Downtown Names Dewayne Ector to Lead Digital Licensing, Royalty Collection
Dewayne Ector is tapped to lead Downtown’s digital licensing activities in the role of chief revenue officer.
Dewayne Ector is tapped to lead Downtown’s digital licensing activities as chief revenue officer, a new position.
The post, announced Thursday, places Ector in charge of negotiation and maximization of revenue from digital licenses across Downtown’s business units.
“Establishing a group-wide strategy for digital licensing with DSPs and other pay sources has long been part of Downtown’s plan to support our continued growth and efforts to scale our business globally,” comments Downtown Music Holdings CEO Justin Kalifowitz on the new appointment.
Ector’s “knowledge and command of the complicated global royalties landscape,” he continues, “and his commitment to both clients and colleagues make him ideal for this important role.”
Ector knows the challenges of the job as well as anyone. Until now, he has handled partner relations and income tracking for Downtown-owned digital rights subsidiary Songtrust, with the title of global head of society relations.
At Songtrust, he was recruited to manage the independent music company’s relationships with over 40 collection societies on behalf of more than 200,000 songwriters and 26,00 publishers, based in London.
Now, under Ector’s guidance, its relationships have expanded to 60 collection societies and rights organizations covering royalty collections in 216 different countries.
Prior to joining Songtrust in March 2019, Ector served with Kobalt’s AMRA Music for four years, and with PRS For Music for eight years before that.
“Beyond streaming,” adds Kalifowitz, “there are an increasing number of new services and platforms that rely on music, and it is important our group-wide approach considers the full range of clients we represent. I’m excited to welcome Dewayne to our global leadership team and I am confident he will continue to work towards a more equitable music industry for all.”
Ector continues to be based in London, and reports to Downtown’s chief commercial officer Tracy Maddux.
Downtown continued to expand its international business in 2020 with a raft of acquisitions and appointments. Among them, the appointment of Mike Smith as global president of Downtown Music Publishing, and deals for digital distributor FUGA. audio fingerprinting technology firm Simbals, and African indie publisher Sheer Publishing Africa.
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