RICHARD WINN
Manager of Artist Development, Zune, Microsoft Corp.

Richard Winn is the manager of artist development for Zune at Microsoft Corp., applying his expansive knowledge of the music industry and passion for music and its artists to cultivate and develop relationships and opportunities between Zune and the music community.

Before joining Microsoft Corp., Winn lived and breathed music. Most recently, he held the role of vice president of music at Antenna USA, with a primary focus on the acquisition and management of digital distribution partners; initiation of new business programs for clients such as Volvo Cars, Jaguar Cars and Reuters; and the cultivation of relationships with music entities such as Disney/ABC Media Networks, Warner Music Group, BBC, Live Nation/Clear Channel and KCRW.

Winn’s musical background does not stop there. He spent a number of years as vice president at A&R Extasy Records, where he was responsible for the discovery of new artists for the label roster and management of all aspects of artist development;one year as consultant to AOL LLC/Spinner.com and “Ground Zero,” a two-hour, new-music show delivered both on terrestrial radio (Los Angeles’ taste-defining KCRW) and streaming via AOL; and eight years as director of programming at Clear Channel/AMFM LA, where he was instrumental in the acquisition of “Modern Rock Live,” secured high-profile talent guests, produced and managed numerous programs, and drove key relationships with Internet service providers, record labels, recording studios and programming directors.

Winn’s deep passion for music was evident beginning in his early teens when finances required him to tape songs from John Peel’s radio show because records were too expensive. Since then, Winn has worked on many records, proclaimed his favorite gig to be Bauhaus opening for Magazine in 1981 at Northampton Town Hall, and discovered his favorite local group, Band of Horses.