WASHINGTON, DC—Future of Music Coalition (FMC) is thrilled to announce the addition of two new members to its Board of Directors. Jean Cook is a musician who formerly served FMC as Director of Programs, where she co-led the organization’s groundbreaking Artist Revenue Streams Project. Jason Burns is a well-respected and forward-looking music manager based in Toronto, Canada. They join a governance team committed to improving conditions for working musicians and composers, and will support FMC’s goal of a musical ecosystem where artists flourish and are compensated fairly and transparently for their work.

Jean Cook is a musician, producer and Program Associate for the Internet Freedom Initiative at the Ford Foundation. From 2005-2015, Jean directed research, education, and advocacy initiatives for Future of Music Coalition. Her portfolio for FMC mapped some significant impacts of emerging digital structures on marginalized segments of the music industry; key areas of work included jazz and classical music metadata, jazz radio playlist composition (and how to improve data collection), and understanding how copyright impacts indigenous artists in places like Ethiopia, Tajikistan and Australia. She served as Interim Executive Director of FMC from 2009-2010. Most recently, she was the co-director of FMC’s Artist Revenue Streams research project, assembling one of the broadest and most ambitious existing data sets on US-based musician income. Jean served on the founding Steering Committee for the Cultural Research Network (USA), and is a member of BMI, American Federation of Musicians Local 802, and National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (the Grammys). As a musician, she has performed on over 75 albums, including two Grammy nominations, and has toured over 700 dates on four continents with various groups including Jon Langford, Beauty Pill, and Ida/Elizabeth Mitchell. Other recent appearances include projects by free jazz artist William Parker, Barbez, and the UK-based band Pulp. She currently serves on the Boards of Directors for Anthony Braxton’s Tri-Centric Foundation, the Association of Performing Arts Presenters, and on New Music USA’s Program Council.

Jason Burns is a music manager at Arts & Crafts’ management division, Craft Services. Jason previously ran Burnt Tree Entertainment, a Nova Scotia and Toronto based artist management organization for nine years. In November 2015, Arts & Crafts of Toronto acquired Burnt Tree and its clients, based on Jason’s artist-centric accomplishments in the Canadian music industry. Jason began his career in 2007 by managing Hey Rosetta!, quickly becoming a well-known and highly entrepreneurial manager in Canada. Jason has a background in business, marketing and communications, with work experience encompassing graphic design, video production, journalism, photography and performing in bands. His current management roster includes Belle Game, Nobu and Daveed of Choir! Choir! Choir!, Hey Rosetta!, Plants and Animals, and Rich Aucoin. JAson also consults for brands and festivals including Cirque du Soleil, Pemberton Music Festival, Osheaga, Heavy MTL and more. 

Said Future of Music Coalition CEO Casey Rae: “We couldn’t ask for more capable board members to support FMC’s work in artist education, research and advocacy. Jean and Jason are longtime artist champions and both bring tremendous expertise in helping musicians navigate a complex landscape for creators. Jean is at the forefront of music metadata and artist compensation, having served FMC at the executive staff level for many years. Her transition to governance is a natural extension of her incredible work in support of artists. Jason is an accomplished music manager with his finger on the pulse of new business models and artist rights, and places a flag for FMC in Canada—a crucial North American marketplace. Jean and Jason join a who’s-who of pro-artist doers and thinkers. We know that FMC and the entire music community will benefit tremendously from their service.”

FMC expands its board at a crucial time for the organization and the music industry itself. In 2016, FMC will grow the organization to deliver unparalleled value to musicians and their teams. For 16 years, FMC has benefited from direct engagement with a diverse network of musicians and composers. In 2016, FMC will help position artists to inspire a diverse and engaged creator community that can speak boldly and independently. By establishing new platforms for education and advocacy, including specialized services for creators and new cross-sector partnerships, FMC will hone a global artist movement while working collaboratively to solve problems in our local creative communities. Foremost, FMC seeks to promote a vision of artist empowerment and opportunity in the face of inequality—economic, social and participatory. For more information on how to join and/or support, contact FMC here.