Multi-platinum selling British/Canadian songwriter, Fiona Bevan, award-winning media composer, Julian Nott, and producer and songwriter Pete Woodroffe, have been newly appointed as Writer Council Members of the PRS Members’ Council, alongside Simon Platz who has been re-appointed as a Publisher Council Member.
Janet Andersen, SVP of Global Publishing Services at BMG, has been newly appointed as Designated Publisher Council Member.
Erica Ingham also joins the Members’ Council as an Independent Non-Executive Council Member, alongside Stephen Davidson who was re-confirmed in post. The appointments were voted for by members at the PRS 2021 Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Wednesday 19 May.
PRS for Music Chairman, Nigel Elderton, said: As we start together on the road to recovery out of the pandemic, it is always worth reminding ourselves of the power of music, of the songs and compositions created by our members, which have given such comfort and solace to so many over the past year. Their music continues to help shape our lives and define the rich diverse nature of our culture in this country.
Congratulations to our newly appointed and reappointed Council Members who’s combined experience and expertise will help to steer us in this next chapter. To our outgoing Council Members Simon Darlow, Jim Duguid, Eddie Gregson, John Minch, and Mark Poole, my sincere thanks and appreciation for all of your hard work, advice and support over the years. Your contribution to PRS has been invaluable and is greatly appreciated by your Council colleagues and our members.’
PRS for Music, chief executive, Andrea C. Martin, said: ’At a time when music has arguably never been more important to fans, I can only express my whole-hearted admiration at the way in which members adapted and remained so creative. In times of change and uncertainty, the communities around us become more important than ever. And with this in mind I must personally thank the Members’ Council, and in particular Nigel Elderton and Stephen Davidson as Chairs, for their collective foresight, counsel and support. My sincere gratitude also to the whole PRS team for their dedication and commitment to the company and members. They turned the adversity of the last year into a catalyst for positive change.
Delivering excellent core services, while driving ambitious transformation programmes is a challenge for any business. It requires a strong and empowered team, a culture of creativity, innovation, efficiencies and high performance. All characteristics strengthened by diversity of thought. I’m certain that with our newly appointed and returning Council Members, we will cement PRS for Music’s place as a world leading rights management organisation.’
Newly elected PRS Council Members:
Janet Andersen is the Senior Vice President Global Publishing Services at BMG Rights Management, having previously worked at Chrysalis Music Publishing in both Los Angeles and London. Over more than two decades Janet has run numerous operational departments and is known for combining her deep operational knowledge with her commitment to excellence in client service. In the past, Janet has held various industry positions and currently represents BMG on the ICMP board.
Fiona Bevan is a multi-platinum selling British/Canadian songwriter. She wrote One Direction’s hit single Little Things with Ed Sheeran which reached number 1 in 13 countries, and has written hit songs for the likes of Kylie, Lewis Capaldi, Tom Walker, Stefflon Don, 5 Seconds Of Summer, Mika, Billie Marten, and James Morrison, to name a few. Fiona participated in the recent DCMS Committee ‘Economics of Music Streaming’ inquiry, informing MPs about the needs of songwriters at this moment of crisis when low streaming income intersects with the ramifications of Brexit and COVID-19. She also worked with PRS for Music to help advocate for the implementation of the EU Copyright Directive, meeting with the House of Lords, and with MEPs in Brussels.
Erica Ingham is an experienced finance professional and chartered accountant whose career has focused on the Media and Technology sectors in roles at MediaCom North, BBC Radio, MTV Europe, Liberty Media and 20th Century Fox. She has held a number of non-executive, advisor and lay member roles at Institute of Directors, CIMA, University of Manchester and Creative England where she also chaired the Audit Committee.
Julian Nott is a documentary producer, economics author, and Ivor Novello Award-winning composer. Julian was a Board director of PRS (now Members’ Council) from 2010 to 2019. He also served on the PRS for Music Board from 2013 to 2019. From 2015 until 2019 he was also a Board member of ICE Services, the online licensing joint venture between PRS for Music, GEMA and STIM. He is currently the Ivors Academy representative on the MCPS Board.
Pete Woodroffe is a producer and songwriter. He joined the PRS for Music Writer Member Operations Group in 2012 and was later elected to the SEC at what was then BASCA. Pete also recently submitted written evidence to the DCMS ‘Economics of Streaming’ inquiry.
Speeches on the day were presented by CEO of PRS for Music, Andrea Czapary Martin, Chair of the PRS Members’ Council, Nigel Elderton, President of PRS Members’ Council, Michelle Escoffery, CFO, Steve Powell, CIO, Mark Krajewski, and Chief People and Transformation Officer, Suzanne Hughes.
In April it was announced that PRS distributed a record £699.4m on behalf of its members in 2020, a year-on-year increase of 2 percent (£13.4m). While distributions in 2020 were positive overall, many of the royalties paid out last year were collected before the first lockdown and enforced COVID-19 restrictions, meaning that the sharp decline in income will be felt by music creators through 2021 and beyond, with distributions expected to fall by at least 10 percent. Overall, revenues collected from music being played in the UK and worldwide declined by 19.7 percent (£159.9m) compared to 2019 to £650.5m, due to the impact of COVID-19 on the music industry, eradicating years of record growth.
