Bill Wilson

As Vice President, Digital Strategy and Business Development, Bill Wilson leads the charge on all things digital at the Music Business Association (Music Biz), including initiatives such as metadata and startups. A music industry professional with over two decades of experience working in varied roles within independent and major record labels, internet ventures, and mobile content, he brings a well-rounded perspective to the industry trade association.

Wilson was recruited to join Music Biz in 2009 to create programs as well as white papers, infographics, style guides, and other materials related to digital music commerce with four key topics: Business Development, Digital Supply Chain & Operations, Digital Asset Management, and Music Subscription. He has been instrumental in the production of user-friendly Music Biz resources such as the Metadata Style Guide, to facilitate the adoption of industry standards, and the API Directory, to connect music service providers with developers, brands, and other opportunities. Wilson also made it a priority to help newcomers to the industry create healthy, sustainable music-based businesses, especially through the NY:LON Connect conference, co-organized by Music Biz and Music Ally, and Music Biz’s Music Startup Academy events.

As a globally focused industry professional, Wilson has had featured speaking roles at CMJ, SXSW, Midem, Music Matters Asia, Reeperbahn, Eurosonic Noordeslag, Tallinn Music Week, Bandwidth, New Music Seminar, DMW Music, Future of Music Policy Summit, CTIA’s Super Mobility Week, and other industry events.

For nearly 20 years, from 1989 to 2007, Wilson founded and operated Blackout Records, which released music from such notable acts as Guided By Voices, H2O, and Kill Your Idols. While running Blackout, Bill gained experience at more established independent labels and distributors, including Relativity Records, Caroline Distribution, and Earache Records, ultimately serving as an A&R Consultant for MCA Records in the mid-1990s.

Wilson made the jump to working with internet startups in 2001 as Director of Business Development for Roxbox Media, a market research company targeted to the music industry. In 2005, he joined Haystack Media as VP of Business Development, co-developing an early music-oriented social networking website including an ad-based compensation model. In 2007, Wilson became Director of Business Development for mobile content aggregator Cellfish and was responsible for catalog and content licensing for music, games, film, and other forms of mobile entertainment. Later that year, he took on the role of Senior Director, Mobile Sales for Atlantic Records.

Wilson has a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Fordham University. When not dealing with the issues of 21st century distribution of music, Wilson and his wife advocate for the American Pit Bull Terrier.