– Iain McNay and Vanessa Higgins re-elected as independent label representatives
– David Joseph and Jason Iley re-elected as designated Major label representatives
UK record labels association the BPI confirms that Iain McNay, Chairman and Founder Cherry Red Records, and Vanessa Higgins, Director Regent Street Records and of the BPI’s Innovation Hub, were both re-elected as two of six designated Independent representatives on the BPI’s Council.
David Joseph, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music UK and Ireland, and Jason Iley, Chairman and CEO of Sony Music UK, were re-elected to fill two of the six places designated to Majors on the Council that had become vacant on rotation.
The elections took place at the BPI’s AGM, held on Thursday 6th September at its London County Hall offices. BPI Council is the key forum for determining BPI policy and activity.
The elections took place alongside opening remarks from BPI Chairman Ged Doherty, who confirmed that The BRIT Trust would be renewing funding of The BRITs Apprentice Scheme for a second year. This was followed by a keynote address by Chief Executive Geoff Taylor, who announced millennium-high export figures of £408.4 million for British music in 2017 but also highlighted the challenges to long-term growth prospects presented by Brexit and the Value Gap.
Geoff Taylor’s speech led to a panel discussion on international growth opportunities. Chaired by media commentator Ayesha Hazarika, panellists comprised John Thompson (Distiller Records), Mark Collen (Sony Music Entertainment), Nick Dunn (Horus Music), Phil Patterson and Neil Semple (DIT), Rebecca Allen (Decca Group UK/Universal Music UK), and Victor Aroldoss (Warner Music UK).
