(NEW YORK, NY September –, 2023) Downtown Music Holdings today announced that Pieter van Rijn, President of the group’s business and professional services division, Downtown Music, has been appointed to its Board of Directors.
"When we first set out to transform Downtown Music, our B2B division, into a fully integrated suite of business service offerings, we were fortunate to have such a strong executive in our organization who could help us execute on that vision,” said Andrew Bergman, CEO of Downtown Music Holdings. "The addition of Pieter to our board further demonstrates Downtown's commitment and mission to empower creators and the businesses that serve them."
Over the past twelve months, Downtown has undergone a significant transformation of its music services businesses through the positioning of its business services into one fully aligned division which includes its distribution, publishing, UGC monetization, sync and platform services. Most recently, new royalty and financial services have been added to the portfolio with Downtown’s acquisition of Curve Royalty Systems earlier this year. Last year van Rijn was appointed to lead this division.
Over that same period, Downtown Music’s pioneering approach to rights management has translated into significant global success. Alongside a series of notable client signings including publishing administration deals with Raja Kumari, The National and Alison Goldfrapp and distribution agreements with Marathon Music Group, Los CT and The Hives, Downtown has seen a growing number of partners opt into multiple services, unlocking additional revenue through a simplified collection process. Most recently, the estate of Miles Davis built on its publishing administration deal, adding neighbouring rights collection, while acclaimed British pop-rock band, The Hoosiers, signed both a publishing administration and distribution deal with Downtown.
Said President of Downtown Music, Pieter van Rijn, “Already the largest end-to-end music rights management platform in the world, Downtown is firmly positioned as the future of the music industry. I’m excited to join Justin, Andrew and the Downtown board of directors to continue shaping that future.”
Van Rijn joins Downtown’s existing board of directors, including Alison Moore and Kelli Turner, who joined in 2022.
Said Justin Kalifowitz, Founder and Executive Chairman, Downtown Music Holdings, “Pieter is an exceptional executive who has played a key role in transforming Downtown Music into the market leader for business and professional services. We are looking forward to welcoming Pieter to the Board as we continue to chart the future of the company.”
Pieter van Rijn is the President of Downtown Music, the business division of Downtown Music Holdings, combining FUGA and Downtown’s Artist & Label Services, Publishing and Neighbouring Rights divisions. Prior to becoming President of Downtown Music in July 2022, van Rijn was the CEO of music distributor FUGA, leading the business through a period of unprecedented growth.
Van Rijn developed FUGA’s global footprint, launching new hubs across EMEA, LATAM and APAC, and led the steady transformation to FUGA becoming a full label-services business, including marketing services, royalty accounting, physical distribution, and audience engagement, whilst ensuring it remains a music-tech leader.
