A day after announcing $1bn in revenues for 2014, US collection society ASCAP has appointed former Warner Music CFO Brian Roberts as its Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, reporting to ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews.
Roberts was most recently Executive Vice President, Corporate Strategy & Operations at Warner, after being named CFO of the major under Edgar Bronfman in 2011.
In his new post at ASCAP, Roberts will be responsible for the royalty payment system for over 525,000 members, representing more than 10 million copyrights. He will oversee ASCAP’s worldwide infrastructure including Distribution and Repertory, Information Systems, Facilities and the Economist’s Office.
The exec will assume his new position on March 30th.
Said Matthews: “ASCAP is embarking upon a new era of technology and transformation in order to continue to provide first in class services at the lowest possible cost to all of our members and licensing partners. Brian’s extensive experience in the music sector and his impressive accomplishments in leading innovative infrastructure changes to support new strategic initiatives make him the perfect candidate to run ASCAP’s operations today. Brian also shares my passion for music and the need to protect the value of the creative works of our members. We look forward to having his expertise as part of ASCAP’s new executive management team.”
“I believe ASCAP is at the centre of driving core change in the music industry which will benefit songwriters, composers, music publishers, licensees and music fans alike.”
Brian Roberts, AScAP
Added Roberts: “ASCAP is an innovative organization focused on strategic data initiatives that will make a difference to the lives of music creators and licensees worldwide.
“I am excited to join Beth and her team at ASCAP. I believe that ASCAP is at the center of driving core change in the music industry which will benefit songwriters, composers, music publishers, licensees and music fans alike.”
Roberts became Warner Music Group’s EVP, Corporate Strategy and Operations in October of 2014, where he had responsibility for overseeing WEA Corp. (WMG’s global artist & label services arm) and Information Technology. He joined the WMG family in 2007 as Senior Vice President & CFO of Warner/Chappell Music, the company’s music publishing arm.
Highlights of his tenure as WMG’s CFO include helping drive the acquisition and subsequent integration of Parlophone Label Group (PLG). Before joining WMG, Roberts was SVP, Finance & Administration, North & South America for BMG Music Publishing, preceded by stints at Zomba Music Publishing, EMI Publishing and Ernst & Young.Music Business Worldwide
