Jason Berman

Jason (Jay) Berman has an extensive background in government service as well as private business. He was born and raised in New York and graduated from Baruch College. He obtained masters in history from Northwestern University. While writing his doctorate at the University of Pittsburgh, he was awarded a Harry Truman Research Scholarship. He did not complete the dissertation because he had an offer to join the staff of United States Senator Birch Bay of Indiana. He stayed with Senator Bay for eleven years, the last five of which he was the Senator's Chief of Staff. Upon leaving Capitol Hill, he joined Warner Communications as first Vice President for Public Affairs and opened a Washington office for them. He represented Warner and all of their entertainment operating companies in their legislative and trade initiatives. Jay continued serving the entertainment industry and became the CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). After ten years with RIAA, President Clinton appointed him to be the Special Counsel for Trade. A year later, he became the Chairman and CEO of IFPI, the international trade organization for record labels. He lived in London for six years in this role. Jay served on a number of Presidential advisory committees on international trade. Currently he is on the Advisory Board of the Harlem School of Arts. He is Board Member of Zeno Radio. For several decades he has been a board member of National Foundation for Affordable Housing. A non-profit organization which owns one of the largest portfolios of affordable housing. Currently he is a Senior Advisor to KR Capital Partners, a venture fund dedicated to entertainment and technology. He also serves as a Senior Advisor to Tonio Burgos & Associates, Inc.