The BPI, the voice of independent and major record labels across the UK, today announces that Nick Hartley (COO & CFO PIAS) and Pat Carr (Founder Remote Control Agency) have been re-elected to the BPI’s Council as representatives of the BPI’s independent member labels1.
Voting for the election opened online on 31st October 2022 and closed on 14th November 2022. All full BPI independent label members were eligible to vote for up to two candidates2. The results were first announced at a BPI Independent member meeting held on 16th November 2022.
YolanDa Brown, BPI Chair, said:
“We congratulate Nick and Pat on their re-election to BPI Council and look forward to again drawing on their considerable expertise and experience in support of our independent labels members and as champions of the wider independent music community. We thank everyone who put their names forward for election and we know that we can continue to rely on their valued contributions.”
BPI Council is the BPI’s key management and policy forum3. See Notes for the full list of candidates who stood for election4.
Notes to Editors
1 Two of the six places on BPI Council designated for Independent representation became vacant following the automatic retirement by rotation of the two longest-standing members, who were Nick Hartley (PIAS) and Pat Carr (Remote Control). Under the BPI’s rules, those retiring by rotation are entitled to re-stand for election.
2 Every BPI full member was sent a voting link directly from Civica Election Services.
3 BPI Council is the BPI’s key management and policy forum. Chaired by BPI Chair YolanDa Brown, and including BPI Chief Executive Geoff Taylor (who will depart at the year-end), BPI Chief Operating Officer MJ Olaore, and BPI General Counsel Kiaron Whitehead in its composition, it comprises 12 recorded music sector representatives – six drawn from major labels (two each from Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music UK and Warner Music UK) and six from the independent sector.
Independent sector:
Alice Dyson (Executive Director One Media IP Ltd); Fred Jude (Snapper Music); Henry Semmence (Absolute Label Services); Nick Hartley (PIAS); Pat Carr (Remote Control Agency); and Stefania Passamonte (Founder Master Chord Records).
Major labels:
Sony Music Entertainment UK – Jason Iley (Chairman & CEO) or Michael Smith (Executive Vice President) as a designated representative; and Jessica Carsen (SVP Communications). Universal UK – David Joseph (Chairman & CEO) or Adam Barker (Director of Business) as a designated representative; and Selina Webb (Executive Vice President). Warner Music UK – Tony Harlow (Chairman & CEO) or James Radice (SVP Legal & Business Affairs) as a designated representative; and Catherine Smiles (VP, Corporate Communications)
BPI Council can also co-opt additional members. These now include Ammo Talwar (CEO Punch Records and Chair of the UK Music Diversity Taskforce); Ayesha Hazarika (broadcaster, columnist and equalities campaigner); Char Grant ( 0207 Def Jam A&R Director); Jamie Oborne (Founder Dirty Hit and All On Red Management); and Sarah Mitchell (BMG Neighbouring Rights).
Half of the elected/appointed label representatives are women or identify as such – split evenly across both the independent and major label members. Of the co-opted members, three of the five are women or who identify as such. Two of the 12 elected/appointed label representatives are Black, while of the co-opted members, three out of the five are or identify as Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic. Among the BPI executive representatives who sit on Council, two members – YolanDa Brown (Chair) and MJ Olaore (COO) are Black and women.
4 Full list of candidates who stood for the Independent label member election: Abi Lufadeju (Afrotown Records), Alex Kennedy (Believe), Becky Lees (LSO), Dan Waite (Better Noise Music), Femi Olasehinde (Just Another Label), Nick Hartley (PIAS), Pat Carr (Remote Control), and Sharon Brooks (BMP).