ERIK STEIGEN is a music business expert with over 20 years of experience from the Los Angeles-based music industry. His primary focus throughout his career has been to take care of songwriters, music producers, recording artists and indie labels.

Prior to starting USA Media Rights ® in 2012, Erik spent 10 years in charge of the music publishing and royalties department at a large business management firm. Erik was a legal assistant and music paralegal at a boutique entertainment law firm from 1996 to 2001, and he started his music business career at MCA Records (Universal Music Group) working in the recording administration department in 1996 right after graduating Magna Cum Laude from Berklee College of Music (Boston, MA).

For over two decades, Erik has administered publishing catalogs for a long list of iconic songwriters and composers, including Lionel Richie, Brian Wilson, Don Felder (of The Eagles), Trevor Rabin (of Yes), John Waite, Sheila E., Albert Hammond and Dave Mason. He has supervised royalty collections and royalty 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 overseeing and preparing financial due diligence and the "books" for the sales of high-value music publishing catalogs, Erik has procured song placements in a variety of TV shows and licensed songs to film studios and advertisers. He also worked on the legal due diligence in connection with the Initial Public Offering for a groundbreaking online music merchandising company.

Erik Steigen was born and raised in Norway. He is a proud Green Card holder. He came to the United States to study music and music business at the distinguished Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. During his time there, he was selected for the Reverence Gospel Ensemble, Maggie Scott's Jazz Series, and the 1996 Singer's Showcase and Commencement Show. He also received the Outstanding Performer Award from the Vocal Department.

In 2007, Erik co-founded and ran an independent publishing administration company for 4 years to which he signed some great independent talent, as well as multi-platinum Grammy and Emmy-winners.

In 2014, two years after founding USA Media Rights ®, Erik began focusing more on Scandinavian and International talent, and have since then taken on several young producers and artists from overseas as well as Stateside, including Axident (Norway), Gladius James (New Zealand), Anthony Preston (USA), Guy Roche (France), Sarahba (France), Pip (Zimbabwe), T-Collar (Zimbabwe), Sermstyle (UK), Soaky Siren (Bahamas), Violet Road (Norway), Fredrik Strand Halland (Norway) and Diana Ebe (Sweden).

Erik 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 on music industry panels and at conferences, including DEW Expo 2017 and 2018. He is currently a board member of the Norwegian Church (St. Olav's Church) in San Pedro, CA.

USA MEDIA RIGHTS ® is a proud member of ASCAP, BMI, SESAC and the National Music Publisher's Association.