BIOGRAPHY
Karen has over 30 years’ experience in the industry across A&R, Copyright, Royalties & Licensing and is currently the General Manager at 120 Publishing.
Her experience includes positions at AMCOS, MMA Music, Hello Mr Wilson, Mana Music and Warner Chappell and working with John Woodruff across recordings, publishing and management for Savage Garden. Eventually partnering with John and Keith Welsh to form Rough Cut Music Publishing, over the next decade the company signed and developed many prominent Australian artists including Evermore, Kisschasy, Trial Kennedy and The Butterfly Effect.
In 2011 she launched 120 Publishing for Ministry of Sound Australia (now TMRW Music). 120 is a full-service publishing company with a special interest in working closely with dance & electronic music writers, producers and topliners, and a focus on setting up collaborations between domestic writers and international artists.
Karen is passionate about educating young writers and travels nationally as part of APRA’s Rights & Royalties education events. She currently sits on the AMPAL Board and is also an active member of APRA’s CMAG Committee, working to implement Music Recognition Technology across clubs and festivals and advocating for the fair distribution of live performance income to Australian writers.
ELECTION STATEMENT
I’m honoured to nominate for the position of AMCOS Director on the AMCOS Board. With over three decades of experience in the music industry, and the majority of this time with Australian owned independent companies, I believe I will bring an important and unique perspective.
Starting out in mechanical licensing at AMCOS, my industry career has included management roles in A&R, copyright and licensing at companies such as MMA Music, Hello Mr Wilson, Warner Chappell and Rough Cut. I've served as the General Manager at 120 Publishing, a predominantly dance & electronic music publisher, since its inception in 2011.
I'm passionate about the export of Australian music and breaking songwriters into new markets. I actively contribute to the industry as a Board Director for AMPAL, foundation member of APRA's Club Music Advisory Group, panellist for APRA’s Rights & Royalties events, and a judge for the PDA's.
I believe it's important for independent publishers and diverse music genres to have a strong board presence, ensuring representation of all members' interests. If elected, I commit to being active in using my experience to contribute in a positive way that supports the continued growth of the industry. I appreciate your consideration.
BIOGRAPHY
Not only is Jan a music publisher, she is a working musician who can read music notation, legal contracts, accounts ledgers and is a published author. She is also deft with a budget and is a strategic thinker. Jan has been a writer member of APRAAMCOS for 35 years, and a publisher member for 10. She has a high profile in New Zealand and is well regarded throughout the industry. Jan founded Songbroker Music Publishing, focusing proactively on creating more opportunities, increasing incomes and ensuring rights protection for NZ indie music artists. She is a recognised expert in music copyright and a loud, persistent voice lobbying for artists’ rights. She also works to ensure her artists are receiving fair fees for music licenses procured by Government Departments and affiliated agencies. Jan is a former director of IMNZ and sat on the RMNZ board during the development of One Music. Alongside Songbroker, she continues to run her creative/strategic company, Seahorse Swim Limited. Jan has a BA from Otago University. She continues to write and record music and is currently working on a new musical. She is also writing a series of essays covering arts and small business topics. See more janhellriegel.com
ELECTION STATEMENT
I have a valuable skill-set to bring to the service of the AMCOS board and am uniquely qualified in terms of my experience in the strategic, creative and business sides of the music industry.
During my career, I have worked across the spectrum in the music business and see it from many angles. I have an in-depth knowledge of music copyright and licensing and am considered an expert in the field. For thirty five years I have a been a writer member of APRA and ten as a Music Publisher. I know my beans.
The music industry continues to champion diversity and inclusion but the AMCOS board does not truly reflect the multifaceted sides of the wonderful people who make up our industry. Music artists need to start somewhere and without true independent voices on the board, then the grass roots industry is relegated to an afterthought. It is time to look at the future with a fresh lens and alternative ideas. New Zealand also needs more of a presence on the board; someone with a strong, clear voice, speaking for independent publishers and artists. I have the qualifications and would like the opportunity to contribute. Thank you.
BIOGRAPHY
Heath is Managing Director of BMG Australia, which he launched locally in 2016. He became an AMCOS Director in 2020 and is also on the board of AMPAL. Heath helped guide BMG’s acquisition of iconic Australian music company Alberts and during his tenure at BMG has signed artists including LDRU, The Living End, Wolfmother, Wave Racer and Peking Duk. For more than 13 years, he was Director of A & R at Universal Music Publishing. He is the recipient of an MBA and a Master of Marketing from the University of Newcastle.
ELECTION STATEMENT
Joining BMG Australia as the inaugural employee in Jan 2016 after a long history in A&R on both the recording and publishing sides of the music business, my personal mission and motivation is simple.I take my responsibility to protect and advance the interests of music creators from this region seriously but that doesn’t mean we can’t have fun in the process. Music is powerful, music is joyous, music is life. I’m privileged to be a part of a thriving music community in this region and I aim to be a passionate and trusted advocate for music creators on any Board that I may serve on.
BIOGRAPHY
Ralph is peermusic’s Managing Director for Australasia and Vice President for operations in Africa and the Middle East. He has been admitted to the Role of Solicitors in England and Wales and holds an LLM from Columbia Law School with a concentration in intellectual property in digital mediums.
Prior to relocating to Australia, Ralph oversaw the Legal and Business affairs of peermusic’ UK office. In this role he negotiated and drafted agreements with writers, worked on a wide variety of licensing situations, liaised with the A&R team, and defended and pursued infringement actions. Since 2016 he has also worked on peermusic’s global licensing negotiations with DSPs through various collective rights management organizations and licensing schemes.
Alongside administration roles, Ralph has also worked in A&R in building peermusic’s roster in Africa and MENA.
Ralph currently serves as a Director of AMPAL, co-chair of ICMP’s regional Africa group, and as a member of the management committee of The Copyright Society of Australia. He also recently authored a chapter in Bloombury Academic’s book “The Present and Future of Music Law” on the development of the compulsory mechanical license in the United States.
ELECTION STATEMENT
Coming from a music publishing family I have seen the changes and challenges our industry has faced over the past four decades. Many of these challenges derive from our inextricable linkage with ever-evolving technologies which drive new forms of exploitation. While the current debate centers on artificial intelligence, similar questions and challenges arose from others such as NFTs, streaming, digital downloads and ringtones etc.
I believe that a proactive and informed licensing approach, based on the tenants of fair renumeration and transparency is key to the industry’s success. The current trend of technology companies launching unlicensed products and settling afterward must be challenged. As the holder of mechanical rights AMCOS has the opportunity to be a vehicle of change which will lead to a more prosperous music business.
As music publishers we are nothing without the writers we represent and the goal should always be our shared prosperity. As a global independent music publisher who has also operated in Australia for 80 years I know peermusic’s institutional knowledge can contribute to AMCOS future. Simultaneously I hope my personal contemporary experience in digital licensing and a legal background would benefit the AMCOS board and through it the songwriting community.
BIOGRAPHY
Damian is the Managing Director of Sony Music Publishing Australia, has served on the Board since 1995 and is a former Chair. He is also Deputy Chair of the APRA Board and a Director of AMPAL.
Damian has been with Sony since the company re-started its publishing arm in 1992. Following the merger of Sony Music Publishing with EMI Music Publishing in 2012, he was appointed Managing Director of the combined publishing companies. He began his music industry career in 1981 at CBS Records.
During his career at Sony, Damian has worked with many of Australia’s most important and successful writers/artists such as Midnight Oil, Tame Impala, Sarah Aarons, Paul Kelly, Cold Chisel, Gurrumul, Angus & Julia Stone, Silverchair, AC/DC, Thelma Plum, Sarah Blasko, 5 Seconds Of Summer, AB Original and Alex Hope as well as emerging stars of the future like King Stingray, May-A, Sycco, Electric Fields and Barkaa to name a few.
ELECTION STATEMENT
Damian has a long-established commitment to the Australian music industry, proudly promoting our local artists and songwriters locally and internationally with a particular passion for supporting and helping to amplify the voices of our First Nations people.
He has dedicated the last 30+ years to protecting the rights and advocating on behalf of both songwriters and music publishers and, as head of the largest Music Publishing company in the country, to the development of emerging talent within both the business side of the industry as well as within the artist/songwriting community.