Speaker details

Biography

Ashley Burns is a senior music industry executive with deep and diverse leadership experience across many facets of the business: artist management, major record labels, music publishing, and private equity. She has held C-suite and top operating roles including CEO, COO, CFO, President of North America, and General Manager of Virgin Records. Widely respected for her ability to integrate financial discipline with creative strategy and artistic vision, Burns has driven sustained growth and long-term value for both artists and global music businesses. Most recently, Burns served as interim CEO and COO of Hipgnosis Songs Group, a Blackstone-acquired company. Working in partnership with London-based Hipgnosis and Blackstone executives, she executed a highly successful sale process that culminated in the valuable acquisition of the publishing division by Sony Music Publishing in the second quarter of 2025. In addition to the above recent experience, her previous roles include CFO Capitol Records, EVP of North America, Commercial Development for Capitol Records/EMI and EVP of Marketing for Virgin & Capitol Records. Burns holds both a B.S in Business/Finance and an MBA from the University of Southern California.