SoundExchange, the organization that collects Internet and satellite radio royalties for recording artists, has brought in former XM Satellite Radio PR exec Marie Knowles as VP of communications.
Knowles |
SE, which was spun off from the Recording Industry Association of America in 2003, is a non-profit run by a board that includes execs of the RIAA, major music publishers, independent labels and artist reps.
Most of SE’s collected royalties are derived from Sirius-XM and web-based music service Pandora. It distributed $89.5M in the fourth quarter of 2011.
But Sirius-XM, last month filed an antitrust suit against SE for allegedly blocking the satellite radio company from making deals directly with record labels.
Knowles previously led PR for wireless company Iridium and was senior manager of corporate communications for XM, departing after its landmark merger with Sirius. She also worked the agency side at GolinHarris, DBC PR and Alexander Ogilvy.
SE president Michael Huppe noted the organization has grown from a fledgling company to a “thriving organization” in a short time. “It's important that we now have dedicated resources in place that enable us to clearly communicate our message as we move into our next chapter,” he said.
Congress designated it the only entity in the U.S. to collect digital performance royalties.