Dr. Richard James Burgess will step down as President/CEO of the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM) in early 2026, he announced at the annual general meeting that closed out A2IM's Indie Week on Thursday (June 13). Upon his departure, he will have led the organization for 10 years.
A2IM's board of directors has launched a search for Burgess' successor.
“As A2IM approaches its 20th anniversary in 2025, I am filled with immense pride in our collective achievements and honored to have been A2IM's longest-serving leader to date,” said Burgess. “Leading this great organization has been a great experience. I am deeply grateful for the support and dedication of our board members, the invaluable work of our founding members and past presidents who built the organization to succeed, and the unwavering commitment of our many members. Our success is a testament to the hard work and passion of the many team members I have had the pleasure of working with.
“Thank you for entrusting me with the well-being of your organization over the years. I am confident that the future holds great promise for our independent community and I look forward to celebrating our continued growth and achievements a decade from now.”
During Burgess' tenure at A2IM, he oversaw a period of significant growth in the organization's membership, which has grown to include more than 750 member companies. On the advocacy front, he also hired a Washington-based lobbying firm, worked with other trade associations on policies and initiatives, and was personally involved in a host of other advocacy efforts. Also under his watch, A2IM launched initiatives to support underrepresented communities and balanced and diversified its staff, board and events team.
Elsewhere, Burgess introduced a health care plan he offers for A2IM member companies, their employees, contractors and artists. grew the annual A2IM Indie Week gathering from a one-room event to a premier international conference. and turned the A2IM Libera Awards into a premier gala dinner honoring independent labels and released music, including live acts.
A2IM was founded in 2005 in response to the digital disruption of the music industry, serving as a vehicle to address the concerns of the wider independent sector.
