Bill Werde is director of the top-ranked Bandier music industry program in the Newhouse School at Syracuse University, as well as a music business, content, and communications executive with a long track record of success. As the former editorial director of Billboard, Werde built a global network of music industry relationships, and a deep understanding of industry trends and mass audience engagement across platforms. Now he teaches the next gen of music industry leaders at Bandier, while focusing his consulting work on emerging tech and emerging markets. He also publishes influential weekly analysis of the music business at https://www.fullratenocap.com .

For nearly six years ending in 2014, Werde oversaw all content efforts at Billboard, leading its conversion from a print B2B magazine to a digital-first, global consumer brand. Under Bill’s leadership, Billboard expanded its international presence with launches in South Korea, Japan, Russia and Brazil, created a top-rated awards show on ABC, tripled Billboard.com’s traffic, and grew the brand's social footprint from zero to millions of followers. Werde also created Billboard's first focused video efforts, growing the program to partnership status with YouTube.

Today Werde advises and consults top music and media companies on everything from business development and content strategy to media relations. Recent clients include international music promoter Eventim Live Asia, and Creative Intell, a company bringing artificial intelligence into the music deal-making space. Werde has led curriculum, student development and experience, and the Bandier brand since Fall of 2017. Werde lives in Syracuse with his wife, two sons (15 and 12), two cats and his troublesome beagle, Stanley.