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Keith Harris to leave PPL

By | Published on Thursday 24 September 2015

Keith Harris

Popular music industry figure Keith Harris is departing the UK record industry’s collecting society PPL, where he has been Director Of Performer Affairs since 2006, though he will continue to consult for the rights organisation.

Harris joined PPL after its merger with PAMRA and AURA, separate societies that previously handled the performer equitable remuneration bit of sound recording performing rights. As a result of that merger, the UK now had one organisation to collect and distribute performing right royalties on behalf of labels, featured artists and session musicians. That being something of an innovation, one of Harris’s jobs was to convince performers this was a good idea. And nearly ten years on, that particular task is done.

“It has been a good and exciting nine years”, Harris said, confirming his departure from the Director Of Performer Affairs role. “But I feel that the job that I was originally brought in to do has come to a positive end, with performers now totally integrated into PPL”.

PPL Chair Fran Nevrkla, who was the body’s CEO at the time of Harris’s appointment, and who will also step down from his current role at the organisation at the end of the year, added: “I was delighted when nine years ago, Keith let me persuade him to join PPL in a new role of Director Of Performer Affairs. As far as I was concerned, he was the only ideal candidate for the job and his contribution over the years has been enormous. Keith is a remarkable individual, a real team player and a true gentleman. He is a pleasure to work with and I thank him for all his sterling work and for his friendship”.

So that’s nice isn’t it? But do we have time for one more quote? Okay, current PPL CEO Peter Leathem, but be quick: “Keith has been a very good friend and colleague and has played a key role in turning PPL from a collective management organisation that worked for record companies into one that also works for performers. I am delighted that Keith believes that his original role has now run its course in light of what has been achieved for performers at PPL, but am also delighted that Keith will continue to work for PPL as a consultant”.

Bit long that, to be honest Pete. But hey, we’ll forgive you. Harris already has other projects beyond PPL, of course, including chairing MusicTank and repping Stevie Wonder.



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