Ralph W. Peer has been named Managing Director, peermusic UK, expanding his role within the world’s premiere independent music publishing firm to oversee creative and administrative operations for the company in the U.K. region as announced today by Mary Megan Peer, Chief Executive Officer, peermusic and Nigel Elderton, President, peermusic Europe. 

Ralph W. Peer will be based out of the London offices. Peer will also continue directing peermusic initiatives in Australasia and African and Middle East operations. His new title is Managing Director, U.K., Australasia and Vice President of peermusic’s African and Middle East operations. Peermusic UK staff will report directly to Peer, with Nigel Elderton continuing to oversee the company’s creative and administrative operations throughout Europe. 

Nigel Elderton commented: “We remain steadfastly focused on providing our peermusic roster of artists, songwriters, and producers with the very best in executive talent, A&R prowess, sync, and administrative expertise. With this move, we know our U.K. office remains in very capable hands as we continue to expand peermusic as the preeminent independent music publishing company throughout Europe. I have every confidence that Ralph will provide our peermusic songwriters and business partners with the best level of attention and care, and our entire peermusic team joins me in wishing Ralph continued success.”

Ralph W. Peer commented: “Nigel is a true music man, who knows every facet of the music publishing business—I’m honored for the opportunity to continue contributing to peermusic’s future and lead our UK operations, whilst working alongside some of the best music publishing executives in the business. The team at peermusic U.K. has a proven track record of implementing creative strategies that move our songwriters towards career-defining moments with the upmost levels of attention and nurturing. As an independent publisher with 39 offices in 32 countries, peermusic is uniquely positioned to offer our U.K. roster the global footprint needed to build their international opportunities backed by the administrative strengths to ensure they receive optimal royalties.”

Ralph W. Peer joined peermusic full-time in August 2019 as Vice President for Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East and before also working in Business Affairs in the London office in January 2020. In 2022, Peer was appointed managing director of the company’s South Africa office and later that year expanded his role to oversee creative and administrative operations for the company in the Australasia region. During this time, Peer worked across Australia, Fiji, New Guinea & New Zealand signing, developing and implementing creative strategy for its music publishing roster. He established peermusic Australia’s premiere international songwriting camp to inspire cross-cultural collaborations, working with the company’s US creative team to bring multi-platinum, legendary hitmakers from the U.S. to Australia to work with some of Australia’s top artists, songwriters and producers. 

Peer holds a masters of law (LLM) from Columbia Law School as well as a graduate diploma in law from City University of London Law School and an MSc in Finance and Financial Law from SOAS University. 

Peer’s appointment comes at a time of unprecedented momentum for the peermusic U.K. team. In February of this year, peermusic U.K. signed Nothing But Thieves to an exclusive global publishing deal for the band’s fifth studio album. The band released their fourth studio album Dead Club City in June 2023, which debuted at No. 1 on the UK and Netherlands Album Charts, nabbing Nothing But Thieves their first album chart crowns. The record features the hit single “Welcome to the DCC”, BBC Radio 1’s Hottest record of the Year –finishing above Olivia Rodrigo’s “Vampire” and Miley Cyrus’s “Flowers,” while their other hit single, “Overcome,” was crowned Record of the Year 2023 by listeners of Radio X. 

Peermusic U.K. also announced earlier this month a creative joint venture with iconic music brand, Marshall. Through the deal, peermusic and Marshall will work to sign and develop artists/songwriters with the Marshall Records label via a creative joint venture and Marshall Records Publishing also signed an exclusive, global administration deal with peermusic.  

peermusic was founded by Ralph S. Peer (Ralph W. Peer’s grandfather) in 1927. With Ralph S. Peer’s passing in 1960, his wife Monique Peer took on the role of peermusic's CEO and continued to deftly guide the company for the next 20 years. Ralph Peer II took over leadership of the company in the early 1980’s and today serves as Executive Chair. Mary Megan Peer serves as the company’s Chief Executive Officer. peermusic is privately owned and has been led by the Peer family since its inception 97 years ago.