Sony Music has created a new position of executive vp of AI, and hired former BPI CEO Geoff Taylor to take up the role, according to an internal memo obtained by Billboard. Taylor, who spent 15 years as chief of the British recorded music trade body, will report to Sony Music Entertainment COO Kevin Kelleher.
In the new role, Taylor will coordinate the major label’s business efforts surrounding artificial intelligence, and coordinate across the global digital business and business and legal affairs division, according to the memo.
The move comes as the music business continues to grapple with the particular challenges that are beginning to arise through the proliferation of artificial intelligence in the digital world, particularly its effect on copyright and ability to be trained on existing musical compositions, among other issues. Battles have begun to pop up around AI-generated music on streaming services, and songs that have been released that mimic existing artists, producers and songwriters without their input or consent, with additional use cases popping up seemingly every day.
The position appears to be the first AI-specific executive-level role introduced by any of the major labels. Check out Kelleher’s memo below.
All,
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has great significance for the future of the music industry and, as a result, more focused attention on it is required.
Accordingly, we are delighted to share that Geoff Taylor will be joining us as our new Executive Vice President, Artificial Intelligence.
Reporting to me and working closely with our Global Digital Business and Business & Legal Affairs divisions, Geoff will align and help coordinate the work of every part of the business that touches AI.
Geoff brings to our company decades of music industry experience. Most recently, from 2007 to 2022 Geoff was the Chief Executive of the BPI, our UK Trade Body for recorded music, where he led the fight against piracy and fraud and advocated for the strategic importance of recorded music to jobs, investment and maintaining the UK’s global competitiveness. Prior to joining the BPI, Geoff was General Counsel and Executive Vice-President at our global recorded music trade body, the IFPI from 2005-2007.
In these roles, Geoff has worked with our company for several years and I am delighted he is joining to help us successfully navigate a key moment in the history of the music industry.
So please join me in welcoming Geoff to Sony Music and feel free to reach out to him with any questions you might have at [Sony Music Entertainment Email Redacted].
Kevin
