Founding Member and Chief Strategist, AI:OK

 

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DAVID HUGHES has over 25 years’ experience in online music distribution. He began his career at Sony Corp in Tokyo before moving to Sony Music in New York where, as Vice President of Technology Strategies and Digital Policy, he created and ran the industry’s first online distribution department.

 

In 2006, David joined the RIAA in Washington, DC where for 15 years he represented the major recording companies’ technology interests as CTO. Since April 2021 David has been a strategic business and technology consultant. Clients include the RIAA, SoundExchange, Jaxsta, Song Sleuth, and Switchchord. He is also a founding member of AI:OK, an initiative formed to provide a sustainable and equitable approach to using AI in the music industry.

 

David has contributed to numerous formats and standards including MPEG, DVD-Audio, SACD, Blu-ray, Ultraviolet, ISRC, ISNI and DDEX. He has also been active in the promotion of Hi-Resolution and Immersive music.

 

David has a B.A. Honours in East Asian Studies from the University of Alberta and a Master of Management Science degree from the University of Tsukuba, Japan. He is a member of the Audio Engineering Society and the Recording Academy and is inventor of over a dozen patents