, and more.
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 Contact
Nicole Hennessey, VP, Music Business Association — nicole.hennessey@musicbiz.org
