Richard Burgess is a titan of the music industry. Not only has he headed one of the Nation’s oldest and most successful independent music labels, Smithsonian Folkways Recording, but he has authored two of the most successful Music Production textbooks to date. Richard has held a special place in our hearts as well. He taught The Art of Music Production class for 10 years at the Omega Studios’ School Of Applied Recording Arts and Sciences. But now, Richard Burgess has taken the next step towards fulfilling his aspirations of pushing Independent Music into the forefront of our national psyche.
This year, Richard was asked to be the CEO of A2IM, the American Association of Independent Music. A2IM is a not-for-profit trade organization centered in New York City. A2IM represents over 382 Independent Music labels, each dedicated to discovering and supporting grassroots American musicians. As the CEO, Richard will help move independent music genres into the global music market. While maintaining the financial and creative independence that defines the genre.
In 2014, Billboard Magazine names Independent Music labels as representing 35.1% of the US music industry’s record sales. A2IM wants to increase that market share by continuing to support artists akin to Adele and Taylor Swift in their early days. A2IM already consists of some of the most successful independent labels in the US, including Hopeless Records, Epitaph Records, Sumerian Records, Razor & Tie, Concord Music Group. INgrooves, Kill Rock Stars, Secretly Group, and TommY BoY, just to name a few.
As Richard takes up the reins at A2IM, we at Omega Studios know that he will be the best fit for the job, and we wish him the best of luck in his new venture. If you would like to find out more about A2IM or Richard Burgess, check out their websites below: