308. Downtown Music Holdings: A Conversation with Andrew Bergman.

Mar 28

March 28, 2024

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Downtown Music Holdings exemplifies a modern approach to the music industry, prioritizing artist empowerment, technological innovation, and adaptive strategies. As the industry continues to evolve, Downtown remains committed to championing artists and fostering a thriving creative ecosystem.

Today, we're exploring the transformative landscape of the music industry with Downtown Music Holdings’s CEO, Andrew Bergman. With over two decades of experience in the music realm, Andrew offers insights into Downtown's evolution and its commitment to empowering artists in an ever-changing landscape.

Topics Discussed:

Downtown's Evolution: Initially starting as an independent record company, Downtown Music Holdings shifted its focus towards becoming a service-oriented entity, catering to the needs of creators. This transition was driven by a desire to empower artists and offer them greater control over their careers and intellectual property rights.
Service-Centric Approach: Downtown Music Holdings has emerged as the largest independent provider of essential services in the music industry. These services encompass music publishing administration, recorded music distribution, neighboring rights, synchronization, and various ancillary offerings, all aimed at simplifying processes for creators.
Empowering Creators: Central to Downtown's mission is placing creators at the forefront. By providing a suite of services, Downtown enables artists to maintain ownership of their intellectual property and make informed decisions about their careers.
Technological Advancements: Discussing the impact of emerging technologies like blockchain, AI, and smart contracts on the music industry. While recognizing their potential, emphasis is placed on the need for careful consideration and adaptation to leverage these tools effectively.
Music Discovery: With the proliferation of digital platforms, music discovery has become more diverse and fragmented. The importance of platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube in shaping modern music consumption patterns is highlighted.
Supporting Artists: Downtown offers comprehensive support to artists, addressing various aspects of their careers, including marketing, distribution, and promotion. By alleviating administrative burdens, Downtown enables artists to focus on their creative endeavors.
Adapting to Change: While monitoring developments, Downtown remains agile, ready to navigate evolving landscapes and support artists' interests.
Exploring AI: Reflecting on the potential of AI in music creation, the need for thoughtful exploration, balancing innovation with ethical considerations and creative integrity is emphasized.

Andrew Bergman serves as Chief Executive Officer of Downtown Music Holdings and oversees all day-to-day operations at Downtown and its expanding portfolio of companies. Previously, Bergman served as Downtown’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) for seven years where he architected Downtown’s M&A integrations and operational growth. A 20-year veteran of the music industry, Andrew initially served as the company’s outside counsel before he joined full time in 2008 as General Counsel and Executive Vice President. Prior to his work with Downtown, Bergman served as partner at highly respected music law firms, Roberts & Ritholz LLP and Davis Shapiro & Lewit, where he represented a variety of record labels, publishers, executives, and multi-platinum recording artists.

Downtown Music Holdings is a global company that owns, manages, and develops businesses with a vision for a more equitable and innovative music ecosystem. With operations across North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Latin America, we are the world’s leading provider of end-to-end services to artists, songwriters, labels, music publishers and other rights holders.

Downtown manages millions of music copyrights across our portfolio of companies, with a catalog that spans more than 100 years of popular music, including music for film and television, and the single largest independent sound recording catalog in the industry.