Riptide Music Group, a synchronization and rights management company that provides music to advertising, movie trailers, TV programming and promos, major motion pictures, videogames, and multi-media productions, has named George Howard as chief innovation officer. The announcement was made by Riptide president Rich Goldman and CEO Keatly Haldeman. 

Howard was an early founder of Tunecore, one of the leading digital aggregators. Additionally, he is the co-founder of Music Audience Exchange, served as president of Rykodisc, and formerly managed superstar Carly Simon. A JD/MBA, Howard is a professor at Berklee College of Music and Brown University.

The news about Howard comes fast on the heels of Riptide’s announcement naming longtime music and entertainment industry executive Mark Ross as a partner. Ross brought a $4 million cash infusion into Riptide to help grow the company. Howard, a long-time associate of Ross, will become an integral member of Riptide’s next phase of business growth and development.