Apple is launching a new music publishing division, headed up respected industry executive Elena Segal.
The newly created Global Director of Music Publishing role will involve working in both the United States and London. Creating the post was apparently one of the first moves made by Oliver Shusser, who recently took over as head of Apple Music.
A source told the website Music Business Worldwide that, “Oliver is well aware that much of the most important artist discovery happening in the music industry today comes from the publishing side of the business. He is also aware that record labels and artists are well served by industry relations teams at streaming platforms – they are in and out of those offices every day – but that publishing hasn’t yet enjoyed that kind of direct relationship.”
Prior to taking the job as Global Director of Music Publishing, Elena Segal worked for Apple doing licensing and legal work for iTunes and Apple Music. She joined the company in 2006.
So does this mean that Apple will be working to produce its own original music content in the same way it is doing for TV shows? Not necessarily.
Nonetheless, the move was reportedly carried out to act as a bridge between Apple and artists — and, in the words of MBW‘s source, to “underline the importance of publishing and songwriters to Apple.”
Who knows what could mean in the future, though…
