BMG CEO Hartwig Masuch To Keynote NY:LON Connect 2022
Industry innovator joins program of 30+ experts speaking
on where the global music business goes in 2022
December 9, 2021 — The Music Business Association (Music Biz) and Music Ally today confirm that Hartwig Masuch, CEO of international music company BMG, will deliver the keynote interview for the duo’s upcoming NY:LON Connect 2022 global music business summit on Thursday, January 20th, 2022 at 12:05 pm ET.
A music industry “lifer,” Masuch has spent the past 13 years reinventing what it means to be a music company in the streaming age. Under his leadership, BMG has grown to become the world’s fourth-biggest music company, the first new global player in the music business of the streaming age, and a record label and music publisher in one. From its structure — music publishing and records under one roof and off the same platform — to its commitments to service, fairness and transparency, BMG has emerged as a disruptor, forging a distinctive path in the modern music business.
“BMG’s story is an example to the global music industry at large, embracing technologies and personalized services with the power to ultimately reshape our industry with innovation and an artist-first mentality at the forefront,” said Music Biz President, Portia Sabin. “For that reason, it’s a genuine thrill to have Hartwig deliver our 2022 NY:LON keynote interview, as he shares how this forward-thinking approach has led to major success for BMG and can evolve how we do business for the better.”
“As we were developing the Values-Based Music Economy track, which looks at how the music business should respond to the scrutiny it faces and the wider context of the values that Gen Z and Gen Y music fans hold, the obvious keynote was Hartwig,” said Music Ally CEO & Co-Founder, Paul Brindley. “He has always put such an emphasis on ensuring greater transparency and accountability in business practices, so we’re delighted to have him speak at the event.”
“I am delighted to accept this invitation to speak at one of the world’s most influential events for those who really think about the future of the music business,” Masuch said “BMG is a genuinely values-driven company in an industry which traditionally finds it hard to think beyond next week’s chart position or market share. I look forward to sharing our experience of how a more ethical approach can deliver surprising business benefits.”
The NY:LON Connect 2022 global music industry summit takes place January 18 – 21, 2022 via the Socio events platform. Now in its 6th year, this global forum has become an important staple for the global music community, facilitating important conversations to guide the industry’s collective actions in the upcoming calendar year. Already confirmed speakers for the upcoming edition of NY:LON include Andreea Gleeson, CEO of TuneCore; Spek, Founder & President of PopArabia and EVP, Emerging Markets for Reservoir; Natalia Nastaskin, Chief Content Officer of Primary Wave; Lauren Wirtzer-Seawood, Chief Content & Marketing Officer of SoundCloud; and Fred Beteille, Head of Strategy – Audio Initiatives, Meta. Visit nylonconnect.com today for the full 2022 event agenda, speaker slate & bios, and registration details.
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About the Music Business Association
The Music Business Association (Music Biz) is a not-for-profit membership organization that advances, promotes and invests in the future of the music business by providing a trusted forum where ideas and cooperation flourish. Through events, education and engagement, the Association brings together the full breadth of the industry for unparalleled access to networking, resources and thought leadership.
About Music Ally
Music Ally is a knowledge and skills company that publishes industry leading business information and is a world leader in training the music business. We support and educate the industry on everything from digital marketing to how to build a successful startup. We run the popular Sandbox Summit digital marketing conferences and also run services in Japan and China. For more info, visit musically.com and learn.musically.com
About BMG
Founded in 2008, BMG is both record label and music publisher in one, the first new global player in the music business of the streaming age. Named in 2020 one of the world’s Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company, BMG’s pitch is unique – a relentless focus on fairness and transparency and service to its artist and songwriter clients. BMG’s 19 offices across 12 core music markets now represent over 3m songs and recordings, and thousands of artists and songwriters attracted by its fresh approach which now includes production music, film and books as well as music publishing and recordings. BMG is owned by international media, services and education company Bertelsmann, whose other content businesses include the broadcaster RTL Group, the trade book publisher Penguin Random House and the magazine publisher Gruner + Jahr. With its multi-platform perspective, integrated technology platform and commitment to help artists maximize their income, BMG aims to be the best company in music to do business with. www.bmg.com
Media Contacts
For Music Business Association:
Nicole Hennessey, Vice President — nicole.hennessey@ourlittlebalhamlife.com
For Music Ally:
Paul Brindley, CEO & Co-Founder – paul.brindley@musically.com
For BMG:
Susanne Schärges, Corporate Communications – susanne.schaerges@bmg.com
