5 questions with… Kenny McGoff

Music Business Worldwide‘s ‘5 Questions With’ is a new quick-fire interview series in which we catch up with some of the most dynamic figures working in the global industry.

We start with Kenny McGoff, Head Of Creative UK & GSA, Kobalt.

The London-based exec led Kobalt’s UK team to win Best Major Publisher at MBW’s peer-voted Music Business UK Awards in November.

That gong reflected a run of successes with frontline songwriters/artists including Sam Fender, Punctual, South Arcade, Luis Navidad (Skye Newman), Max Wolfgang (Olivia Dean), and The Last Dinner Party.

Other recent highlights for McGoff and Kobalt’s global A&R team have included the signing of II from Sleep Token, as well as Max Martin and Shellback’s contributions to Taylor Swift’s all-conquering The Life Of A Showgirl.

1. What have you got to celebrate right now, and what are your ambitions for the months ahead?

We are still celebrating the Music Business UK Major Publisher of the Year award! Apart from that, the ongoing success of Olivia Dean with our very own Max Wolfgang playing such a big part and Luis Navidad journey with Skye Newman so far this year.

It’s also great to see Jonny Leslie at No.2 on the Official UK Chart with his writing on DAVE & TEMS’ Raindance.

We’re very happy with a session we put together with our global creative team that resulted in a No.1 airplay record in Germany with David Guetta, Tones and I and Teddy Swims’ hit Gone Gone Gone. A nice start to the year!

Ambitions….More of the same for the year ahead, and to see South Arcade take over the world!

2. If we could give you a magic wand to change one thing about the music business right here and now, what would it be and why?

Getting song splits in a timely manner with no drama. Integral to do our job. It’s publishers’ rule 101 – splits please!

3. What is the biggest challenge facing the music business, and how do we overcome it?

The wild west of AI is our biggest challenge currently.

“Kobalt was the first publisher to hammer out a deal with a major AI company – ElevenLabs late last year. More to come on that front.”

Kenny McGoff

We must license and legislate to be able to protect and serve the creators of fine songwriting art.

I might add that Kobalt was the first publisher to hammer out a deal with a major AI company – ElevenLabs late last year. More to come on that front.

4. Individual artists and songwriters aside, what is the most exciting thing happening in or to the music business right now?

I’m convinced Basshall is the sound of 2026. I love the energy, fusion of sounds, people, genres and cultures.

5. Other than your good self, who is the most talented music executive working in the global music business right now?

We are very lucky to have built a partnership with Tyler Brown, alongside Funfair and Heatwave publishing, where we have some huge copyrights together.

Tyler has drive, and a knack for finding hit songs in many different places, cultures, sub-cultures and genres. He’s also as nimble as you like!Music Business Worldwide