Award will be given during the 4th Annual Bizzy Awards Dinner on May 14th in Atlanta

January 23, 2025 — The Music Business Association today announces that Digital Data Exchange, LLC (DDEX) will receive its 2025 Impact Award for Technological Excellence. Recipients will be honored at the organization’s fourth annual Bizzy Awards dinner sponsored by Warner Music Group, happening Wednesday, May 14 during Music Biz 2025 at the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly.

DDEX is a not-for-profit membership organization formed in 2006 by a consortium of leading musical work CMOs, record companies and digital service providers to create digital music value chain standards. DDEX standards are developed through member collaboration and made available free of charge for industry-wide implementation. This helps all players in the digital music value chain to more effectively communicate information with one another. Since its founding, DDEX’s membership has grown to over 150 companies and individuals from across the global music ecosystem, and now also includes music publishers, distributors, sound recording/performer CMOs, music recognition/technology companies, and companies providing services to the studio environment.

Music Biz’s Impact Award recognizes a company or individual that is at the forefront of innovation in the music business, by providing solutions to meet the needs of the modern industry or pioneering the ways it will operate in the future. DDEX will join the ranks of past Impact Award winners The MLC (2024) and SoundExchange (2023).

“DDEX has been at the forefront of tackling issues around education, effectiveness & use of music metadata since the early days of music downloads & streaming,” said Music Biz President Portia Sabin. “We at Music Biz believe that no roadblock can stand in the way of progress in our industry if we work together, which is why it’s apt that we’ll be honoring DDEX’s hard work in the metadata space at this year’s Bizzys!”

The Bizzy Awards ceremony will also celebrate companies & industry executives nominated by their peers in seven award categories. Nominations for the 2025 Bizzy Awards can be cast via Music Biz’s website by Wednesday, January 29th. Details on each category are as follows:

• Leading Light Award — For a company or executive that has supported their staff via internal initiatives aimed at improving mental health & wellbeing and work/life balance.
  
• Agent of Change Award — For a company that exemplifies a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in their hiring practices, executive development, and promotion structure.
  
• #NEXTGEN_NOW One To Watch Award — For an executive under 40 whose work (professional and/or volunteer) has been exceptional, innovative, and stands out as a contribution to the industry.
  
• Maestro of Metadata Award — For a company or executive who has made a significant impact in the area of data processing, credit clarification, streamlining or otherwise promoting clean data and best practices.
  
• Frontline Innovator Award — For a retail store who showed exceptional inventiveness and ingenuity in their practices during the past year in their interactions with consumers.
  
• Marketing Superstar Award — For a marketing campaign that was innovative and thought provoking. Candidates can be from any sector of the industry, and campaigns can be physical or virtual.
  
• Music Business Educator of the Year Award — Celebrates a music business educator who inspires students to enter the music business.

About Music Biz 2025
Music Biz 2025 will take place May 12 — 15, 2025 at the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly. This year’s event marks the first time a Music Biz Conference will take place in Atlanta, bringing more than 2,100 global music professionals together in this thriving music city for industry-defining conversations and connections to help shape our industry’s future. In addition to new agenda items for first-timers and annual attendees alike, Music Biz will host new editions of longstanding programs such as its 14th annual Metadata Summit, Let’s Talk Physical, Music & Money, and Music Biz Roadshow. Visit musicbiz2025.com for an up-to-date conference agenda, event registration, lodging & flight discount info, and more.

About The Music Business Association
The Music Business Association (Music Biz) is a not-for-profit membership organization that advances, promotes, and invests in the future of the music business by providing a trusted forum where ideas and cooperation flourish. Through events, education, and engagement, the Association brings together the full breadth of the industry for unparalleled access to networking, resources, and thought leadership.