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Downtown Music sets up new unit to pursue new market opportunities

By | Published on Friday 4 June 2021

Downtown Music

Downtown Music has announced the launch of a new central department within the business that will lead on the firm’s new markets strategy or, in the words of an official statement, “be responsible for unlocking growth opportunities for Downtown in both new and existing global territories”.

The new unit is part of rejig at Downtown following the music firm’s decision to sell off its catalogue of owned song rights and instead focus entirely on providing services to other rights-holders and independent creators via its various existing subsidiaries that provide such services on both the songs and recordings side of the music rights business.

The new team charged with the task of finding all those growth opportunities will be headed up by David Alexander, MD of the South Africa-based music publisher that Downtown acquired last year, Sheer Music Publishing. He will be joined by Heli Del Moral, who previously headed up international operations for Downtown’s DIY distribution company CD Baby.

Says Alexander of his new role as SVP of New Markets for the wider Downtown business: “I’m excited to help shape a comprehensive global strategy that addresses the needs of creators in both established and emerging markets. Understanding cultural differences and how the music industry is developing across international markets is essential to craft better opportunities and more equitable solutions. This decision further demonstrates Downtown’s commitment to international creators and its purpose to represent the interests of music creators across all genres, languages, and territories”.

He will report into Downtown’s EVP Of Global Business Development Andrew Sparkler who adds: “David’s deep expertise building the largest independent music publisher on the African continent, his knowledge of the global music industry, and passion for supporting creators, makes him ideally suited to lead our new markets strategy. The added partnership and support from Heli, with his impressive track record growing international operations in Latin America and India, is an ideal complement”.

Alexander will also continue to head up Sheer Music Africa in the short term while a new MD is recruited.



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