POWER 50 2025: Annabelle Herd (ARIA & PPCA)

BACKGROUND CHECK:

With a background spanning senior government roles in communications and copyright policy, as well as 16 years as COO at Network 10, Annabelle Herd’s vibrant background has equipped her with rare strategic insight and a deep understanding of how to navigate complex political, regulatory, and media environments.

Appointed in February 2021 as ARIA’s first female CEO, Herd swiftly broadened the organisation’s mandate beyond its flagship awards ceremony, building an always-on advocacy engine that drives policy reform, strengthens global industry relationships, and expands opportunities for Australian artists. 

Under her leadership, ARIA and PPCA have become central to national conversations about the value and future of Australian music. Harnessing an ability to unify industry voices, engage powerbrokers, and advance difficult but necessary discussions has made her the leading advocate for Australia’s recording sector at home and abroad.

THE YEAR IN AUSTRALIAN MUSIC:

In 2025, Annabelle Herd delivered one of the most ambitious reform years in ARIA’s history, launching a suite of programs that tangibly expanded opportunity for Australian artists and industry professionals. Spearheading the landmark ARIA Collab initiative to team up GRAMMY-nominated producers, she also introduced ARIA Innovator, drawing hundreds of industry figures into direct dialogue with global leaders in masterclasses on AI ethics and cultural leadership. Herd modernised the ARIA Charts by distinguishing contemporary releases from catalogue material and launched new awards recognising the broader ecosystem, from music festivals to advertising partnerships. 

At the same time, Herd cemented herself as the most influential advocate for Australian creators’ rights in the AI era. She led ARIA and PPCA’s comprehensive response to the Productivity Commission’s proposed text and data mining exception, and continued her push for radio quota reform. 

In 2025, Herd demonstrated how strategic policy leadership, international engagement, and fearless advocacy can reshape the conditions in which Australian music is created, discovered, and exported – ultimately cementing her as one of the most consequential leaders the industry has seen.

THE MUSIC SPEAKS:

The ARIA chart reforms this year have been an important but possibly under-appreciated reform that must have been a nightmare to try to land with the stakeholders, critics and historical weight to balance. She’s also rallied artists and stakeholders in the fight against the tech industry’s push for AI to be exempted from copyright laws. 

But it’s the continual needle threading of pulling off a good ARIA Awards in a climate when budgets are tighter and things are more expensive that is one of Herd’s most impressive feats. Herd has put the awards back on a footing where industry spend the lead up discussing who might win rather than what train wreck might occur. 

Over at commercial radio, they are cancelling their awards night to fund the PPCA tribunal case where Herd is spearheading the argument to get artists paid more for radio airplay. We’re lucky to have a CEO who can fight for her constituents AND pull off great awards nights at the same time. That job continues to get harder as the Australian recorded industry becomes more and more fragmented, but Herd has gained the respect of the industry and government after four years in the job and has shown she is willing to lead.