ASCAP, SoundCloud, and PPL Announce Key Executive Appointments
ASCAP has appointed media veteran Marc Zelanko as its new chief of staff, a position that reports directly to CEO Elizabeth Matthews. This newly created role will see Zelanko focusing on driving ASCAP’s mission to enhance revenue growth and operational efficiency for its vast membership of over 1.1 million songwriters, composers, and music publishers.
Zelanko brings a wealth of experience to ASCAP, having spent over 20 years in various business operations and transformation roles within the media and entertainment sectors. His most recent position was senior vice president at Paramount Global (previously ViacomCBS), where he implemented strategic initiatives to optimize operations and streamline processes across global teams. Notable achievements during his tenure included managing the COVID Task Force to sustain operations for more than 15,000 employees in the United States and spearheading CEO-level leadership forums.
In a statement regarding Zelanko’s appointment, Matthews expressed her confidence in his ability to propel ASCAP’s mission forward: “Marc is the perfect fit to help ASCAP deliver on our mission to grow revenues and drive efficiencies for the benefit of our more than 1.1 million songwriters, composers, and music publishers.” Zelanko also shared his enthusiasm, stating, “ASCAP has a mindset of innovation and evolution to meet the changing needs of its members and licensees.”
This announcement follows ASCAP’s recent hiring of John Pershing as Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer. Pershing, previously with What If Media Group, brings extensive expertise in IT, product development, and data engineering, further bolstering ASCAP’s leadership team.
New Leadership at PPL and SoundCloud
In a related development, UK-based collective management organization PPL has appointed Anne-Marie Pearce as chief financial officer, succeeding Chris Barton, who is set to depart at the end of 2025 after seven years in the role. Pearce will report to CEO Peter Leathem and will oversee the organization’s finance and distribution operations, ensuring timely royalty payments to recording rightsholders and performer members. Her extensive background includes over 20 years of senior finance experience in media and entertainment, with her most recent role as UK Country CFO at Publicis Groupe.
Leathem commended Pearce’s appointment, stating she is “the ideal choice to help drive PPL’s next phase of growth,” while also recognizing Barton’s contributions during his tenure.
Meanwhile, SoundCloud has appointed Dr. Steve Abrams as chief technology officer. In this capacity, Abrams will lead the company’s global engineering team and shape its technology roadmap, focusing on AI and machine learning innovations. He will also emphasize enhancing artist-to-fan engagement and advancing SoundCloud’s creator-first product strategy. Reporting directly to CEO Eliah Seton, Abrams joins SoundCloud from Google, where he led engineering for YouTube Music’s Knowledge & Discovery team.
Further Appointments Across the Industry
In addition to these high-profile appointments, indie publisher Peermusic has named Alex Black as vice president of A&R. Based in Los Angeles, Black will focus on signing and developing songwriters and producers for Peermusic’s U.S. roster. He boasts over 18 years of A&R experience, having previously served as vice president at Hipgnosis Songs Group and Big Deal Music Group, where he signed notable artists including Beach House and Amber Mark.
Peermusic’s recent leadership changes also include the August hiring of Jamie Cerreta as president for the U.S. and Canada, and the appointment of Dave Ayers to executive vice president of A&R in September. Cerreta expressed confidence in Black’s capabilities, stating, “I know that Alex is a talented A&R executive whose dedication, creativity, and expertise will help to bring our songwriters even more success artistically and commercially.”
In another significant move, Sphere Entertainment has appointed Christopher Winters as senior vice president, controller, and principal accounting officer, effective November 24, 2023. Winters previously held the role of vice president of accounting at Madison Square Garden Entertainment, where he managed technical accounting and policy matters.
Kenny “Tick” Salcido has also made headlines by launching Renaissance Entertainment Company, a creative services firm designed to support artists, managers, labels, and publishers through A&R and artist development. Salcido’s firm aims to foster authentic collaboration and revive true artist development, leveraging his extensive industry experience.
Lastly, Stage Left Global, an independent international touring agency based in Philadelphia, has officially launched under veteran agent Andrew Friedman. The agency represents a diverse array of artists and emphasizes maintaining full creative control for its clients.
These appointments reflect a broader trend within the music industry, as organizations seek to strengthen their leadership teams and adapt to a rapidly evolving landscape.
