AMPAL CEO Appointed Chair of International Confederation of Music Publishers Asia-Pacific

Damian Rinaldi, the CEO of Australasian Music Publishers’ Association Limited (AMPAL), has been appointed Chair of the International Confederation of Music Publishers’ (ICMP) Asia-Pacific Regional Group.

The appointment places the Australasian executive at the helm of ICMP’s APAC strategy during a period of market growth and increasing regulatory and licensing complexity across the region.

Rinaldi will work alongside Frederica Wong, Director Asia at Kobalt Music Group, who has been named Vice Chair of the group.

A veteran of over 30 years in the music business since his days playing in bands in his native Perth, Rinaldi is the Managing Director of music industry consultancy Sonic Rights Management, and the Principal of its related music law firm, Sonic Lawyers.

He has spent the majority of his career in music and legal affairs, including eight years at Sony Music Entertainment. In 2024, he was appointed to lead AMPAL.

The ICMP represents major and independent music publishers, as well as over 80 national music publisher associations across six continents. Globally, it brings together music publishers, national associations, and ICMP leadership to address region-specific market, policy, and advocacy issues.

According to ICMP’s Director General, John Phelan, Asia-Pacific is widely regarded as one of the most complex and fast-moving territories for music publishing. He said the region remains ICMP’s busiest, pointing to a combination of strong growth opportunities and intensifying industrial and regulatory challenges.

Speaking on his appointment, Rinaldi said the role offered an opportunity to strengthen collaboration across the region and ensure Asia-Pacific perspectives are reflected in global publishing discussions.

“It’s a real privilege to serve as Chair of the ICMP APAC Regional Group,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to working closely with the Group’s Vice Chair Frederica Wong, the ICMP team and our Asia-Pacific colleagues as we continue championing the interests of music publishers and the songwriters they represent across the region.”