Chief Executive Officer - A2IM (American Association of Independent Music)

The Company

The American Association of Independent Music (A2IM) is a not-for-profit 501(c)(6) trade organization trade group representing independently owned recorded music companies. A2IM is uniquely positioned in serving as a central voice for a diverse community of independent labels. A2IM operates within the United States focusing on government advocacy, education, and creating community and business opportunities for its community. The organization was created around its core label membership which today is comprised of more than 500 record labels including Beggars Group, Concord, EMPIRE, Epitaph, GODMODE, Hopeless Records, MNRK, Ninja Tune, Secretly Group, Stones Throw and Sub Pop. A2IM has a long-standing community of nearly 200 associate members in related music businesses such as Discogs, EnterGain, Spotify, and YouTube. A2IM also represents independent artists with an Artist Member membership category. In addition, A2IM created a separate entity, the Foundation for Independent Music, a 501(c)(3) to further support educational efforts and to support networking events such as Indie Week. A2IM represents members’ interests in the marketplace, in media and tech, on Capitol Hill, and as part of the global music community.

Position Summary

The organization is approaching its 20th anniversary and seeks its next CEO. The executive will set strategy for and lead the core services the organization provides on behalf of members including advocacy, events, education and community.The executive is also an effective operational and people leader, accountable for P&L and staff management.Of utmost importance, the CEO creates and realizes a vision that ensures a viable ecosystem for independent recorded music labels to navigate and thrive in an ever changing legal, commercial and technological landscape.

The position is based in New York, NY, requires national and international travel, and reports to A2IM’s board of directors.

Specific Responsibilities

Represent the collective voice of the core independent label membership, while continually anticipating the needs of and gathering input from the entire member community to inform the ongoing evolution and optimization of A2IM's activities and offerings.

Events, Education & Community

• Ensure effective programing that meets the needs of label members, associate members in their support of the independent label community, and artist members especially as many of them are launching pads for artist owned independent labels.
• Empower independents with education, networking and resources.
• Leverage the collective scale of the independents to compete on a level playing field with the majors whether in signing artists, attracting employee talent or securing marketing opportunities.
• Provide resources that facilitate the development of practitioners and leaders in the independent music ecosystem.
• Continue to expand the A2IM Mentoring and other program for members and develop other solutions.

Advocacy

• Anticipate and be a leading expert on copyright, legislative, technological, environmental, and other trends impacting independents.
• Bring expertise and innovative thinking to solutioning, proposing, coalition building and resolving matters that require A2IM's advocacy.
• Lead the discussion with law makers and argue on behalf of the independent sector in matters of copyright legislation.
• Engage members to have their voice heard in A2IM's advocacy efforts whether on Capital Hill, in Silicon Valley or elsewhere.
• Take a leadership role in industry efforts and discussions with trade associations and other adjacent partners throughout the music ecosystem.
• Select and manage any outside lobbyists, attorneys or other experts as the situations demand.
• Uphold the highest standards of compliance regarding anti-trust regulations.

Membership

• Attract and retain members by providing valuable services that empower member companies to grow and thrive.
• Develop and deliver member services including educational and networking opportunities to ensure greater business opportunities for member companies.
• Create initiatives, spaces and norms that ensure the A2IM’s increasingly diverse membership is welcomed, listened to, empowered and celebrated.

Industry Relations

• Partner across other music industry organizations in the US and globally and find and align on common ground leveraging collective strength, and productively defend the interests of A2IM’s label and artist members.
• Work with associate members to strategize toward a mutually beneficial ecosystem.
• Represent the voice and interests of the independent recorded rights holders in commenting on the actions of and interfacing with leaders of DSPs, social media, AI, terrestrial radio, and any other entities that are enriched by independent music.

Organizational Leadership

• Inspire, mentor, direct and empower a diverse, high performing team.
• Set goals, provide direction and coaching, maintain accountability and celebrate wins.
• Actively manage all revenue streams including membership dues, associate member dues, and ticketing and sponsorship revenue for conferences and events.
• Full P&L management.
• Actively nurture further development of A2IM’s positive, collaborative, winning culture and work environment.
• Invest time in and resources into continual learning and development for internal A2IM talent so that they are always well equipped to serve the needs of members and contribute to the growth of A2IM and its members.

Qualifications

• 15 or more years of experience in a leadership role in the recorded music industry.
• Professional achievements that demonstrate an ability to lead a successful organization that continuously adds value to the independent music industry and those that support it.
• Visionary understanding of the trends in technology, social media, rights and globalization that affect the independent music industry.
• Advanced understanding of the ecosystem: labels, publishers and distributors; copyright law and the law-making process; technology including DSPs, social media and AI; and risks such as fraud and piracy.
• Ability to anticipate how disruption or evolution of policy, technology, copyright, globalization, economy and other factors will impact independent recorded music rightsholders in the US, as well as identify and mitigate risks and seize opportunities.
• Present with a high level of gravitas and credibility at all times, and when speaking at conferences, in the press and on Capitol Hill about issues and initiatives that are important to the independent sector.
• Firsthand understanding of the needs of independent label owners and artists functioning as their own label.
• Experience running large complex Live Events. Specific experience running trade shows educational or networking events is a plus.
• Strong communication, collaboration, mediation, negotiation and facilitation skills, including consistent and careful listening skills combined with well-honed trust building skills.
• P&L experience in a growing profitable entity over a sustained period of time.
• Approachable mentor to internal staff and trusted advisor to peers and developing leaders externally in the community.
• Demonstrated commitment to independent labels and recorded music rights holders and the ecosystem that supports them.
• Highest degree of work ethic and integrity, curiosity and courage, resourcefulness and growth mindset, vision and determination, humility and conviction.

Compensation

Competitive salary, incentive and benefits will be offered, commensurate with the role and the final hire’s experience. Depending on the knowledge, skills, abilities, experience, education, network and location of the final hire, the base salary is anticipated at an annual rate in the range of $200K to $300K.

Contact

EnterGain is the exclusive recruiter on this role. Interested, qualified candidates are encouraged to apply directly to this posting. If you contact a member of the EnterGain team directly, please do so by email and include “A2IM CEO” in the subject line.

Equal Opportunity & DEI

A2IM is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, age, or any other status protected by law. Further, the company strives to create a diverse, welcoming, equitable and inclusive environment for all applicants, employees, members and partners.