The Music Business Association (Music Biz) has landed Jon Platt, chairman and CEO of Sony Music Publishing, for a keynote conversation at its first in-person event in two years. The publishing executive will have 25 years of experience to draw on during a discussion with Music Biz president Portia Sabin at the org’s upcoming Music Biz 2022 conference, to be held May 9 – 12, 2022 at the JW Marriott Nashville.
“Of the many seismic shifts our industry has seen in the last two years, one thing that stands out is the rising profile of the publishing sector, particularly with regard to the streaming economy,” said Sabin. “Through his tireless work supporting both legendary and new songwriters, Jon is perfectly positioned to discuss these changes, and I’m honored to chat with him about this and more at our May event.”
Platt took over at SMP (then known as Sony/ATV) in 2019 after a seven-year stretch at rival Warner/Chappell, where he also rose to chairman and CEO. Before that, he spent 17 years at EMI, where he signed Kanye West, Jay-Z, Beyonce, Diddy and others.
In recent months, SMP has struck deals Olivia Rodrigo, the Duane Allman estate and, earlier this week, with Brazilian pop sensation Anitta. The Sony boss landed another boss in mid-December when Bruce Springsteen sold his masters to Sony Music and his music publishing to SMP in a combined deal that sources tell Billboard is in the ballpark of $500 million.
Under Platt, SMP has ruled both the Top Radio Airplay and the Hot 100 Songs charts for two straight quarters, according to the latest Billboard Publishers Quarterly, thanks to hits by Doja Cat, The Kid LAROI and Rodrigo, among others.
Music Biz 2022 will mark the organization’s first in-person Music Biz event since January 2020. Subsequent events have been held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and this year’s keynotes will appear under the burgeoning “Music Biz LIVE” banner. A preliminary conference agenda, registration and lodging information, along with important COVID-19 protocols, can be found on the conference’s website.
