Dr. Richard James Burgess will step down as president/CEO of The American Association of Independent Music (A2IM) at the beginning of 2026, he announced at the annual general meeting that closed out A2IM Indie Week on Thursday (June 13). Upon his exit, he will have led the organization for 10 years.

The A2IM board of directors has initiated a search for Burgess’ successor.

“As A2IM approaches its 20th anniversary in 2025, I am filled with immense pride for our collective achievements and honored to have been the longest-serving head of A2IM to date,” said Burgess. “Leading this exceptional organization has been an extraordinary experience. I am profoundly grateful for the support and dedication of our board members, the invaluable work of our founding members and prior presidents who set up the organization to succeed, and the unwavering commitment of our many members. Our success is a testament to the hard work and passion of the many team members I’ve had the pleasure to work alongside.

“Thank you for entrusting me with the well-being of your organization for all these years. I am confident that the future holds great promise for our independent community, and I look forward to celebrating our continued growth and accomplishments a decade from now.”

Over Burgess’ tenure at A2IM, oversaw a period of significant growth in the organization’s membership, which has swelled to encompass more than 750 member companies. On the advocacy front, he also hired a Washington, D.C.-based lobbying firm, collaborated with other trade associations on policy and initiatives, and personally participated in a plethora of other advocacy efforts. Also under his watch, A2IM launched initiatives to support underrepresented communities and gender-balanced and diversified its staff, board and events team.

Elsewhere, Burgess introduced a healthcare plan offering for A2IM member companies, their employees, contractors and artists; grew the annual A2IM Indie Week gathering from a single-room event to a leading international conference; and turned the A2IM Libera Awards into a premier gala dinner honoring independent labels and the music they released, including live performances.

A2IM was founded in 2005 as a response to the digital disruption of the music industry, serving as a vehicle to address the concerns of the wide-ranging independent sector.