Apple has launched a new internal division focused on music publishing, according to a new report by Music Business Worldwide, one of the first major new initiatives by newly-appointed Apple Music VP Oliver Schusser, who was promoted to head up Apple Music last month. Elena Segal, who was previously Legal Director of iTunes International and is well-known in the music publishing industry, has been appointed Apple Music’s Global Director of Music Publishing. The new division will also reportedly contain sub-divisions such as Operations, Commercial, Publisher Relations, and Artists & Repertoire (A&R).
MBW quotes one of its sources as saying, “Oliver is well aware that much of the most important artist discovery happening in the music industry today comes from the publishing side of the business.” and “He is also aware that record labels and artists are well served by industry relations teams at streaming platforms – they are in and out of those offices every day – but that publishing hasn’t yet enjoyed that kind of direct relationship,” adding that Schusser is aiming to “underline the importance of publishing and songwriters to Apple.” The newly-minted Global Director of Music Publishing, Elena Segal, has been with Apple since 2006, and has been responsible for many legal and licensing matters for both iTunes and Apple Music, including licensing for launching the iTunes Store in multiple territories, and heading up the licensing for the global launch of Apple Music, which was able to launch in over 100 markets simultaneously back in June 2015.
