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MEDIA RELEASE

DAMIAN RINALDI APPOINTED GENERAL MANAGER OF AMPAL

After an exhaustive recruitment process, AMPAL is pleased to announce the appointment of Damian Rinaldi of Sydney-based consultancy Sonic Rights Management as AMPAL’s new General Manager.

Said Clive Hodson, AMPAL Chair: “In order to take AMPAL to the next level, we were looking for someone who could ideally provide not only industry and strategic experience and profile, but also operational and administrative capability. Between them, Damian and his team at Sonic Rights Management tick all of these boxes.”

Said Damian Rinaldi: “Though my many years working in the publishing arena, I have been convinced that our publishing fraternity deserves strong representation in the creative industries conversation. I’m delighted that my team and I now have the opportunity to follow through on that vision.”

A veteran of over 30 years in the music business since his days playing in bands in his native Perth, Damian is the managing director of music industry consultancy Sonic Rights Management, and the principal of its related music law firm, Sonic Lawyers. Damian brings a wealth of relevant music industry experience, including lengthy stints as head of legal & business affairs for both Sony Music Australia and Alberts, board member of PPCA, WAM and AMPAL, and past president of the Copyright Society of Australia. Particularly through his work with Alberts managing the AC/DC and Vanda & Young catalogues, Damian has developed strong relationships with publishers large and small around the world, and a sophisticated understanding of the publishing landscape and challenges faced.

Damian holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Western Australia and a Master of Laws degree (specialising in media, communications and information technology) from the University of New South Wales.

The SRM team also includes former longtime Sony Music executive assistant Gianna Simmonson, and former Art Gallery of NSW copyright officer Cherith Devenish.

Damian’s engagement rounds out a series of recent key appointments for AMPAL, which also include:

• Clive Hodson (Perfect Pitch Publishing) being elected Chair of AMPAL;

• Karen Hamilton (120 Publishing) being elected Deputy-Chair of AMPAL;

• Ralph W Peer (peermusic) being elected to the Global Board of ICMP (International Confederation of Music Publishers) as AMPAL’s representative; and

• Clive Hodson being elected as Chair of the Australasia and Asia Global Regional Board of ICMP.