UK collection society PRS for Music confirmed on Thursday (March 5) that its CEO, Andrea Czapary Martin, will be stepping down at the end of 2026.
According to a statement from PRS, the decision to step down this year was reached in agreement with the PRS Members’ Council, and “is intended to allow for the best possible leadership transition for PRS and ensure the society continues to deliver for its members”.
PRS for Music represents the rights of more than 180,000 songwriters, composers, and music publishers.
The exec joined PRS for Music in June 2019, having previously worked for a diverse range of data-focused and big subscription-based organisations.
Prior to PRS, the exec had been President and CEO of three international business units with Reader’s Digest Association, a multi-brand media and entertainment company, Managing Director of data services for the Royal Mail in the UK, and President of ADT Canada.
According to PRS, after joining as CEO in 2019, Andrea Czapary Martin “expertly [guided] the society through the pandemic, including the launch of the Emergency Relief Fund which provided invaluable financial support for members during lockdown, as well as the move to its new home in London Bridge”.
In an interview with MBW in 2023, Martin explained that PRS for Music then set out its “vision” in 2020 for what the exec called a “very ambitious five-year plan,” which included paying out £1 billion in royalties to its members by 2026, achieving a cost-to-income ratio below 10%, and “being innovative” in strategic partnerships, tech systems, and data.
The collective management organization reported that it paid out £1.02 billion (USD $1.3bn) in royalties to songwriters, composers, and publishers in 2024, up 8.1% YoY.
PRS added on Thursday that “Andrea’s time at the helm has seen many successes, notably a prolonged period of remarkable growth, meaning the society’s five-year plan was delivered in just three years”.
Commenting on the news on Thursday, Andrea Czapary Martin, CEO of PRS for Music, said: “I am immensely proud of everything PRS for Music has achieved, not least the doubling of revenues and distributions over the last 10 years. These groundbreaking financial results were possible due to the culture of innovation and agility now embedded in everything we do.”
“I am immensely proud of everything PRS for Music has achieved, not least the doubling of revenues and distributions over the last 10 years.”
Andrea Czapary Martin, PRS for Music
Added Martin: “My commitment remains to delivering the best possible outcomes for the songwriters, composers and publishers we have the privilege to represent, and to ensuring a smooth transition to the next phase of leadership.”
“Andrea’s commitment to the company has never wavered, and that spirit will undoubtedly continue until her departure. We are deeply grateful for everything she has given to this organisation and its members.”
Julian Nott, PRS Members’ Council
Julian Nott, Chair of the PRS Members’ Council, said: “Andrea’s commitment to the company has never wavered, and that spirit will undoubtedly continue until her departure. We are deeply grateful for everything she has given to this organisation and its members.”Music Business Worldwide