David M. Israelite is President and CEO of the National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA), a position he has held since February 2005.
Founded in 1917, NMPA is the trade association representing all American music publishers and their songwriting partners. NMPA’s mandate is to protect and advance the interests of music publishers and their songwriting partners in matters relating to the domestic and global protection of music copyrights. Israelite is responsible for overseeing all aspects of NMPA’s operations, from legal strategy and business affairs to government relations and advocacy.
His leadership has produced revolutionary successes on behalf of publishers including the largest CRB rate increase in history, groundbreaking industry collaboration in royalty rate agreements, landmark settlements and model licenses with streaming platforms, and ultimately raising the profile of the publishing community. Additionally, Israelite was instrumental in guiding the effort to modernize copyright laws culminating in the Music Modernization Act (MMA) and the subsequent creation of the Mechanical Licensing Collective (The MLC).
He has been named to Billboard’s Power 100 multiple times and serves on the boards of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Country Music Association and Special Olympics DC. He also serves as the President of the NMPA S.O.N.G.S. Foundation (Supporting Our Next Generation of Songwriters) which supports songwriters through funding scholarships and direct services, among other assistance.
Prior to joining NMPA, Israelite served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Counselor to Attorney General John Ashcroft. In addition to his general management responsibilities, Israelite served as the Attorney General’s personal advisor on all legal, strategic and public affairs issues. In March of 2004, the Attorney General appointed Israelite Chairman of the Department’s Task Force on Intellectual Property. As Chairman, he led a team of high-ranking officials in examining all aspects of how the Department of Justice handled intellectual property issues and implemented proposals developed by the Task Force.
Previously, Israelite served as the Director of Political and Governmental Affairs for the Republican National Committee (RNC). In that role he was the senior advisor to the Chairman of the National Republican Party and was responsible for the Republican Party’s Campaign Operations, Government Affairs, Research, and Presidential Liaison Divisions. Prior to joining the RNC, Israelite was Missouri Senator Kit Bond’s Administrative Assistant (Chief of Staff) making him the youngest AA in the United States Senate. Israelite also served as Campaign Manager for Senator Bond’s successful 1998 re-election campaign.
From 1994 through 1997, Israelite practiced law in the Commercial Litigation Department at the firm of Bryan Cave, LLP in Kansas City, Missouri. Israelite earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri in 1994 and received a B.A. in a double major of Political Science and Communications from William Jewell College in 1990. While in college, Israelite was named Top Speaker by the National Cross Examination Debate Association, recognizing him as the nation’s top collegiate debater.