New faces announced for AMPAL & AIR boards

Both the Australasian Music Publishers’ Association Limited (AMPAL) and Australian Independent Record Label Association (AIR) are set for a constructive 2020 with new board members announced after respective annual general meetings.

Andrew Jenkins, president Australia and Asia Pacific Region, for Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG), has been newly elected to the board.

He is responsible for UMPG’s activities in Australasia, Asia, Africa and the Middle East, as well as for global society and industry matters.

Matthew Capper (Warner Chappell Music Australia) was returned as chair and Clive Hodson (Perfect Pitch Publishing) as deputy chair.

Marianna Annas (ABC Music Publishing), Philip Burn (Hal Leonard Australia), Peter Hebbes AM (Hebbes Music Group), Heath Johns (BMG Australia), and Steve McPherson (Hillsong Music Publishing) were re-elected to the board.

Two new faces were added to the board of the (AIR) after its AGM last week.

They were Victoria Sweetie Zamora, head of labels & promotions at Remote Control Records, and Josh Olson, head of operations of Hillsong Music Australia and SHOUT! Music.

David Vodicka, a principal of Media Arts Lawyers as well as a director of Rubber Records and Rubber Music Publishing, remains chairman.

Matthew Rogers, chief operating officer of the Unified Music Group, is now secretary.

Basil Cook, head of contemporary labels at ABC Music and digital strategy/A&R manager at FOUR | FOUR, serves as treasurer.

The other board members are Andrew Stone, director of Chugg Music; Ashley Gay, head of digital music distributor Xelon Entertainment; Philip Mortlock, creative director of ORiGiN Recordings; Katie Besgrove, co-founder and general manager of Barely Dressed Records; Lorrae McKenna, owner of artist management and record label Our Golden Friend; and Alexander Franco, AU/NZ label manager at Future Classic.

Also at the AGM, the AIR board voted on changes to its membership tiers.

Global indies can now be AIR members but cannot sit on the board, and artist members can now nominate and vote for their own releases for AIR Awards.