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Alison Wenham to depart WIN, as UK’s MPA announces new chief

By Chris Cooke | Published on Thursday 13 December 2018

Alison Wenham is standing down as CEO of the Worldwide Independent Network, the global grouping that brings together trade organisations representing the indie music community around the world.

Wenham founded WIN – initially as an informal network – back in 2006 while still heading up the UK’s Association Of Independent Music. She then became WIN’s full-time CEO after standing down as AIM boss in 2016.

Among other things, WIN was behind the Fair Digital Deals Declaration in 2014 which saw countless indies make commitments to their artists about how they would report and share digital income. It also launched the WINTEL report that measures record industry market share based on copyright ownership rather than distribution.

Having originally launched AIM in 1999, Wenham has been campaigning for indies for pretty much two decades. Confirming her departure from WIN, she said this morning: “It has been a pleasure and a privilege to devote two decades of my life and career to helping ensure the stability and continued growth of the independent music sector”.

She added: “Since launching AIM in 1999 I have stood shoulder to shoulder with amazing friends and colleagues as, together, we set out and then delivered a new era of respect for the role and importance of the sector. We changed attitudes towards the sector across the world, and ensured that independent music copyrights are now recognised and valued”.

The current Chair of WIN, Beggars Group chief Martin Mills, also paid tribute to the organisation’s departing chief, stating: “Alison has been a force of nature for all of us, and a central factor in indies being able to compete worldwide with companies many times their size. As she moves on, she leaves us strong and thriving, and looking forward to many fruitful seasons. For that we are eternally grateful to her”.

Elsewhere in music industry trade organisation news, the UK’s Music Publishers Association has confirmed that long-time PRS exec Paul Clements has been appointed as its new CEO. He takes over from Jane Dyball, who confirmed she was departing the trade body back in July.

Like Dyball, Clements will head up the MPA group of companies which, as well as the trade body itself, includes mechanical rights collecting society MCPS and sheet music licensing body PMLL.

Confirming the appointment, the MPA’s Chair – Jackie Alway of Universal Music Publishing – said: “We are delighted that Paul is joining us as CEO of our group. His ability to engage on issues with intellectual focus, as well as communicate with clarity and passion, makes us excited about his future advocacy on behalf of our community. In addition, he brings a keen business brain which will help expand the reach of our PMLL business”.