Peermusic Promotes Paul Smelt to Chief Operating Officer

Peermusic, the world’s largest global independent music publishing and neighbouring rights company with 39 offices in 33 countries, has promoted Paul Smelt to Chief Operating Officer as announced today by Mary Megan Peer, CEO, Peermusic. In this newly created role, Paul Smelt will oversee the administration of publishing and neighbouring rights for the company’s global offices. Paul previously served as COO of Peermusic Neighbouring Rights. Paul will based out of Peermusic’s offices in Amsterdam and will report to Mary Megan Peer. 

As COO of Peermusic, Paul will work closely with the leadership team to ensure continued success in client service, administrative excellence, and long-term strategic growth. Paul will be responsible for the company’s day-to-day administrative operational functions, optimizing internal processes to ensure efficiency and alignment with the company’s proprietary systems. His job will encompass publishing (copyright and royalties) and neighbouring rights (repertoire and distributions) to provide Peermusic clients with the best in class rights collections.

Mary Megan Peer commented: “Paul has been crucial in the integration of the three neighbouring rights companies we acquired in 2020 as their COO. We look forward to his continued success as he takes on this role in supporting our publishing operations as well. Paul’s expertise and client focus make him a perfect fit for peermusic’s priorities. We are fortunate that peermusic can draw on the integrity and leadership that Paul brings in this newly created position.”

Paul Smelt commented: “It’s an honor to work alongside a team of people that are dedicated to creating firsts in this industry and that consistently inspire me by their knowledge, network and level of service to the music community. I am grateful that Mary Megan has entrusted me with this position and for the opportunity to honor Peermusic’s history of championing songwriters and artists for nearly 100 years.”

Paul Smelt joined Peermusic in 2020 when Peermusic acquired Global Master Rights, the neighbouring rights company he co-founded with Erik Veerman [now Managing Director, Peermusic Neighbouring Rights]. In 2020, Peermusic acquired Global Master Rights, Premier Muzik, and All Right Music, a deal that instantly vaulted the newly formed Peermusic Neighbouring Rights into one of the leading independent neighbouring rights companies in the world, with a client roster that encompasses over 300+ recording rights owners and 3000+ performers, including many internationally recognized artists such as Billie Eilish, Teddy Swims, Imagine Dragons, Martin Garrix, Megan Thee Stallion, H.E.R. and Stromae, and over 300 record labels including Armada Music, Codiscos, Spinnin' Records, Empire, Ninja Tune, and Big Machine. Paul worked to successfully lead the integration of the three separate neighbouring rights companies from an operational perspective, including aligning client practices and payment methods. 

Paul’s extensive network and knowledge led to him being named COO of Peermusic Neighbouring Rights in 2023. In this role, he has been a key partner in the development of Peermusic’s proprietary neighbouring rights software and led an Operations team based in Montreal, Biarritz and Amsterdam.

Prior to joining Peermusic, Paul co-founded Global Master Rights in 2014, where his leadership role included operational management, finance, data, and key client relations. Prior to that, Paul worked at neighbouring rights organization SENA, where he managed international neighbouring rights with responsibility to executing over forty bilateral agreements with other rights organizations. Additionally, Paul acted as the main point of contact for key agents and performers represented by SENA. 

Paul graduated from Leiden University with a BA in Political Science. He also received a degree in Music Performance and Guitar from Fontys University of Applied Sciences. 

ABOUT PEERMUSIC:
Founded by Ralph S. Peer in 1928, Peermusic is the world’s largest global independent music publishing and neighbouring rights company and operates 39 offices in 33 countries. With well over a million titles in the company’s catalogue, and songs that vary from country, blues, jazz and pop to Latin, concert and rock‘n’roll, Peermusic is the largest privately owned company of its kind in the world. For further information about Peermusic, go to www.peermusic.com. For breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos, follow @Peermusic on Instagram and Snapchat.