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News January 28, 2025

AIR’s Maria Amato Reappointed as Treasurer for Worldwide Independent Network

AIR’s Maria Amato Reappointed as Treasurer for Worldwide Independent Network

It’s a hattrick for AIR CEO Maria Amato, who is confirmed as treasurer with the Worldwide Independent Network (WIN) for a third successive term.

Amato and Partisan Records COO Zena White (chair of WIN) were confirmed to continue in their roles during the trade association’s January 23rd board meeting.

The 20-strong board welcomes three new members: Felippe Llerena (ABMI, Brazil) as director, and Cecilia Crespo (ASIAr, Argentina) and Ian Harrison (Hopeless Records, U.S.) as observers, while Tony Kiewel (Sub Pop, U.S.) steps up from his previous role as observer.

The outgoing members are Alejandro Varela (S-Music, Argentina), Sandra Rodrigues (ABMI, Brazil) and Garry West (Compass Records, U.S.).

The WIN board establishes the priorities for the year with an emphasis on protecting and enhancing the value of recorded music, a statement reads, and continuing to provide support to its member trade associations, which include Australian Independent Record Labels Association (AIR) and Independent Music New Zealand (IMNZ).

This year, the focus is on further expanding WIN into previously uncharted territories, and continuing to have an independent trade association in all major music markets.

WIN’s board of directors is renewed annually and consists of representatives from independent music companies and trade associations from around the globe. To reflect the diversity of languages, music genres, and cultures within its membership, the board structure is organised into regional blocs: North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and Australasia.

IMNZ general manager Dylan Pellett returns as observer, joining Amato as WIN’s reps for Australasia.

WIN board for 2025:

North America
Gord Dimitrieff (Aporia Records, Canada)
Jason Peterson (GoDigital Media Group, USA)
Richard Burgess (A2IM, USA)
Tony Kiewel (Sub Pop, USA)
Zena White (Partisan Records, USA)
Observer: Ian Harrison (Hopeless Records, USA)

Latin America
Francisca Sandoval (IMICHILE, Chile)
Felippe Llerena (Nikita Music / ABMI, Brazil)
Observer: Cecilia Crespo (ASIAr, Argentina)

Europe
Dario Draštata (Dallas Records, Croatia)
Gee Davy (AIM, UK)
Geert De Blaere (N.E.W.S., Belgium)
Jörg Heidemann (VUT, Germany)
Mark Kitcatt (Everlasting Records, Spain)
Observer: Helen Smith (IMPALA, Europe)

Asia
Marty Ro (Sound Republica / LIAK, South Korea)
Takuya Yamazaki (IMCJ, Japan)
Observer: Sridhar Swaminathan (SIMCA, India)

Australasia
Maria Amato (AIR, Australia)
Observer: Dylan Pellett (IMNZ, New Zealand)

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