The Power 50 is a celebration of Australian leadership and music impact for the year. CEO of the Australian Independent Record Labels Association (AIR) and treasurer of the Worldwide Independent Network (WIN), Maria Amato, has been set as this year’s feature.
Amato boasts a career spanning more than three decades in the arts and not-for-profit sector, with an established expertise in finance management, governance, and leadership. She also has former non-executive director roles under her belt, for organizations such as Music Victoria, the Australian Institute of Music, the Adelaide UNESCO City Of Music, and an Anchor Board member for Reeperbahn Festival.
Amato is best known for her strong focus on solution-based approaches, viewing even the toughest industry challenges as opportunities for growth and learning.
In February 2022, Amato was elected as both the first woman and the first person from the Southern Hemisphere to hold the chair for WIN’s board, about to approach ten years.
Amato holds a strong opinion against copyright exclusions involving AI and criticisms involving Universal’s takeover bid for Downtown. Speaking to a global audience about Universal’s takeover bid, she said, “Whilst we are in favor of free enterprise, monopolies demand market forces and remove the ability to compete. There must be a regulation to ensure that Universal who is already the largest music business in the world with a large stake in Spotify does not dictate prices and the ability for artists and labels to negotiate fair and equitable terms.”
Photo Credits: themusic.com.au
About the Author
