NMPA Appoints Chris Barkley As SVP, Government Affairs

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Chris Barkley

The National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) has appointed seasoned political strategist Chris Barkley as Senior Vice President of Government Affairs.

Barkley has spent over two decades working in high-ranking positions on Capitol Hill beginning in the House of Representatives and spending the majority of his career in the United States Senate. He most recently spent time as Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy for Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT), advising on all policy and legislation as well as supporting his role on the Whip Team. He helped negotiate several of the biggest bipartisan legislative deals in recent years. He previously was Policy Director for the Senate Republican Policy Committee under Senator John Barrasso (R-WY).

“Chris joins NMPA with invaluable expertise from years of insight aiding policymakers and finding consensus to move critical legislation. Having him lead NMPA’s lobbying strategy across all facets of government will be hugely valuable to music creators,” says NMPA President & CEO David Israelite. “As AI and other evolving technologies threaten the value of music, it is more important than ever to have a strong voice in government on behalf of songwriters. As a critical advisor on influential committees and for senior lawmakers, his knowledge is virtually unmatched when it comes to understanding what it takes to make big things happen.”

“Songwriters face more government regulation than anyone else in the music industry. There is much work to be done to allow publishers and creators to achieve the full value of their work. My experience across Capitol Hill has primed me for this opportunity and I’m thrilled to advocate for people whose work I respect and admire,” shares Barkley.

Barkley’s career also includes time serving as Senior Policy Advisor to Senator Ben Sasse (R-NE), as well as Deputy Staff Director of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee. He also previously worked in Senator Tom Coburn’s (R-OK) office as well as the U.S. House Committee on Government Reform. Since 2022, Barkley has been an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania Carey School of Law.

LB Cantrell
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