Hipgnosis Song Management (HSM) has announced three key Song Management appointments.
Danny Bennett joins as Executive Vice President. Based in New York, his responsibilities will include leading Global Marketing and Audience Development.
According to the company, with a career spanning over three decades, Bennett has established himself “as one of the most innovative artist managers and label executives utilizing his progressive marketing skills and his understanding of how to make effective use of technology to support his strategies”.
Hipgnosis says that Bennett masterminded the “groundbreaking transformation” of his father, the iconic singer, Tony Bennett. In addition, he has worked alongside artists such as Lady Gaga, Amy Winehouse, Jamiroquai, Elvis Costello, Ozzy Osbourne, and Pearl Jam.
Bennett’s experience includes his position as CEO and President of the Verve Label Group, under the Universal umbrella, where he restructured the label and revitalized the classic jazz and classical catalog as well as signing new artists such as Grammy winners Jon Batiste, Tank and the Bangas and Madison Cunningham.
In addition, Sara Lord has joined as Executive Vice President Content Creation and will lead Hipgnosis’ collaborative work with creative and production companies to further expand opportunities for the Hipgnosis catalogs in the audio-visual space, driving opportunities from documentaries to dramas and digital experiences, as well as theatrical and product opportunities.
Lord is an Executive with over 25 years of experience in the music, film, advertising and digital experiences. She joins us from Concord Music, where she built an international team and launched the Concord Art Prize amongst many other initiatives.
She ran her own artist management company for 15 years, successfully launching the careers of numerous artists and contributing to multi-platinum-selling records. Lord was also the youngest-ever recipient of the Music Business Woman of the Year Award and has been inducted to the Music Week Women in Music Roll of Honour.
Meanwhile, Patrick Joest becomes Head of Synchronisation, leading Hipgnosis Song Management’s global synch marketing and licensing initiatives.
Joest joined Hipgnosis in 2021. His career spans over 20 years in media and music at Sony, BMG, Warner and MTV.
He has global experience and a network in Film & TV/synch licensing on both the supervision and rights owners’ side. Prior to joining Hipgnosis, Patrick was EVP, Global content partnership & Synch at BMG.
During 11 years with the business, he built the global synch business “from zero to a three-digit million dollar operation”, according to the announcement, leading a team across 15 offices.
From 2015-2018, he worked out of Los Angeles with responsibility for synch in the US. He was also responsible for BMG’s new Brazilian business. He won Bertelsmann’s Award for Outstanding Entrepreneurial Achievements in 2016.
“Danny, Sara and Patrick have developed careers based on integrity and each have a proven track record of strong delivery.”
Merck Mercuriadis, Hipgnosis Song Management
Commenting on the appointments, Merck Mercuriadis CEO and founder of Hipgnosis Song Management Limited said: “Danny, Sara and Patrick have developed careers based on integrity and each have a proven track record of strong delivery.
“Danny brings a deep understanding of the new technologies that are a catalyst for success in today’s business. His arrival will better enable Hipgnosis to capitalise on countless untapped opportunities, thereby creating value to Hipgnosis funds and ushering in fresh, captivated audiences to our unparalleled collection of Songs. The US is our biggest single market and for some time we have been looking to find the right person to lead our marketing and audience development and Danny is a perfect fit.
“In Sara and Patrick we have two seasoned experts who will respectively, drive forward our partnerships with content creators and content producers making the most of our incredible songs.
Added Mercuriadis: “Given our decision to focus our marketing in the US, Ted Cockle, our Chief Music Officer, will not be moving long term with the Company. He’ll work on the transition to America over the coming weeks. I would like to thank Ted for all he has done for Hipgnosis and I hope there will be opportunities for Ted and Hipgnosis to work together again in the future.
“Over the last 18 months we have continuously invested in new hires and in upgrading our systems. These appointments demonstrate our commitment to investing in our capabilities and team in order to grow the value of our catalogues, and, most importantly, bring our Songs to new audiences around the world so that more people can discover and enjoy them.”
Music Business Worldwide