The IFPI‘s Gabriela Lopes has been appointed Senior Vice President Global Insight of Universal Music Group, effective January 1 2014.
Based in London, Lopes reports jointly to Andrew Kronfeld, President Global Marketing and Rob Wells, President Global Digital.
Lopes joins Universal Music from international music industry association IFPI where she has been Director of Market Research for the last six years.
As well as utilising sales and other commercial data, the insight tools Lopes will be able to take advantage of in her new role include analysis gathered from over a million interviews with consumers around the world.
Andrew Kronfeld said: “Insight and analysis is a key capability for our people around the world now as we are continually looking at how we can create and deliver ever more effective and impactful campaigns for our artists. We’ve got a lot of ambition and plans for this part of our business and are delighted that Gabi, with all her experience and skills in this crucial area, is joining Universal Music Group to head our insight team.”
Rob Wells said: “The digital transformation of our business has led to an explosion in the amount and quality of data we now have available to do our jobs. Gabi has overseen the industry’s definitive global market research and analysis during this transformative process which gives her an excellent understanding of our business and how best to use data and insight to inform decisions and strategy.”
Lopes said: “I am delighted to be joining Universal Music Group. The importance the company is putting on data and insight is extremely positive. The Universal Music insight team, tools and research capabilities are the best in the industry and I very much look forward to working with them to contribute to the continued success of the company and its incredible artists.”
After working in a number of music labels around the world including EastWest Records in London, Atlantic Records in New York and Warner Music in Mexico, Lopes joined IFPI’s research team in London in 2001. She was promoted to head the department in 2007.
She has regularly overseen the IFPI Recording Industry in Numbers publication – the authoritative source of global recorded music market information which is published every year.Music Business Worldwide
