Innepage Hero
John Simson, Esq.

John Simson, Esq., most recently served as the Executive Director of SoundExchange from 2001-2010, an organization he helped launch in 2001. SoundExchange collects royalties from internet and satellite radio services on behalf of recording artists and record labels. The organization is now responsible for distributions greater than Ten Billion Dollars since its inception.  John’s career has also included stints as a manager, handling the career of 5X Grammy winner, Mary-Chapin Carpenter, special advisor to Harry Belafonte for music and television projects, and a 30 year career as an entertainment lawyer advising clients on copyright and business issues in film, television, music and the visual arts.  He, has himself received an Emmy nomination for his music supervision of the PBS series, “American Roots Music.” He was named the Outstanding Volunteer Lawyer by Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts on their 10th Anniversary celebration. John was at the forefront of the battle for artist’s rights and their ability to be paid for their work online, and has been featured on NBC Nightly News, The New York Times, WSJ, Marketplace, CNN and many other news outlets. John is a frequent lecturer on music industry and copyright issues and currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of the National Recording Preservation Board of the Library of Congress. He  is also Chairman of the District of Columbia Bar, Art, Entertainment, Media & Sports Law Committee. He is a Board member of CINE, the Musicianship and the Music Manager’s Forum. He is also a 1994 Alumni of Nashville’s Leadership Music Program and is a past President of the Washington, D.C. Chapter of the Grammy organization. John has previously taught Entertainment Law at Washington College of Law and Georgetown University Law Center….John earned his Juris Doctor at SUNY Buffalo Law School, his M.A. at SUNY Albany School of Criminal Justice,  had his B.A. from SUNY Albany.

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