Berklee College of Music Appoints Next President

Music industry executive Jim Lucchese will begin the role as of January 1, 2025

 

Massachusetts’s Berklee College of Music has appointed Jim Lucchese as its fifth president, effective as of January 1, 2025. Until Lucchese officially begins the role, Berklee’s provost, David Bogen, will continue serving as interim president; Betsy Newman, senior vice president of student enrollment and engagement, will remain as interim executive vice president.

A Boston-born musician, Lucchese has held many advisory roles at Berklee College over the course of his career. He will bring his two decades worth of experience in artist-focused services to his new position.

Lucchese began his career as an attorney representing artists; in 2007, he became the CEO of The Echo Nest, a musician-founded start-up that made it easier to discover international unsigned artists. In 2014, the company was acquired by Spotify, where Lucchese founded the Creator team, building products and services directly for musicians. 

In 2019, he was named CEO of Sofar Sounds, a global live music community that has curated over 30,000 live performances across 78 countries. At Sofar Sounds, he launched a new Artist Services division and acquired the company Seated to provide artists with tools to control their fan data. 

Lucchesee is a graduate of Boston College and holds a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University. A drummer since high school, he was first acquainted with Berklee College when he attended its five-week summer performance program in 1989. 

He has since served on several Berklee advisory committees over the past 15 years, including the President’s Advisory Council, the Institute for Creative Entrepreneurship, and the Pre-College, Online, and Professional Programs Advisory Committee.

“Jim’s success as an entrepreneur has stemmed from his ability to recognize shifts in the music industry and engage in collaborations to shape those changes, always demonstrating profound respect for artists,” said Berklee’s board chair Martin J. Mannion in the press release. “He is a highly regarded and empathetic leader with a proven record of building career-advancing services for musicians and performing artists.” 

“When we embarked on this search, we recognized that Berklee’s strength is rooted in its rich history, its commitment to excellence, and the transformative power of music and the arts,” added Sean Skeete, dean of Berklee’s Professional Performance Division and search committee member. “Jim embraces and embodies this vision, bringing a distinguished record as a leader and pioneer. I believe his stewardship will propel Berklee to new heights in educational, technological, and creative leadership across music, dance, and theater.”

“It is an immense honor to become a part of the Berklee community, an institution that means so much to me personally and has been a singularly positive force for creativity around the world,” Lucchese expressed. “I look forward to working with this amazingly talented and diverse community—students, faculty, staff, alumni, and supporters. I am eager to learn from their experiences and expertise across such a wide range of creative disciplines, from music education, dance, and theater to management, production, performance, music therapy, and more. All of these talents and perspectives are central as we uphold Berklee’s mission, honoring the artistic traditions of the African diaspora and centering diversity in all its forms.”