This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Business News Industry People Labels & Publishers
Jez Bell moving to PPL, sparking more Rara chatter
By Chris Cooke | Published on Monday 16 March 2015
Jez Bell is returning to the collective licensing domain by joining the UK record industry’s performing rights organisation PPL as Chief Licensing Officer. Bell was previously Director Of Broadcast And Online for the music publishing sector’s PRO, PRS For Music, though in more recent years he has been working for digital platform provider Omnifone, and its sister company Rara.
At PPL, Bell takes over from Tony Clark, the society’s Director Of Licensing, who is retiring after fourteen years with the music rights body. Paying tribute to Clark, who worked within major labels before joining PPL, the society’s boss Peter Leathem said: “Tony has been a key contributor to PPL’s growth. I, along with everyone in the company, wish Tony a very happy and fulfilling retirement”.
Bell’s imminent move to PPL has led to more chatter about Rara, the streaming service which he led for a time as CEO, after moving over from Omnifone.
As previously reported, the boss of the latter, Jeff Hughes, recently told Music Ally that Omnifone had taken Rara back under its wing, having previously spun it off as a separate entity, but was now looking to offload the platform. And last week he confirmed to Music Business Worldwide that Rara was not currently taking on new subscribers, adding that the set-up would be wound down if a buyer can’t be found.
