Featured Exec: Linda Bloss-Baum, VP At SoundExchange
(Hypebot) — “I’m extremely optimistic about the way forward for the music {industry} as rising know-how continues to revolutionize how and the place artists can create content material and expands the methods during which they’ll monetize their craft,” says Linda Bloss-Baum, VP Authorities Relations and Public Affairs at SoundExchange….
(Hypebot) — “I’m extremely optimistic about the way forward for the music {industry} as rising know-how continues to revolutionize how and the place artists can create content material and expands the methods during which they’ll monetize their craft,” says Linda Bloss-Baum, VP Authorities Relations and Public Affairs at SoundExchange.
A visitor put up from A2IM.
She is a music enterprise veteran and coverage skilled driving an artist-first technique centered on industry-shaping advocacy efforts in favor of the honest remedy of music creators.
She represents SoundExchange earlier than crucial exterior audiences, together with lawmakers, regulators, and key {industry} stakeholders.
Hey Linda! Are you able to inform us about how you bought your begin within the music {industry}?
After graduating from Catholic College Regulation College, I served as Telecommunications Counsel to the Home Vitality and Commerce Committee. In that function, I had the privilege of assembly and dealing with a whole bunch of consultants from the leisure, know-how, and telecom industries. From there, I joined the ranks of personal sector professionals to characterize the music {industry} within the nation’s capital for over 20 years.
I gained additional useful expertise heading the Warner Music Group workplace in Washington, D.C. I additionally served as Vice President, Public Coverage/Authorities Relations at Common Music Group/NBC Common and Time Warner, Inc.
These roles finally impressed me to determine my very own company, LBB Artistic Methods, by which I used to be an impartial marketing consultant for SoundExchange and recording artists, earlier than becoming a member of SoundExchange full-time in 2014. For eight years, I served as a liaison between SoundExchange, artists, and {industry} leaders within the function of Senior Director, Artist and Business Relations. That have positioned me to successfully bridge the creator and coverage worlds looking for solutions to music’s most urgent enterprise and coverage challenges.
Right this moment, I lead our group’s public affairs division driving a method centered on industry-shaping advocacy efforts. I couldn’t be prouder than once I clarify to lawmakers all we’re doing and have finished at SoundExchange to make the enterprise of music extra easy, extra environment friendly, and extra honest for creators.
Is there successful story or profession milestone?
Throughout my very first month heading up the then new Warner Music Group’s workplace in Washington, the copyright {industry} received the landmark MGM v. Grokster Supreme Courtroom ruling. That actually was an early and necessary reminder of the crucial function Washington governance performs within the leisure ecosystem.
In my present work, the introduction of and progress surrounding the American Music Equity Act is a degree of nice delight. To raise creators’ voices earlier than policymakers on the problems that have an effect on their lives and livelihoods most is exceedingly rewarding.
Are there any tasks that you just’re presently engaged on that you just’re most enthusiastic about?
The American Music Equity Act (AMFA) seeks to proper the decades-long mistreatment of artists and rights house owners because it pertains to terrestrial radio. Whereas the {industry} has modernized the majority of the music royalty ecosystem, this one injustice—performers not seeing a dime when their music performs on AM/FM radio–stays. Getting artists and rights holders paid pretty for his or her work, regardless of the place it performs, has been a gradual plight all through my profession. Altering this outdated and egregious system by considerate and lasting laws is solely the fitting factor to do.
AMFA was launched on the steps of the U.S. Capitol in June of 2021 with lawmakers and artists standing shoulder to shoulder in solidarity. Final month, the Home Judiciary Committee held a listening to entitled “Respecting Artists with the American Music Equity Act.” On the listening to, main label stars and impartial musicians, alike, spoke out concerning the significance of AMFA. I’m inspired by the progress that AMFA has made thus far this 12 months and look ahead to continued progress towards the invoice’s final passage. We received’t cease combating for creators.
Exterior of your work in music, do you will have another hobbies/ explicit areas of experience/curiosity and many others.?
Along with my day job, I proudly function an adjunct professor at American College’s KOGOD College of Enterprise (my undergrad alma mater!), educating a category known as Defending the Artistic Class within the Digital Age. I additionally serve on the Board of Administrators for the Gospel Music Affiliation, and I sing in my neighborhood basement band for enjoyable.
Earlier than we finish, are there any closing phrases of knowledge you’d wish to share with our readers?
I’m extremely optimistic about the way forward for the music {industry} as rising know-how continues to revolutionize how and the place artists can create content material and expands the methods during which they’ll monetize their craft. I’m particularly impressed by the younger folks—particularly, my college students–getting into the enterprise with a brand new imaginative and prescient and paving a brand new path. I encourage them to by no means cease creating and sharing their concepts. Music’s future is being constructed by the brightest of minds, and I’m grateful to be at SoundExchange, doing my half on the entrance line of this new period of change.
