Dan Nevin has been appointed the new CEO of Australia’s independent music companies trade body – AIR. Effective from November, Nevin joins the Melbourne-based association from JB Hi-Fi, the country’s market-leader in CD sales, where he’s served in recent years as digital music manager.
At JB Hi-Fi, Nevin was responsible for the retail chain’s ‘Now’ streaming music service that was launched in 2011, ahead of Rdio, Deezer and Spotify. Nevin started his career with indie retailer Radical Records, before joining Shock Entertainment for a long-term stint which included roles leading the independent company’s award-winning Export Division. His resume includes time spent managing the online operations at REDgroup, and working on the Australian Football League’s fledgling media company AFL Media.
AIR’s chair, Dvaid Vodicka, says: “We’re extremely excited at the appointment of Dan to the role. He brings with him solid industrial knowledge and a depth of management experience that is timely in the development of the organisation as we approach our 20th year of operation.”
Nevin himself says he is “very grateful for the opportunity and can’t wait to get into the job.”
“I have always been a huge advocate for the independent sector,” he adds. ” Independent music is in a very exciting phase in a changing landscape and right now I couldn’t think of anything better to be doing than focusing my energy on supporting the growth and development of Australia’s independent music sector.”
Outgoing AIR general manager, Nick O’Byrne, departed on June 30 this year to focus on his many other music industry interests which include managing the career of Courtney Barnett and serving as the executive programmer for the annual Bigsound conference. AIR hasn’t had a CEO as such since Stuart Watters exited in 2009.
AIR is active in formulating and coordinating music industry response to government policy, and advocating for fair market access for independent artists. AIR also publishes the Carlton Dry Independent Music
Charts (AIR Charts) and hosts the annual Carlton Dry Independent Music Awards, which were held in Melbourne last week. The association was incorporated in 1996 with the aim to represent the independent industry on issues of national and international significance, and to offer a range of projects and services for its membership. AIR has more than 160 members and is a member of the Worldwide Independent Network (WIN).
