The Association for Electronic Music has appointed Mark Lawrence as its first CEO. Lawrence previously spent 10 years at UK collection society PRS For Music, latterly as director of membership, responsible for 100,000 members worldwide.
His appointment was confirmed this morning at a board meeting of AFEM held at the International Music Summit (IMS) in Ibiza.
Lawrence has a long association with the dance and electronic music genres. In 2012 he launched PRS's Amplify initiative focusing on the genre, he has spoken at numerous industry events and he co-owns independent house music label Black Rock Records with DJ Steve Mac.
AFEM has already attracted many influential names in electronic music, from its Artist Ambassadors Nile Rodgers and Jean-Michael Jarre to representatives of leading labels, promoters, agents and managers. Lawrence's appointment comes barely a year since AFEM held its first full board meeting.
Co-founders Ben Turner and Kurosh Nasseri, to whom Lawrence will report, said the appointment represented a commitment to build a strong grassroots organisation which reflects the spirit of electronic music.
Ben Turner, manager of Richie Hawtin and Rob da Bank and co-founder of Ibiza dance music summit IMS said: “We have defined the mission of AFEM, our founding board members and ambassadors have demonstrated their support. It is now Mark's responsibility to help us turn AFEM into an effective advocacy body which delivers real benefits to members.”
Kurosh Nasseri, the US-based entertainment lawyer who specialises in electronic music and represents the likes of Afrojack, Basto, Deep Dish, Duck Sauce and Paul van Dyk said: “We are very excited about this appointment. Mark combines high-level operational experience in delivering member services with a real passion for electronic music.”
Mark Lawrence began his career in retail banking before joining mechanical rights licensing agency MCPS in 2004. He was promoted to Director of Operations in 2006 before becoming Director of
Corporate Planning of PRS for Music three years later. He was promoted to Director of Membership and Rights in 2010, leading a team of 120 staff serving a membership of over 100,000, ranging from major international publishers to individual songwriters.
While at PRS he launched and led Amplify, an initiative to increase membership in the dance music sector and improve the accuracy and value of royalties paid to writers in the genre. He left PRS earlier this year.
He said, “I am delighted and honoured to have been selected by Ben and Kurosh to run this organisation. AFEM has the opportunity to be something amazing - a global electronic music organisation representing everyone from labels to DJs to promoters to publishers, small or large, young or old. I am committed to turning that vision into reality.”