"Richard James Burgess is the best man to lead the next decade of growth for the Independent community. Burgess brings a unique perspective as the business head of Washington, DC--based Smithsonian Folkways, the venerable independent label that has roots dating back to the 1940s. Independent labels have a vital role commercially and culturally, and have introduced virtually every new music genre in the last century. Independent label musicians today range from the yet-to-be-discovered rural singer-songwriters or rock bands playing local clubs to the world's biggest stars like Adele and Taylor Swift." - Tom Silverman, TommY BoY
"This search called for a unique, diverse set of skills: experience generating business in the indie space, first-hand understanding of indie labels' needs, a strong command of current rights debates, and comfort with both digital partners and the artist community. Burgess's wide range of credentials made him stand out." - Martin Mills - Founder and Chairman, Beggars Group
