In Black America Podcast: BMI’s First African American Woman Chairperson
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On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. speaks with Susan Davenport Austin, Chairwoman of the Board, Broadcast Music Inc. Austin was appointed as chairwoman of the board of Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI) in October of 2011. She is the first woman and first African American to lead the board that she has been a part of since 2007. In addition to her responsibilities at BMI, Austin serves as a director, senior vice president and chief financial officer at Sheridan Broadcasting Corporation, along with being president of the Sheridan Gospel Network.
BMI collects license fees on behalf of the more than 550,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers it represents and distributes those fees as royalties to members whose works have been publicly performed.
As a performing right organization, or PRO, BMI issues licenses to various users of music, including television and radio stations and networks; new media, including Internet services and websites and mobile technology businesses such as ring back providers; satellite audio services like SiriusXM; nightclubs, discos, hotels, bars, restaurants and other businesses; digital jukeboxes; and live concert venues.
Podcast: Download (33.2MB)
