Lyrics platform Genius has hired Miki Toliver King as President.
King will be responsible for driving the company’s overall revenue, content and audience operations and overseeing its B2B/B2C marketing functions.
Genius, which has more than 100 million global users, 2m contributors, and 9m YouTube subscribers, claims to be “the world’s biggest music encyclopedia”.
King will join Genius in Q2 2021 and work alongside its co-founder and CEO, Tom Lehman, to manage the company’s long-term growth and success, the company says.
Ilan Zechory, Genius’s co-founder and former President, will remain on the company’s board of directors, where he’ll continue to be involved in the company’s strategic plans.
With over 15 years of experience in the media and marketing space, King joins Genius from The Washington Post, where she currently serves as Chief Marketing Officer, overseeing subscription growth marketing, branding, licensing, and business development.
Since beginning her tenure at the publisher in early 2016, King has led the marketing, audience engagement and business development teams, helping to drive the Post’s exponential digital subscription growth.
Prior to joining The Washington Post, King was Executive Vice President, Operations at POLITICO, where she launched the company’s first paid subscription product, POLITICO Pro, and created the organization’s sales training and talent acquisition teams.
She began her career by leading business development and marketing teams at The Advisory Board Company in Washington, D.C. and later served as Director of Business Development at the law firm of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips.
She also serves on the Board of the International Women in Media Foundation, and the Corporate Advisory Board of So Others Might Eat, a not-for-profit organization committed to helping vulnerable and unhoused individuals in Washington, D.C.
Among Genius’s investors are Andreessen Horowitz, Quicken Loans and Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, and the artists Eminem, Nas, and Pharrell Williams.
“I’m excited to build upon Genius’s unique market position of showcasing the lyrics and stories behind the music. It’s a privilege to join and lead this exceptional team.”
Miki Toliver King
Miki Toliver King, Genius’s incoming President, added: “In moments of great evolution, challenge or triumph, music has the power to inspire, enrich and propel us forward.
“Never has there been a more important time for the work of artists and creators to reverberate around the world, with Genius as its driving force.
“I am honored to leverage my career-long commitment to connecting audiences to the content they value most.
“I’m excited to build upon Genius’s unique market position of showcasing the lyrics and stories behind the music. It’s a privilege to join and lead this exceptional team.”
“Miki’s track record of effecting transformational change at digital businesses makes her the perfect leader to take Genius to our next phase.”
Tom Lehman, Genius
Said Tom Lehman, Genius’s co-founder and CEO, added: “Miki’s track record of effecting transformational change at digital businesses makes her the perfect leader to take Genius to our next phase.
“Hearing Miki’s vision for Genius and our community of artists, creators, and fans excites me in a way reminiscent of our earliest days as a company.
“After twelve years I feel like we are once again at the starting line.”Music Business Worldwide