HUPPE HERE TO STAY

SoundExchange's board of directors has announced the extension of Michael Huppe's contract. He will continue as the company's President and CEO through 2021.

Huppe has served as the performance rights and royalties org's leader since 2011 and has watched triumphantly as annual collections increased by more than 150%. Also since his grand entrance, offerings have expanded to include "administration of direct licenses and distribution of settlement monies for third parties." Then there's the newfound focus on publisher administration; Canadian mechanical rights society CMRRA was acquired last year.

“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 organizations in the industry today,” said Cary Sherman, RIAA Chairman and CEO, and member of the SoundExchange Board of Directors. “Mike has identified and executed on opportunities to redefine service and efficiency. 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. He is a tireless advocate for musicians and the industry, and I’m thrilled he will be at SoundExchange’s helm for another term.”

"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 skillfully takes us through," added David Byrne, SoundExchange Board member and founding member of The Talking Heads. "The music business is never smooth sailing, to continue the metaphor, 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."

And on that note, we'd like to point out that, with this job security, Huppe may find himself behind the wheel of a large automobile, and he may find himself in a beautiful house. Also, reading this spiel may have left you cross-eyed, but at least it was painless.