Global independent music publisher peermusic has appointed Ralph W. Peer to the position of Managing Director, peermusic UK.
Peer, the grandson of peermusic founder Ralph S. Peer, joined the family-run business in 2019 as Vice President for Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. In 2022, his role expanded to include the positions of Managing Director, peermusic Australia, and Managing Director, South Africa.
Based out of London, Peer’s new title will be Managing Director, UK and Australasia, and Vice President of African and Middle East operations.
peermusic UK staff will report directly to Peer, while Nigel Elderton, in his role as President of peermusic Europe, will continue to oversee creative and administrative operations across the continent, the company said in a statement on Wednesday (May 15).
“We remain steadfastly focused on providing our peermusic roster of artists, songwriters, and producers with the very best in executive talent, A&R prowess, sync, and administrative expertise. With this move, we know our UK office remains in very capable hands as we continue to expand peermusic as the preeminent independent music publishing company throughout Europe,” Elderton said.
“I have every confidence that Ralph will provide our peermusic songwriters and business partners with the best level of attention and care, and our entire peermusic team joins me in wishing Ralph continued success.”
Peer holds a Masters of Law (LLM) from Columbia Law School and an MSc in Finance and Financial Law from SOAS University, among other academic accreditations.
peermusic credits him with “establish[ing] peermusic Australia’s premiere international songwriting camp to inspire cross-cultural collaborations, working with the company’s US creative team to bring multi-platinum, legendary hitmakers from the US to Australia to work with some of Australia’s top artists, songwriters and producers.”
“Nigel is a true music man, who knows every facet of the music publishing business – I’m honored for the opportunity to continue contributing to peermusic’s future and lead our UK operations, whilst working alongside some of the best music publishing executives in the business,” Peer said in a statement.
“The team at peermusic UK has a proven track record of implementing creative strategies that move our songwriters towards career-defining moments with the upmost levels of attention and nurturing… peermusic is uniquely positioned to offer our UK roster the global footprint needed to build their international opportunities backed by the administrative strengths to ensure they receive optimal royalties.”
“We remain steadfastly focused on providing our peermusic roster of artists, songwriters, and producers with the very best in executive talent, A&R prowess, sync, and administrative expertise.”
Nigel Elderton, peermusic
Peer’s new role comes amidst what peermusic calls “unprecedented momentum for the peermusic UK team.” As examples, the company points to its recent exclusive global publishing deal for the fifth studio album from British rock band Nothing but Thieves, and its recent joint venture with music brand Marshall, known particularly for its amplifiers.
Under the deal, peermusic and Marshall will work together to sign and develop artists and songwriters through the Marshall Records label. Marshall Records Publishing also signed an exclusive distribution deal with peermusic.
“peermusic is uniquely positioned to offer our UK roster the global footprint needed to build their international opportunities backed by the administrative strengths to ensure they receive optimal royalties.”
Ralph W. Peer, peermusic
peermusic has always been a family-run business. Ralph S. Peer founded the company in 1928, originally under the name Southern Music Publishing Company Inc., and served as its chief executive until his death in 1960. At that time, his wife Monique Peer took over as CEO, running the company for the next two decades.
In the early 1980s, Ralph Peer II took over as CEO, a role he stayed in until 2020, when his daughter, Mary Megan Peer, took over as CEO. The senior Peer transitioned to the role of Executive Chair at time.
Over those decades, peermusic has amassed a catalog of more than 1 million titles, and expanded to 39 offices in 32 countries. It describes itself as “the world’s largest global independent music publishing and neighboring rights company.”
Among its more recent moves was the acquisition of Norway’s Arctic Rights Management, believed to be the country’s largest indie music publisher.
Also last year, the company acquired the publishing catalog of Canadian pop star Corey Hart of Sunglasses at Night fame, as well as the catalog of American bluegrass legend Earl Scruggs, plus a majority of the song catalog of his son, Gary Scruggs.
Additionally, the company expanded its neighboring rights collection business to China in 2023, via a partnership with the China Audio-Video Copyright Association (CAVCA).Music Business Worldwide
