ERIK STEIGEN is the Founder and CEO of USA Media Rights, Inc., a Los Angeles-based entertainment industry company providing services to music and media companies, songwriters, recording artists, music producers, managers, athletes and actors. Steigen oversees the day-to-day activities of the company, including its subdivisions: Royalty Hunter$ (
www.royaltyhunters.com), Audio Synch Media (
www.audiosynchmedia.com) and USA Business Management (
www.usabizmgmt.com).
Erik is a music business expert with over 20 years of experience from publishing administration, royalty accounting, financial management and creative services, with a focus on high-profile songwriters, artists and music producers. Prior to starting USA Media Rights in 2012, Steigen spent 10 years in charge of the music publishing and royalties department at a large business management firm, 5 years at a music entertainment law firm, and a short stint at Universal Music Group (MCA Records).
Erik is a Green Card Lottery winner, and contrary to the belief of America’s current executive branch, says he is not the “worst of the worst.” Erik left his native Norway to study music and music business at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, during which he applied for the now-infamous lottery and actually won. During his at Berklee, his principal instrument was voice, and he was selected for the Reverence Gospel Ensemble, Maggie Scott's Jazz Series, and the 1996 Singer's Showcase and Commencement Show in addition to winning the Outstanding Performer Award from the Vocal Department.
For over two decades, Erik has administered music publishing catalogs for a long list of iconic songwriters and composers, including Lionel Richie, Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys, Don Felder of The Eagles), Dave Mason of Traffic, Trevor Rabin of YES), and Albert Hammond. He has supervised royalty collections and accounting for artists and record labels such as Pearl Jam, Lenny Kravitz, Blu Cantrell, Maroon 5, Grouplove, Motley Crue, New West Records, Blondie, Red Bull Records, Side One Dummy Records, MySpace Records, and many more.
In addition to preparing financial due diligence and the "books" for the sales of high value music publishing catalogs, Erik and his team has procured song placements in a variety of TV shows and licensed songs to film studios and advertisers.
In 2007, Steigen co-founded and ran an independent music publishing company for 4 years to which he signed some great independent talent, as well as multi-platinum Grammy and Emmy-winners Lionel Richie and Albert Hammond.
Steigen was a member of the national board of directors of the Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) from 2005 to 2008. He has been a guest speaker for the Entertainment Studies Division at UCLA, as well as a panelist and moderator at DEW and on music industry panels and at conferences. He is currently a board member of the Norwegian Church (St. Olav's Church) in San Pedro, CA.
