“Since its founding in 2007, we’ve carefully built Downtown Music Publishing, writer by writer, guided by an appreciation for the craft of songwriting, a focus on creative partnership, and a belief that a global music company for the modern era should be rooted in an understanding that the song is a foundational element to everything else in the music business. The addition of Mike Smith as global president of Downtown Music Publishing is in complete alignment with these principles and I know under Mike’s stewardship our publishing business is in the best of hands,” said Kalifowitz in a statement.
In addition to his work as an executive, Smith is a founding trustee of The Creative Society and a member of the global board of trustees for In Place of War. He also serves on the music board of Teenage Cancer Trust and currently volunteers as a motorbike courier with The Bike Shed Community Response, which delivers personal protective equipment and respirators to those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is now partnering with Brian Eno to set up EarthPercent, a music industry charity that will support environmental sustainability organizations.
Added Smith, “Since my first job in the music industry I have been guided by my underlying love for artists and songwriters. I thoroughly enjoyed the years I spent on the recordings side of the business, but music publishing is where my heart is. Downtown’s ability to build a formidable, twenty-first century music publishing company unencumbered by the baggage of the past has made them an impressive and compelling proposition for songwriters and composers, and I am delighted to become part of their vision.”
Last week, Downtown announced Downtown Neighbouring RightsSM, a new standalone business unit dedicated to performance royalties. In May, the company expanded into Africa with the acquisition of Sheer Publishing Africa. It also recently purchased Good Soldier Songs, the London-based publisher and longtime home of The 1975.
