Bill Wilson

As Vice President, Digital Strategy and Business Development for NARM, Bill Wilson leads the charge on all things digital at the music business association. 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. One of his most important roles is running NARM’s key initiative, the Digital Think Tank, which was created to explore and resolve objectives related to enterprise-level digital music commerce, including its four major workgroups: digital supply chain, metrics, product development and music subscription. Bill joined NARM in February 2009.

As an active industry professional, Bill is a member of several organizations, including the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM)’s New Media Committee. He has had featured speaking roles at CMJ, South By Southwest, Bandwidth, New Music Seminar, and other industry events, including the popular “Bill and Ted Show” with TAG Strategic’s Ted Cohen, which provides a structured forum for the discussion of industry-level issues in the digital space.

For nearly 20 years, from 1989 to 2007, Bill ran Blackout Records, which began as a haven for NYC hardcore and evolved to include releases 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.

Bill made the jump to working with internet start-ups in 2001 as Director of Business Development for Roxbox Media, a market research company targeted to the music industry. He then managed online and real-world street team programs at HiFrequency Marketing. 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 for artists and facilitating content relationships. In 2007, Bill 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, Bill took on the role of Senior Director, Mobile Sales and Business Development for Atlantic Records, with responsibility for sales of ringtones, ringbacks, images and full track downloads.

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