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Michael Huppe renews contract to lead SoundExchange until 2021
By Andy Malt | Published on Thursday 11 January 2018
The big news over at US collecting society SoundExchange is that nothing is changing. At all. For at least three more years. President and CEO of the organisation that represents the US record industry’s digital performing rights, Michael Huppe, has just signed a deal to keep the bum impression on his big chair the same until at least 2021. Assuming he makes it all the way to that date, he’ll have been in charge there for ten whole years.
“Mike’s vision and energy have driven SoundExchange through a remarkable period of growth and diversification, resulting in one of the most effective, efficient and transparent organisations in the industry today”, says Cary Sherman, CEO of the Recording Industry Association Of America and a SoundExchange board member, with a little too much familiarity if you ask me. He should be calling him Michael, really. Mr Huppe maybe. “Mike has identified and executed on opportunities to redefine service and efficiency”.
Is that all? No. “Moreover, he has guided the expansion of our business beyond its initial core to include administration of direct licenses for sound recordings and brought the company into the music publisher services sector through the acquisition of CMRRA”, continues Sherman. “He is a tireless advocate for musicians and the industry, and I’m THRILLED he will be at SoundExchange’s helm for another term”.
The Huppster didn’t comment on any of this himself, but who needs to say anything when David Byrne’s got your back? The former Talking Heads frontman and SoundExchange board member says: “Mike has the tricky job of navigating the interests of the various SoundExchange board members, myself included – interests which often converge, but often after a process, which Mike skilfully takes us through”.
“The music business is never smooth sailing, to continue the metaphor”, he goes on. “But with Mike as our captain we’ll adapt, prosper and grow. Mike is great at seeing the larger picture and has been adept at making SoundExchange a unique and trusted – trust, in the music business! – name in our world. I for one am happy to have him continue… everyone on the board seems to be THRILLED to extend his contract and continue to work together”.
What a thrilling time to be alive.
