MPA GROUP - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Project Co - Ordinator ( Schools Data Collection Trial ) PMLL
- Project Coordinator for Schools Data Collection
Aileen is the Project Coordinator for Schools Data Collection, working alongside two Schools Outreach Officers who will support teachers and administrators understand the Schools Printed Music Licence (SPML), its limitation, benefits and importance to music creators and publishers.
Born in Glasgow, Scotland but working across the United Kingdom Aileen has been a senior leader in music education for over 30 years. She has held posts in a range of organisations including, Local Authorities, Charitable Trusts and Limited Companies, some of which hold national or global footprints. With both operational and strategic strengths, Aileen has worked regularly with Boards of Directors and colleagues, leading and developing new initiatives and streamlining processes ensuring best value and high quality [through her company AMD Arts Consultancy Ltd].
She is excited to now be working with PMLL, raising awareness of the importance of music data reporting through the Every Copy Counts campaign UK-wide. Out with work Aileen enjoys teaching and playing the French horn and is also a trustee with Nonclassical.
Blair is a founding partner of AMLOR Music Publishing.
His career in the industry started over 30 years ago in the mail room of Virgin Records. Talent scouting for the Virgin label soon led to a creative role for Virgin Music Publishing, where Blair signed artists and worked with the roster of songwriters. In 1992, Virgin Music Group was sold to EMI and Blair moved to Sony Music Publishing as Director of A&R before becoming Managing Director three years later overseeing the integration of the Northern Songs/TV catalogue
Job Titles:
- General Counsel
- Member of the Board
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Co - Head of BMG
With over 30 years of experience in the music industry, Caspar Kedros currently serves as Co-Head of BMG's global production music division. Since joining BMG in 2016 following its acquisition of Altitude Music, a company he co-founded, Caspar has played an integral role in shaping the company's production music business on an international scale. His leadership extends across multiple BMG strategic initiatives, fostering collaboration with the company's senior executives worldwide.
Having successfully built and exited Altitude Music, Caspar possesses deep insights into the intricacies of running a music publishing business. His experience has given him a profound understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by independent companies within the industry.
A lifelong music professional, Caspar began his career in the 1990s as a producer and artist, creating music for film and television, as well as collaborating with a wide range of artists. His career also includes a tenure as a DJ at London's XFM radio station. His diverse background in music production, touring, and composition provides him with a unique perspective on the creative and commercial sides of the business.
Caspar's dedication to the advancement of the music industry is reflected in his involvement on various boards and committees. He currently serves as a board member of the IMPG (affiliated with the ICMP) and is an active participant in the UK's Production Music Strategic Forum.
Driven by a deep sense of purpose, Caspar is passionate about empowering creatives, entrepreneurs, and composers to achieve success in their endeavours. He is a mentor with Help Musicians and the Creative Mentor Network, where he shares his expertise to guide the next generation of industry professionals.
Job Titles:
- Marketing Executive
- Member of the Board
- Marketing Executive PMLL
Charley joins the team as Marketing Executive working across the Music Publishers Association and Printed Music Licensing Ltd. She started her marketing career through an apprenticeship, working in the IT and Technology sector before moving on to her former role in the video games industry and then joining the MPA Group.
Her work is primarily centred around building awareness of the PMLL brand and services, alongside assisting Marketing and Communications Manager, Bella, with general marketing activities within the MPA. Charley is always excited to sink her teeth into a new creative project and is excited to be a small part of such a vibrant industry.
Chris Butler has worked in the music publishing industry since leaving Durham University with a music degree in 1984. He held a succession of positions at Chappell Music (later Warner Chappell), before joining Novello in 1989. Four years at the classical independent ended when Novello was acquired by the Music Sales Group in 1993. Over the past 25 years the Music Sales Group has become one of the world's largest independent music publishers with offices in London, Paris, New York, Los Angeles, Madrid, Berlin, Copenhagen, Sydney and Tokyo.
Job Titles:
- Chris Butler Wise Music Group
- EVP of Global Rights Management at Warner Chappell
- Warner Chappell in 2018 As VP of International Operations
Claire is the EVP of Global Rights Management at Warner Chappell. In her time at the company, she has led a series of strategic moves to overhaul Warner Chappell's copyright and royalty systems and speed up payments to songwriters. She's helped to launch platforms to recover missing royalties, secure additional revenue for writers in emerging markets, and better track the global use of songwriters' music across all major revenue streams, including digital, live performance, film and TV.
Claire joined Warner Chappell in 2018 as VP of International Operations, before being promoted in 2019 to become SVP of Global Administration. She began her career in the music industry at BMG Music Publishing in 2006, before going on to work at Universal Music Publishing, advertising agency TBWA and the Music Publishers Association.
She currently sits on the board of directors of the Music Publishers Association and the Mechanical Licensing Collective.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Membership Manager
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- MCPS Project Delivery Manager MCPS
Emily is the MCPS Project Delivery Manager at the MPA. Emily has 8 years of experience in the music industry and holds a Master's degree in Musicology from the University of Oxford. Previously, Emily was Editor at Faber Music responsible for managing the company's educational publications. She has also worked as an Executive in the BBC's Music Copyright team.
Her experience within the publishing and broadcasting arenas inspired her move to the MPA, where she is motivated in her role to champion the rights of the publishers, songwriters and composers who underpin the music industry.
Gary started his career at the PRS in the late 1980s where he worked in Repertoire Research, Licensing and Membership. In mid-1997 he moved to the then Sony Music Publishing as an Income Tracker and in 1998 he had his first taste of corporate expansion when, further to the Joint Venture with Michael Jackson, Sony Music Publishing became Sony/ATV Music Publishing. In 2004, Gary was promoted to run the UK Administration Department, in which time he has seen the 2013 merging of the EMI catalogue.
Gary has been a designated Director on the MPA Board since 2013.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- MCPS International Project Delivery Manager MCPS
Gavin first studied Music Business Management at Stow College before graduating from Paisley University with a BA in Commercial Music in 2006. It was during his studies he gained his first experience in mechanical licensing through a work placement with Duncan McCrone at the MCPS Scottish Office.
He gained a real interest in licensing from this placement which led him to apply for a role at PRS in London, firstly working in the member admissions team before quickly moving back to mechanical licensing in the Recorded Media department. In his initial role as Licensing Agent, he gained experience licensing mechanical and synchronisation rights to a wide variety of music users across every conceivable media, the ideal role to learn the trade for many in the UK industry. He went on to become a Key Accounts Consultant and was later promoted to a management position in the licensing team where he built on his licensing expertise and developed his skills in negotiation and business development. Gavin joined the Music Publishers Association Group of Companies towards the end of 2019 as MCPS Project Delivery Manager.
Job Titles:
- Corporate Secretary
- Member of the Board
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Head of DEI, CSR and Wellbeing
Having worked in the Diversity, Inclusion and human rights field for many years, Helen joined the MPA because she shares their belief in respect, integrity and fairness.
After seeing both good and bad practices within various workplaces, she strives to create an inclusive working environment for everyone. She encourages colleagues to have open and honest discussions and create development opportunities and platforms which allow seldom-heard voices to be listened to. This raises awareness about diversity, making sure nobody is left out.
She has learned that focusing on diversity, equality, inclusion and belonging allows an organisation to help their employees more effectively. Personal background has an impact on how we feel at work, how we feel we are treated, and how we can be supported. Creating a positive and just environment in the workplace can help colleagues to feel confident speaking up, feel listened to and help promote respect.
Job Titles:
- Universal Music Publishing 's SVP International Legal
Jackie Alway is Universal Music Publishing's SVP International Legal and Industry Affairs. Jackie joined UMP in 2007 following the acquisition of BMG Music Publishing, where she was Director of Commercial Affairs. Jackie's current role includes multi-territorial digital licensing and society, industry and public policy issues for the world ex-North America. She has 25 years' experience as a music publisher and is a Solicitor having graduated in Law from Cambridge University.
Jackie replaced Paul Connelly as Universal's Designated Director on the MPA Board in 2013 and was elected by the board as the Chair of the MPA board in 2015, taking over from Chris Butler. Jackie is also a Board member of PRS, MCPS, PMLL, IMPA and UK Music.
Jackie was awarded an OBE for her services to the Music Industry in the Queen's Birthdays Honours in June 2019.
Having worked across the wide-ranging backbone of the music business over a couple of decades, Jackie Davidson MBE is a multifaceted entrepreneur. Her early beginnings saw Davidson interning at Bunny Wailer's record company Solomonic. Following this, Davidson made a leap into marketing, where she founded the award-winning firm Hardzone Marketing & PR. Through Hardzone, Davidson consulted for reggae stars Buju Banton, Shabba Ranks and Patra, as well as labels including Columbia, Def Jam, Epic, BMG, Universal and Sony Music, across artist campaigns that were orientated within black music, for the likes of (but not limited to) Jay Z, Beyoncé, Michael Jackson, Destiny's Child, Groove Theory and Brownstone. Despite these inimitable milestones, it is through her role as a manager that Davidson has made a perennial mark on the industry. Through her company JD Management, she has managed songwriters Wayne Hector and Ali Tennant amongst a range of incredible talent. Davidson continues to represent Wayne Hector today, who remains one of the world's most coveted songwriters, having amassed over 30 International Number One singles, and earning awards at the Grammys, BRITs and Ivor Novello Awards. Together, Davidson and Hector have formed publishing firm Art Music, where they develop and nurture young writers and composers. Beyond her day-to-day, Davidson has remained a constant in the development of young people within the business, serving as a mentor and lobbyist. Her passion and drive for a fairer, more diverse and transparent industry is evident in her position in the Custodians Council for Music Managers Forum (MMF), in addition to being recently elected to the Music Publishers Association (MPA) board in 2020. As recognition for Davidson's revered work, she has attained multiple awards, including Urban Music Seminar's Respect Due Award, MMF's 2015 Writer/Producer Manager Of The Year, and The Ivors Academy's Gold Badge Award in 2018. A year later, she was honoured with the prestigious MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) on the Queen's Birthday List for her services to the music industry - an acknowledgement that Jackie Davidson undeniably deserves.
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Publishing at Boosey & Hawkes
James Eggleston is Vice President, Publishing at Boosey & Hawkes. Elected to the MPA Board as a Publisher Director in 2018 he now represents the parent company Concord as a Designated Director and also chairs the Printed Music Publishers Committee.
With over twenty years' extensive experience in predominantly contemporary classical music publishing, James joined Music Sales (now Wise Music) to work with the renowned Chester and Novello catalogues and their composers. A move to Boosey & Hawkes Music Publishers (Concord) followed in 2010 to head the Publishing Department with an international remit for the development and management of the catalogue working with some of the leading composers of our time.
James completed undergraduate and postgraduate studies in music at Royal Holloway, University of London and remains a practising musician. He is a passionate advocate for the value of music copyright and that wider value of music in society - particularly its often fragile place in education. James is a Council member of the Association of British Choral Directors, Trustee of the Sir George Dyson Trust and Honorary Patron of the Herbert Howells Society.
Job Titles:
- CEO of the MPA Group of Companies
Laura May founded independent music publishing company May Music in 2017 after many years working in different roles around the industry. Beginning her career at Eaton Music after being chosen from the MPA job seekers list, Laura moved into auditing, forensic royalty tracking and royalty accounting at an accountancy firm five years later. After a break due to illness Laura returned to work part-time as a finance manager at Rewind Festival while simultaneously starting her own business providing royalty analysis services for auditors and royalty accounting for producers, small labels and publishers including Turnfirst Artists. Laura joined Turnfirst Artists full-time in 2015 to work in the finance team, also joining new venture First Access Entertainment when it launched at the end of that year.
I have worked in the music industry since I started at Virgin Music (Publishers) Ltd. in the late 70s. I began in an administrative capacity and remained there for 14 years, the last 5 years as General Manager, until the sale of Virgin to the EMI Group. I worked with many contemporary bands/writers including The Police, The Human League, Culture Club, Soul II Soul, The Clash, Stereo MCs and The Prodigy. During my tenure there, Virgin Music expanded from a London-based entity to a global multi-territory publishing network. I spent 4 years at EMI Music Publishing, running the copyright department as well as setting up and establishing the sampling department. I continued to work with the Virgin Music catalogue as well as the rich and varied catalogue belonging to EMI. In 1996, I returned to work with Richard Branson and was a co-founder and Director of Commercial Affairs at V2 Music Publishing Ltd. Despite my move away from EMI, I continued to work with The Prodigy at that time, in order to complete the sample clearance work for their multi-platinum-selling album Fat Of The Land. I also worked closely with Liam Howlett on prior albums Experience and Music For The Jilted Generation. At V2 I signed, amongst others, Fluke and Boy George to the music publishing entity. I left V2 in 2000 to join MusicState as Chief Operating Officer. MusicState offered an online source of pre-cleared commercial music for synchronisation. I defined and oversaw the launch of their website/service, creating a template for it and accompanying systems through which it could operate. Returning to music publishing I subsequently joined Sanctuary Music Publishing as Director of Commercial Business where my role included the acquisition of rights (catalogue or writer), as well as operational responsibilities for the company. I worked with a catalogue that included Bert Jansch, Axl Rose, Wasp and Spiritual Beggars. Maria Forte Music Services Ltd was created in July 2006, working with a wide and varied group of clients across multiple genres and media, including Amnesty International, Iron Maiden & Phantom Music Management, Modest! Management, Radiohead & Warner Chappell, The Really Useful Group, Jazzie B and The Wedding Present. Close
Natalie Kassner has led the promotional and operational development of the Kassner Music Group, one of the UK's longest-established independent music companies, since 2017, having joined from Estée Lauder UK where she ran multi-channel marketing programmes as well as headed up the Asian consumer task force. Prior to her time at Estée Lauder, Natalie created and pitched advertising campaigns to brief for Condé Nast and spent several years on the marketing and media team at Harrods, where she worked with some of the world's foremost luxury brands and was selected for the company's leadership programme.
Having forged a career outside of the family business, Natalie is now responsible for sync and the international promotion of the Kassner Music songwriter roster, working closely with recent signings such as Charlotte Haining, Chuks Chiejine, Reef, Charlie Simpson and Robin Taylor-Firth, while also contributing significantly to the day-to-day running of the overall business.
Natalie has served on the MPA Futures Group since 2018 and is currently Co-Chair of the Committee. She is also a member of the newly formed MPA Sync Action Group.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Sponsorship & Events Coordinator
Nicky began her role for the MPA in January 2022, having previously interned with trade body PRS for Music as Marketing Assistant within their PR and Comms department.
Prior to this, Nicky spent the last 2 years working as a Project Assistant at music charity, Small Green Shoots, co-managing various far-reaching projects designed to expose unsigned UK artists to industry professionals, as well as writing bids to support up-and-coming creatives.
Nicky has a love for music and all things creative.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Chief Policy & Public Affairs Officer
Ornella is a seasoned Policy and Public Affairs professional with a decade's worth of experience lobbying government on behalf of global brands, public sector agencies and organisations in the private and voluntary sectors.
Prior to joining the MPA, Ornella was a Senior Public Affairs Manager at a multinational government outsourcer and spent several years leading the government relations team of a business trade body. Ornella has a proven track record of delivering impactful public affairs strategies, developing credible policy proposals and achieving legislative change on behalf of organisations.
Ornella's role at the MPA focuses on lobbying the government for stronger regulatory policies to protect songwriters, composers and rightsholders. The work also involves raising the profile of music publishing and promoting the cultural and economic value of the industry.
As the MPA policy lead, Ornella manages the MPA's Public Affairs Group Committee.
She holds a degree in French and Politics from the University of Nottingham and is a keen Beyonce fan.
Pascale has worked in the music industry for over 25 years, primarily in music publishing having begun her career at the MPA and EMI Music Publishing. She then moved on to other majors including Warner/Chappell where I led the licensing team & business for 11 years.
She went on to form part of the senior management team leading the company strategy alongside the MD and CEO amongst others.
She has extensive experience in international affairs as well as domestic and am currently responsible for a high volume of international licensing & activities across the ABKCO catalogues and roster including The Rolling Stones, Sam Cooke, The Animals, Bobby Womack & many others.
As well as management within the corporate world, she was responsible and main client contact for licensing & creative across multiple iconic catalogues and songwriters. She actively participates in mentorship roles in programs across the music industry internationally.
Paul is an experienced senior level executive in the music industry with a strong commercial background in licensing and administering intellectual property rights. After graduating with a Bsc (Hons) degree in Mathematics & Management Studies from Queen Mary London University, Paul worked for a short period of time at Thomas Cook's headquarters, where he worked in the foreign currency trading team before embarking on a 22-year career at PRS for Music.
While working for PRS for Music, he worked on MCPS business for 15 years, before focusing his efforts on Performing Rights licensing, Membership and International.
He is renowned as an astute, dynamic and a highly skilled negotiator and has a proven track record for delivering significant revenue growth through expert negotiations, business transformation and the establishment of strategic joint ventures with industry partners.
Paul became CEO of the MPA Group on 1 February 2019 and is thrilled to be leading the MPA, MCPS and PMLL at a time in which we face as many opportunities, as we do challenges.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Chairman Long Term Music
Paulette Long OBE has 38 years experience within music publishing and the wider music industry working as a publisher, consultant and Director. She has served as a Board director of the MPA, PRS for Music and has been included in Music Week's Women in Music Roll of Honour amongst many other accolades.
Peter has over 35 years of experience in the music industry, most of which was in the employment of Carlin Music. Having started out in 1986 as Office Junior, he learned the industry through various departments and positions, eventually taking the helm as Managing Director in 2014.
Having left Carlin as a result of their sale to Round Hill Music at the end of 2017, Peter started his own Music Rights Management company, Sentient Music Limited. Sentient currently administers approaching 15,000 songs, including songs written and performed by Prince, Dean Martin, The Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Mike d'Abo, Faith No More, Fiction Factory, Warren Zevon and many other well-known acts. Sentient also owns a small record label comprising around 1,000 masters and re-mastered recordings. In addition to running Sentient, Peter also consults on a regular basis for a wide variety of companies including publishers, labels, and industry accounting specialists.
As well as serving on the boards of MPA and IMPEL, Peter has worked on many key Publisher/Society committees, sub-committees and working groups including the PPC (now PMPC), the PRS/MPA Ops Group and the MPA legal & Business Affairs and Anti-Piracy committee.
Working in the record industry before moving into publishing, Phil Rose is a music industry professional with vast experience in music operations. He boasts over 16 years of experience at Sentric Music, playing a pivotal role in its growth from its early stages to its current position as the publishing arm of Believe. At Sentric, Phil oversees crucial relationships with CMOs worldwide and spearheads the development of the company's collection network, constantly seeking new and innovative solutions to optimise publishing operations.
Phil's commitment to the publishing industry is further evidenced by his role as a board member for the Music Publishers Association. He served an initial term on the board from 2019 to 2022 and re-joined in 2023. He has served as a member of the PRS Operational Group since 2020, co-chairing the Group for two years over 2022/2023 and in 2024 was elected to the PRS Members' Council.
Based in Liverpool, Phil's passion for the music industry and his dedication to driving positive change are evident in his multifaceted career. He is a strong advocate for leveraging new technologies to improve processes, enhance transparency, and empower stakeholders across the music industry.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Office Manager
Job Titles:
- COO
- Member of the Board
- Director of Operations for the Music Publishers Association Group of Companies
Steve Burton is Director Of Operations for the Music Publishers Association Group of Companies. He graduated with a degree in Business Studies in 1992 and went on to study accountancy. After a four year stint working in an accountancy practice Steve realised he wasn't suited to the life of an auditor and in 1996 promptly moved to Belfast where he worked for Ortus, a cross community enterprise board on the peace line in West Belfast. He began first as assistant accountant and finally as financial controller.
In 2002 he moved back to Dublin and worked for Crunch Fitness, a high end leisure group, as financial controller and general manager. In 2007 he made the ill-advised move to work for himself designing and building health centres and leisure clubs around Ireland; Ill- advised because he began this part of his career in the lead up to the greatest financial crisis Ireland has ever suffered. Faced with an unsurprising lack of opportunities for new health clubs in a newly bankrupt Ireland Steve finally found an industry where he was completely at home, music.
In 2008 Steve started working for MCPS Ireland as financial controller. After a couple of years harassing Irish record labels and publishers Steve took on the role of Director of Compliance and Corporate Governance in IMRO where he stayed until 2014. In August 2014 Steve left IMRO and made the jump across the channel to work with Jane in MCPS, IMPEL and PMLL, along the way he picked up an MSc in Corporate Governance and Management at the University of Ulster. As Director of Operations Steve is responsible for all operational and financial aspects of the Music Publishers Association Group of Companies, he also sits on the MCPS Ireland board.
Steve graduated from Liverpool University in 1987 with a music degree before joining the printed music company, IMP, as a music editor - many of his published arrangements are still in print today. During his 10 years in print, Steve rose through the ranks to head up all production, copyright and licensing, before joining Warner Chappell Music as Head of Copyright.
Steve's responsibilities at WCM were extended to oversee all copyright and royalty administration across Europe before being appointed EVP, Global Operations (taking in IT), during which time he led the build and rollout of the Company's new global contracts, copyright and royalty system, which allows writers to view statements and other metrics online and via their mobile phones. After spending over two decades at WCM, Steve joined Round Hill Music as their Global Chief Operating Officer in the summer of 2020.
Steve is passionate about metadata standardisation in the global music industry, along with constantly raising the bar on operational efficiencies to better serve the writer community. He is often called to speak about these challenges internationally and share thoughts on how the industry can move forward together, with particular focus on digital music consumption.
Steve has been influential on many industry committees, having sat on the UK's MPA Board, the ICMP and IMPA Boards. In December 2019, he was awarded the MPA's Tony Pool Award for his outstanding contribution to administration within the music industry.
Aside from work, Steve loves spending time with his family outdoors, has a private pilot's licence, continues to play trombone and piano while serving as a Director of a local charity.
Job Titles:
- Finance Manager
- Member of the Board
- Finance Manager for the Music Publishers Association Group
Urszula Nowik is the Finance Manager for the Music Publishers Association Group. She is responsible for transactional and management accounting for the company. She has nearly 15 years of experience of working in various finance roles in London-based businesses across many sectors like property maintenance, advertising and technology. She is very passionate about music and is excited to be working in the music industry.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Member of the Board
- Managing Director PMLL
Viki began her role as General Manager at Printed Music Licensing Ltd (PMLL) in April 2017. She is responsible for managing all aspects of the PMLL business including areas such as membership, governance, licence management and development.
After graduating from the University of Northampton in 2000 with a degree in Law & Business, she started her career at the Educational Recording Agency. ERA licences the use of broadcast materials (from television and radio), on behalf of its members, to educational establishments such as schools, universities and colleges. During her time there she worked her way up from Licensing Officer to the Head of Operations.
Since Viki's background is in educational copyright in broadcast media, she sees a great opportunity in the role at PMLL. Not only so can she use her experience and skill set for the benefit of PMLL, but also to expand her copyright knowledge in a sector she is passionate about.