New board of the European Music Council elected 27 Jun 2025
Within the frame of the Annual Meeting of the European Music Council the members have elected a new board on 26 June 2025, for the next 2 years.
The EMC Board is now including 8 representatives of EMC members to decide on content and the strategic outline of the organisation.
Mila Georgieva - as Chair
Nominated by the Bulgarian Music Association
Mila Georgieva is one of the most active Bulgarian professionals in the field of culture management, dedicated to the promotion and internationalisation of the Bulgarian music scene across Europe and beyond. A graduate of the National Music School in Sofia as a classical pianist, she went on to study Mass Communications, Music Production, and Music Management at New Bulgarian University. Mila began her career in 2010 as Head of the Talent Management department at the Bulgarian branch of Central European Media Enterprises (CME) owned by Time Warner. Over the years, she and her team managed more than 40 musicians and actors. She is the co-founder and Head Producer of SoAlive Music Conference (SAMC), the leading music industry event in Sofia. She currently serves as Vice-Chair of the Bulgarian Music Association (BMA), where she oversees international activities. As part of BMA, she was also the Project Manager for the Creative Europe project MOST - The Bridge for Balkan Music. In 2023, Mila founded the Tales of Sinemoria Foundation, a cultural organisation focused on regional development through arts programming. The foundation is currently developing the Tales of Sinemoria Festival. She is also a board member of the European Music Council (since June 2023), and has worked with A to Z Foundation (organisers of A to JazZ Festival) as an international relations and project manager. Her experience further includes collaboration with Four for Music, a film and video game music production company whose clients include Lucasfilm, HBO, BBC, Netflix, Creative Assembly, and Gameloft, among others.
Angharad Cooper - as Vice Chair
Nominated by the Center for Music Ecosystems
Angharad is a cultural consultant and producer based in Paris and Brittany. Holding dual British-Irish nationality and fluent in French, she works internationally with clients across the music and culture sectors, developing both artistic projects and policy initiatives. She splits her time between her role as Director of Operations at the music policy NGO, Center for Music Ecosystems, and her freelance work as a consultant, producer, and coach, collaborating on diverse music projects with a wide range of artists and partners. Her expertise spans contemporary classical music, experimental and traditional music, and opera. Since 2023, she has served as a board member of the European Music Council, where she holds the additional role of Green Representative. She is also the former Chair of Soundmix (a UK music charity for young refugees and asylum seekers) and a board member of the Daphne Oram Trust, advocating for women and gender-minority composers. While at Sound and Music, the UK national organisation for contemporary music, she worked with over a hundred experimental composers and sound artists from the UK and Europe. As Director at the Center for Music Ecosystems, she develops participatory, research-driven projects aimed at shaping innovative global music policy. Notable projects include “Intellectual Property Frameworks: Learnings from the Music Industry” for the UN Development Programme, the Music Policy Resilience Network, and the Music Economy Development Initiative. She is also a mentor for the European Music Council, Keychange, WOW Women of the World, and Help Musicians UK.
Niels Græsholm - as Treasurer
Nominated by the International Federation for Choral Music (IFCM)
Niels Græsholm is associate professor of choral conducting and adjacent subjects at the University of Copenhagen. He is also a Chairperson of the Danish Choral Directors Association and the Nordic Choir Forum and a board member of the International Federation of Choral Music (IFCM). He has degrees in music education in both classical, jazz and ethnic music, in conducting and choral pedagogy and a Master of Public Governance. He has taught music for more than forty years at a large variety of music institution in Denmark.
Joanna Grotkowska
Nominated by the Polish Music Council
Music journalist, radio producer and organiser of the music life in Poland, Joanna is the vice president of the Polish Music Council Board. After graduating from the University of Warsaw she started working in the Polish Society for Contemporary Music as well as in the Polish Radio Channel 2. Since 2013, she has been the delegate of the Polish Radio at the IMC International Rostrum of Composers and in April 2023, she was honoured with the ‘Golden Microphone’ for her ‘tireless promotion of contemporary music’. Her collaboration with the EMC started in 2015 from the Share & Learn: Audience Development Workshop organised in Warsaw. She co-organised the 6th European Forum on Music and 63rd International Rostrum of Composers held in Wroclaw, May 2016. Since 2018 she is a member of the EMC Board.
Martí Ferrer i Bosch
Nominated by Moviment Coral Català
Martí Ferrer i Bosch (Girona, Catalonia 1977) is the conductor of the Capella Polifònica de Girona, as well as its children’s and youth choirs, GiroNins and La Jove. He is also the conductor of the Girona University Choir and Orchestra and the co-founder of FICTA Edicions i Produccions, a publishing house and record label established in 2015, dedicated to Catalan musical heritage and contemporary music. With extensive experience in leading organisations, he is a former president of SCIC (the Catalan Children’s Choirs Federation) and the Moviment Coral Català, an umbrella organisation representing more than 700 Catalan choirs, including children's, youth, and adult ensembles. During his tenure, he founded and coordinated the Inclusion and Choral Singing Conference (held five times) and the Catalan National Youth Choir (three editions). He also played a key role in organising five editions of the Mediterranean Choral Forum, which took place in Catalonia (twice), Cyprus, Turkey, Lebanon, and Portugal. Martí Ferrer i Bosch has also served on the boards of several international organisations. He was the treasurer of the International Music Council, a board member of the World Youth Choir Foundation, the Euro-Arab Youth Music Center, and the European Choral Association.
Claudia Stobrawa
Nominated by REMA European Early Music Network
Claudia Stobrawa was born in Thuringia/Germany in 1979 and learned playing the piano, singing, guitar and flute growing up. After completing a Master's degree in Musicology and Music Management at the Sorbonne Paris IV, her way took her to Leipzig Opera in 2004, where she began her career as assistant to the opera director. In 2006, she moved to the opera house in Halle an der Saale as artistic producer, where she was also in charge of the productions for the Händel Festival. From 2007 to 2022, she was responsible for hundreds of high-calibre opera productions with international artists in her role as head of artistic production at the Theater an der Wien in Vienna. At the same time, she repeatedly gave courses in self-management at the Vienna University of Music and Performing Arts (mdw). She is also a consultant for the French socio-cultural think tank IDEE EUROPE. Since June 2023, she has headed the newly founded Nikolaus Harnoncourt Zentrum at the Anton Bruckner University in Linz, which publishes Harnoncourt's artistic legacy digitally, documents his life's work for the future and makes it accessible to the public, but especially for research and education. She has been part of the Administration Board of REMA (European Early Music Network) since March 2025. She speaks German, English, French and Italian. In her leisure time, she sings in a chamber choir.
Robert Vroegindeweij
Nominated by the European Music School Union
Mr Robert Vroegindeweij has been the director of Muziekschool Zeeland since 2019. This music school is located in the south-west of the Netherlands and has 3.500 students, reaching out to 10.000 children in primary and secondary schools each year. Muziekschool Zeeland also runs extensive social programmes, including activities for elderly people in nursing homes. The school's slogan is: 'A long life of music, long live music!' Mr Vroegindeweij joined the presidium of the European Music School Union in 2021. He is also the co-founder of the Cultural Board Zeeland, which develops new political strategies for connecting culture to other areas of society. The Cultural Board Zeeland has strong links with the Economic Board. Together, they invest in provincial liveability and the investment climate. Mr Vroegindeweij is also the co-founder of the Mostly Modern Festival in the Netherlands, a professional new music festival which has a counterpart in New York. He runs this with Rob and Victoria Paterson, who live in New York. The festival provides a platform for young professional composers from around the globe to showcase their talent at the beginning of their careers. Mr Vroegindeweij started his career as a professional flautist, which shaped his love for art and music. He says, "The most important role for us is to pass on our love of art to children. The beauty of art brings wonder and shapes cultural identity; it defines who we are.”
Inese Zagorska
Nominated by the Latvian Music Council
Inese Zagorska is the Artistic Director of CÄ“sis Concert Hall, one of Latvia's most prominent concert venues. Since 2015, she has been a member of the Board of the Latvian National Music Council (LNMC), and was re-elected as Chairperson in 2023 due to her dedication to cultural development in Latvia. In this role, she has contributed to shaping the LNMC strategy and creating new opportunities within the organisation. Inese has also served as an expert at the State Cultural Capital Fund (VKKF), which promotes and preserves Latvian culture. She has played a key role in promoting new cultural initiatives, including the Music Art School and chamber music concert hall in Sigulda, as well as the CÄ“sis Concert Hall. She is also involved in the renovation of the Richard Wagner Theatre in Riga, set to open in 2028. As the Artistic Director of the “Cello CÄ“sis” International Cello Festival, Inese has twice received the Europe for Festivals Label (EFFE). In 2018, she founded the Peteris Vasks Music Festival, celebrating the prominent Latvian composer. Inese has worked with the renowned violinist Gidon Kremer and the Kremerata Baltica orchestra since 2004, promoting their concerts in Latvia. Several concerts organised by CÄ“sis Concert Hall have won the Latvian Great Music Award. Her international work includes representing Latvia in the EMC's STAMP project and organising the 2015 European Music Council Annual Forum. Inese has also participated in cultural projects worldwide, including the “Peace Child” production in Scotland. She is a graduate of the Jazeps Vitols Latvian Academy of Music and holds a Master’s degree in Arts Management from the Latvian Academy of Culture.
New EMC chairwoman Mila Georgieva expressed her sincere thanks to Audrey Guerre, chairwoman of the EMC from 2023-2025, for her dedicaton and support as a board member since 2018. A sincere thanks also goes to the outgoing EMC board members, Michalis Karakatsanis and David Zsoldos.
NEWS & PRESS
PPL makes payment of £96.7 million to 139,000 performers and recording rightsholders
PPL is making a Q2 payment of £96.7 million to 139,000 performers and recording rightsholders. This distribution is comprised primarily of payments for UK collections across public performance and broadcast licensing in 2024, as well as some additional revenue from international...more
HFA's Rumblefish Provides Music Rights Administration Services to ByteDance
HFA’s Rumblefish, a trusted provider of comprehensive music industry rights administration services, is pleased to announce that it has been engaged to provide data, licensing, and royalty management services to support ByteDance’s TikTok and CapCut products. TikTok is a social...more
Jack Delaney promoted to General Manager at Murray Chalmers PR
Jack Delaney has been promoted to the role of General Manager at Murray Chalmers PR, effective immediately. Jack will work with Murray in developing and implementing business operations whilst continuing to work on specific client accounts including Headie One, Lily Allen,...more
“Unimaginable in any other sector†- Impala’s Helen Smith on planned Downtown acquisition
Op-ed originally published on Music Ally on 25th June 2025 “Unimaginable in any other sector” All markets need big companies. And the world’s biggest music company is more than that. UMG is innovative and bullish. And a great collaborator on so many issues. The only question...more
Wise Music Group signs publishing deal with Gloria De Oliveira
Wise Music Group is happy to announce that Gloria de Oliveira has signed an exclusive publishing agreement with Berlin-based Bosworth Music GmbH and Random Musick Publishing. Writing and performing music since childhood, Gloria de Oliveira’s creative journey has led her...more
ESNS turns 40: ‘Europe Calling’ to lead anniversary celebrations in January
ESNS TURNS 40: ‘EUROPE CALLING’ TO LEAD ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS IN JANUARY In a world marked by geopolitical tensions, cultural fragmentation and rapid industry shifts, Eurosonic Noorderslag (ESNS) will celebrate its 40th anniversary in January 2026 and responds with a strong, unifying...more
Cliff Fluet to Lead Board of Industry Leaders as Chair of Music Technology UK
Newly appointed board to include Helen Sartory, Beatport; Claire Mas, Spitfire Audio; Gareth Deakin, Sonorous Global Music Technology UK (MTUK), the UK's only trade association dedicated to supporting music tech startups, today announced the appointment of Cliff Fluet as its inaugural Chair,...more
SymphonyOS Gives Maestro, its AI Marketing Assistant, a Powerful Upgrade
Reimagined marketing assistant launches as SymphonyOS teams up with Groover to offer artists more promo power Artists at every stage of their journey now have a powerful new marketing tool to guide them: Maestro, the reimagined AI assistant from SymphonyOS. A...more
New board of the European Music Council elected
Within the frame of the Annual Meeting of the European Music Council the members have elected a new board on 26 June 2025, for the next 2 years.The EMC Board is now including 8 representatives of EMC members to decide on content...more
Universal Music Group named to Time's 2025 list of the 100 most influential companies
UMG’s inclusion in the TIME100 marks the first appearance of a major music company since the list’s inception Universal Music Group (UMG), the world leader in music-based entertainment, was named to TIME’s fifth-annual TIME100 Most Influential Companies list, highlighting companies making an extraordinary impact around...more
StrmMusic Appoints Geoff Cubitt CEO of StrmMusic North America amid Global Expansion
Digital innovation leader takes the helm to accelerate StrmMusic’s growth in the US and Canada, establishes HQ in Chicago StrmMusic, the smart label supercharging artists’ trajectories, has announced the appointment of Geoff Cubitt as CEO of StrmMusic North America. The company...more
oiid Integrates Music AI to Scale Its Interactive Direct-to-Fan Apps
oiid, the company that makes artist branded superfan apps, has now integrated Music AI’s state-of-the-art stem separation technology into its artist-based apps.The integration will help artists at all stages of their careers to engage fans like never before, enabling fans...more
Wise Music Group signs Austrian/American composer Lukas Ligeti
Edition Peters, part of Wise Music Group, is delighted to announce the signing of composer, drummer, and visionary musical innovator Lukas Ligeti to its roster. Known for his groundbreaking work across genres and continents, Ligeti has forged a unique path through...more
Full dates & locations for all Official Oasis Live '25
Fan Stores revealed London, Birmingham, Edinburgh & Dublin store details revealed, alongside Manchester and Cardiff Official Oasis Live ‘25 merchandise collection unveiled, available to shop in store and online Exclusive brand collaborations, including ‘adidas Originals x Oasis’ Ahead of the sold-out Oasis world tour,...more
Outernet London - the UKs most visited cultural attraction - seeks naming rights partner
Outernet, the most visited cultural attraction in the UK announces today for the first time its search for a naming rights partner with branding opportunities across the entire Outernet district - right in the heart of central London. As well...more
Co-op Live becomes first European arena to launch Virtual Venue with Ticketmaster
Co-op Live has become the first arena outside of North America to launch Virtual Venue, Ticketmaster’s cutting-edge 3D tool that lets fans preview their view from seat before purchasing. Powered by Ticketmaster, Virtual Venue allows fans to explore 360-degree views from...more
Sony Music Publishing Appoints Margherita Gnech as Managing Director of Italy
Today Sony Music Publishing announced the promotion of Margherita Gnech to Managing Director of Italy, effective immediately. As Managing Director, Gnech will be responsible for overseeing creative and business operations across SMP Italy, driving the company’s growth and innovation in one...more
Symphonic Distribution and Humanable Announce Strategic Partnership to Protect Human-Made Music
Humanable, the patent-pending, artist-first solution to Generative AI’s (GenAI) disruption of the music ecosystem, has entered into a strategic partnership with Symphonic Distribution, a leading music technology and services company for independent labels, managers, and artists. Under the partnership, Humanable...more
Bucks signs admin deal with independent label Bigo & Twigetti
Digital-first classical and electronica label has earned over 500m streams over the last two years Bucks Music Group has signed an administration deal with London-based independent record label Bigo & Twigetti. Bigo & Twigetti mixes classical music, electronica, sound design and more....more
Soundstripe Brings Industry-First Interactive Smart Assistant to Music Search
Thanks to Supe, Soundstripe’s just-launched AI search assistant, the first of its kind, creatives can now find the right track for every project faster. Shorthand for music supervisor—the expert whose comprehensive musical knowledge gets projects over the finish line—this new...more
SourceAudio and Musical AI Ink Strategic Partnership Adding Output Attribution To Most Comprehensive AI Music Dataset Marketplace
First and leading service for ethical generative AI music licensing and first true attribution tech provider for AI join forces to support growing demand for fairly trained AI models. SourceAudio and Musical AI are announcing a strategic partnership that will unite their AI expertise...more
Music Venue Properties announce second £500,000 loan facility agreement with Figurative
Music Venue Properties (MVP), the pioneering Charitable Community Benefit Society created by Music Venue Trust (MVT), has announced a second £500,000 loan agreement with Figurative - an independent not-for-profit supporting impact, investment and innovation in the cultural and creative sector (CCS) -...more
IDOL appoints Johann Böhringer as General Manager, Germany, Austria and Switzerland
- To lead IDOL’s Berlin office, overseeing its GAS roster and business development- Will lead new SPRINTS album rollout via City Slang, announced yesterday- Also signs ex-Ninja Tune/Brainfeeder electronic producer Dorian Concept to global distribution and services deal Independent distributor IDOL,...more
Dancefloor Launches 'Pro' Platform to Empower Nightlife Promoters
Dancefloor today announced the official launch of Dancefloor Pro, a purpose-built platform designed to empower promoters and venue operators. More than just a discovery tool, Dancefloor is the ultimate event promotion hub that goes above and beyond ticketing by providing...more
Impala announces the launch of new 'Label Camp' project to boost cross-border collaboration among independent music companies
IMPALA is launching a new initiative designed to foster cross-border collaboration, peer learning and capacity building among independent labels across Europe. This new 'Label Camp' project is part of IMPALA’s EU network programme, which co-funds certain projects, boosting the organisation’s work...more
Multi-platinum artist James Arthur signs global publishing deal with BMG
BMG is proud to announce that it has signed multi-platinum singer-songwriter James Arthur, to an exclusive global publishing agreement. One of the UK’s most successful contemporary artists, Arthur has built a reputation as a powerful storyteller, blending raw emotion with genre-spanning...more
UK festivals counted for first time in AIF Festival Forecast 2025
Live Nation owns all but one of four major festivals above 80,000 capacity. Festival Forecast 2025 here. The UK's festival sector has been counted in full for the first time as part of The Association of Independent Festivals' Festival Forecast 2025. New AIF research has...more
Live music to be revolutionised with unprecedented performances
JACK SAUNDERS CONFIRMED TO HOST FIRST EVER "GREATEST MUSIC ARTISTS" MUSIC ARTISTS TO EXPLORE AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT WITHOUT LIMITATIONTechnology and artistry at the forefront of new live concept On 15 November 2025 a groundbreaking new show will debut, allowing exceptional music artists the chance to...more
Scotland's national music prize unveils Dundee as new location for 2025
SAY AWARD DESIGN COMMISSION NOW OPEN FOR CREATIVES IN UNESCO CITY OF DESIGN PLUS, 2024 WINNERS REDOLENT SET TO PERFORM AT CEREMONY Early-bird tickets on sale via www.sayaward.com View images HERE #SAYaward #SAYDundee Scotland’s national music prize, the Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award, has unveiled a...more
Music Growth Package - statements
Annabella Coldrick, Chief Executive, Music Managers Forum: "The MMF welcomes the incoming Music Growth Package and the Government's recognition of a need for progress on areas including streaming reform, EU touring, and grassroots live music. The UK should be the best...more
THE HEADLINES
Selected Glastonbury coverage (see News, Features, Showbiz, Reviews)
Streaming is both retail and radio – it shouldn’t be (see Comment)
Impala’s Helen Smith on UMG's planned Downtown acquisition (see Comment)
Retiring Arista CEO David Massey shares his top 10 career highlights (see Features)
Budweiser’s royalty loophole ad: How AI and social have changed the value of creators (see Comment)
When did making music get so lonely? (see Comment)
How will Taylor Swift’s masters ownership saga be remembered? (see Audio&Visual)
The copyright war between the AI industry and creatives (see Comment)
Interview: Lyor Cohen, the head of YouTube Music (see Features)
The ‘pure’ songwriter is disappearing – and it’s everyone’s problem (see Comment)
What 20 years of YouTube reveals about creativity’s future (see Features)
Welcome to entertainment’s ‘Mad Max’ era. Here’s where it leads (see Comment)
Did Sony’s Rob Stringer just hand regulators the case to tank Universal’s Downtown dreams? (see Comment)