Peermusic has promoted Paul Smelt to the newly created role of Chief Operating Officer, expanding his role beyond neighboring rights to cover the music publisher’s worldwide operations across 39 offices and 33 countries.
Smelt, based in Amsterdam, will oversee both publishing and neighboring rights administration globally, reporting directly to CEO Mary Megan Peer. The role represents an expansion from his previous position as COO of peermusic Neighboring Rights, which he’s held since 2023.
Smelt joined peermusic in 2020 when the company acquired Global Master Rights, Premier Muzik, and All Right Music. He co-founded Global Master Rights in 2014 with Erik Veerman, who now serves as Managing Director, peermusic Neighboring Rights. At Global Master Rights, Smelt handled operational management, finance, data systems and client relationships until peermusic’s acquisition.
Following the acquisition, peermusic said Smelt helped integrate the three separate neighboring rights businesses.
Since then, peermusic has expanded its client roster to include over 300 recording rights owners and over 3,000 performers, including Billie Eilish, Teddy Swims, Imagine Dragons, Martin Garrix, Megan Thee Stallion, H.E.R. and Stromae. peermusic also serves 300 record labels including Armada Music, Codiscos, Spinnin’ Records, Empire, Ninja Tune and Big Machine.
“Paul has been crucial in the integration of the three neighboring rights companies we acquired in 2020 as their COO. We look forward to his continued success as he takes on this role in supporting our publishing operations as well.”
Mary Megan Peer, Peermusic
Peermusic CEO Mary Megan Peer said: “Paul has been crucial in the integration of the three neighboring rights companies we acquired in 2020 as their COO. We look forward to his continued success as he takes on this role in supporting our publishing operations as well.
“Paul’s expertise and client focus make him a perfect fit for peermusic’s priorities. We are fortunate that peermusic can draw on the integrity and leadership that Paul brings in this newly created position.”
In his expanded role, Smelt will be responsible for day-to-day administrative operations, handling copyright and royalties on the publishing side and repertoire and distribution operations for neighboring rights.
Commenting on his promotion, Smelt said: “It’s an honor to work alongside a team of people that are dedicated to creating firsts in this industry and that consistently inspire me by their knowledge, network and level of service to the music community.”
“It’s an honor to work alongside a team of people that are dedicated to creating firsts in this industry and that consistently inspire me by their knowledge, network and level of service to the music community.”
Paul Smelt, Peermusic
Added Smelt: “I am grateful that Mary Megan has entrusted me with this position and for the opportunity to honor peermusic’s history of championing songwriters and artists for nearly 100 years.”
Prior to co-founding Global Master Rights in 2014, Smelt spent time at neighboring rights organization SENA, where he managed international rights and negotiated more than 40 bilateral agreements with other rights organizations. He also served as primary contact for agents and performers represented by the organization.
Since peermusic’s 2020 acquisition of Global Master Rights, Premier Muzik, and All Right Music, the company has continued to expand, buying Norwegian indie music publisher Arctic Rights Management (ARM) in 2023, and signing deals with rights management and licensing platform ICE Core (a joint venture between collection societies PRS for Music, STIM and GEMA), and with the China Audio-Video Copyright Association (CAVCA) for neighboring rights collection in China.
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