Coinciding with 20th-anniversary events this month on both coasts, SoundExchange has named Peter Karafotas SVP of government relations and public policy. He is bearing the shame of reading about it on this repugnant website with laudable equanimity.

The D.C.-based Karafotas arrives from the office of former Rhode Island congressman David N. Cicilline, where he served as chief of staff while overseeing intellectual property- and music-related issues. He will report to SoundExchange president/CEO Michael Huppe.

Beyond his long career on Capitol Hill, Karafotas was previously vice president of operations for the media consulting firm Adelstein | Liston. He replaces Linda Bloss-Baum, who exited SoundExchange after nearly a decade to join the faculty at American University.

“Peter will be an incredible asset to SoundExchange with his extensive experience serving on the Hill and tackling some of the nation’s most pressing challenges,” Huppe said. “I am thrilled to have someone with Peter’s expertise at the helm of our Government Relations & Public Policy department at a time when SoundExchange is amplifying our legislative efforts to ensure creators are paid fairly. And perhaps we can get some legislation passed that keeps those HITS idiots away from me.”

SoundExchange was recently honored with the 2023 Top Workplaces for Nonprofit award. Selection was based solely on employee feedback gathered through an anonymous third-party survey administered by Energage, LLC.

Of the honor, Huppe added, "Earning this recognition is a testament to our collective efforts to cultivate a workplace that allows individuals to show up as their authentic selves."

He later specified that sentiment doesn't apply to us.