27 JANUARY 2022 – Digital services and entertainment retail association ERA has announced that it will elect a new Chair following the decision of current incumbent Azi Eftekhari to step down.
The news follows Eftekhari’s appointment as co-president of Universal Music’s UK catalogue division.
ERA CEO Kim Bayley said, “Azi has been an excellent Chair of ERA, bringing an enhanced creative and digital perspective to what is the only pureplay representative body of digital services and entertainment retailers worldwide. We are sorry to see her go, and wish her the very best for her exciting new role.”
Eftekhari’s successor will be elected at the association’s next executive board meeting.
Over the past year ERA has:
- Coordinated a strong voice at the DCMS Select Committee inquiry into music streaming, arguing for a fair and sustainable business for all participants;
- Successfully organized two Record Store Days;
- Partnered in music with the BPI on National Album Day and The Record Club podcast;
- Delivered an exclusive video preview event for members with BASE;
- Commissioned groundbreaking new research on fandom in music and games and a significant new video behavioural study in conjunction with BASE.
Just last week, ERA’s successfully held an Independent conference which drew the largest gathering of indie record shops in the UK in at least a decade
Said Eftekhari, “ERA continues to go from strength to strength under the expert stewardship of Kim Bayley. It has effectively pivoted to equally represent not just its historic constituency of physical retailers, but also the biggest digital entertainment platforms in the world. Whoever is my successor will inherit arguably the most diverse and vibrant trade association in UK entertainment today.”
ENDS