News

Former top indie label spox, a digital strategist, and an experienced sound engineer join top US music industry advocacy association

(Washington, DC) – The Recording Industry Association of America today announced three new hires expanding its communications and creative teams. Coming on board are: Erin Burr as VP of Media Relations, a seasoned music industry communications veteran; Jonathan Mancera as Digital Strategist, also bringing video design and editing skills; and Ashley Donald as Studio and Stage Manager, an experienced audio engineer to oversee events and sound production at the association’s DC events space and recording studio (recently featured in Billboard Magazine).

“Erin Burr has built a career helping artists break through and tell their stories on the biggest media stages in the world,” said RIAA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mitch Glazier. “And now at RIAA she can expand on that incredible track record advocating for smart policies that support all music creators and strengthen the foundation for the entire recorded music industry for years to come. We are thrilled Erin is joining the RIAA team.”

“Not many DC trade associations employ sound engineers and videographers, but RIAA has always put music and the arts first in everything we do,” said RIAA Chief Operating Officer Michele Ballantyne.  “Jonathan and Ashley supercharge a creative team led by our longtime VP of Creative and Brand Strategy Rose Connelly with unique new tools to tell music’s story, spread its joy in the DC community, and shine an even brighter spotlight on the work of our iconic record label members.”

“As I celebrate my first year as a DC resident, it’s exciting and serendipitous to begin this new professional adventure. I am grateful to Mitch, Michele and the incredible RIAA community for the warm welcome and look forward to amplifying and advocating for fellow creators in the recorded music industry,” said Erin Burr, RIAA’s new VP of Media Relations.

Digital Strategist Jonathan Mancera added, “Music has always been a huge part of my personal life and I am thrilled it’s now at the center of my professional life as well.”

And Studio and Stage Manger Ashley Donald said, “I am so thankful to be a part of RIAA, a community that consistently pushes the music industry in the right direction. I look forward to cultivating a studio and performance space that allows artists to feel safe, creative, and inspired.”

Additional Background

• Erin Burr, VP of Media Relations, to lead the Association’s press and media outreach. Erin is an industry veteran who most recently spent over a dozen years in top communications positions at Big Machine Label Group in Nashville and previously worked at the Nashville Songwriters Association International. A widely respected music communications professional, Erin has deep experience winning coverage and helping artists and labels tell their stories on major television, print, and digital outlets nationwide. Erin is a past “Next Big Thing” honoree by Music Row magazine and was nominated for the Country Music Association’s Touring Awards “Publicist of the Year” in 2018. Her work at Big Machine also led to past nominations for PR Week’s Campaign of the Year and In-House PR Team of the Year.
• Jonathan Mancera, Digital Strategist, to strategize, plan and execute creative digital media campaigns and manage the Association’s digital properties and social feeds. A skilled videographer and digital media strategist and Houston native, Jonathan has past experience at 300 Entertainment and Brian Rashid Global.
• Ashley Donald, Studio and Stage Manager, to oversee sound production and recording at the state-of-the-art recording studio and performance space at RIAA’s new Washington, DC headquarters. A graduate of Howard University, Ashley is an experienced production manager and audio engineer who previously served as a studio manager and engineer at Grammy-Award winning House Studios, production operations manager for Sofar Sounds’ global network of live concerts and artist community hubs and coordinated and produced gigs at DC venues including Union Stage and Blind Whino SW Arts Club. Ashley also currently lends her time to Alfred Street Baptist Church as a post-production audio specialist.

About RIAA

The Recording Industry Association of America® advocates for recorded music and the people and companies that create it in the United States. RIAA’s several hundred members – ranging from major American music groups with global reach to artist-owned labels and small businesses – make up the world’s most vibrant and innovative music community, working to help artists reach their potential and connect with fans while supporting hundreds of thousands of American jobs.

Contact: Liz Kennedy
LKennedy@riaa.com