Music Industry Moves: NMPA Promotes Danielle Aguirre and Charlotte Sellmyer; BMG Ups Celine Joshua

The National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) has restructured its executive team, promoting two key figures to new positions. Danielle Aguirre, a 15-year veteran of the organization, now holds the dual title of Chief Legal Officer and Chief Operating Officer. In this expanded capacity, she will continue to manage all legal, business, and operational affairs. Concurrently, Charlotte Sellmyer has been elevated to Executive Vice President of External Affairs, maintaining her oversight of songwriter advocacy, public relations, events, and the NMPA's Gold & Platinum Program.

NMPA President & CEO David Israelite stated that the promotions recognize the pair's critical roles in advancing the association's core mission of protecting songwriters' value. Aguirre, a leading voice on music copyright law, has been instrumental in securing landmark agreements with digital platforms and litigating pivotal rate cases before the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB). Her work was foundational to the passage of the Music Modernization Act of 2018, a sweeping reform that streamlined royalty payments for the digital age. Sellmyer, during her 11-year tenure, has significantly amplified the public profile of publishers and songwriters. She has spearheaded campaigns for major legislative reforms and now leads efforts to ensure proper licensing across streaming, social media, and emerging AI platforms—a growing frontier for copyright enforcement as generative AI tools train on musical works.

In a separate executive move, BMG has promoted Celine Joshua to Executive Vice President of Global Marketing & Streaming. Her mandate now spans 18 international offices, where she will align worldwide marketing strategy with digital service platform (DSP) operations. According to BMG CEO Thomas Coesfeld, Joshua's promotion underscores the company's focus on technological innovation and an "artist-centric" approach. "Her deep understanding of how artists and fans connect, and how AI can amplify that experience, makes her uniquely equipped to drive BMG’s next chapter," Coesfeld noted. Joshua, who joined BMG in 2024 from a senior role at Universal Music Group, will also guide the company's expansion into new AI technologies and commercial formats, aiming to build more sophisticated fan-engagement models.

Significant catalog activity is also underway, with Primary Wave Music and its South American partner, Nas Nuvens Music Group, announcing a partnership with Brazilian icon Gilberto Gil. This deal, one of the largest of its kind from the region, involves the legendary composer's celebrated catalog. Gil, a foundational figure in the Tropicália movement of the 1960s and a former Brazilian Minister of Culture, is revered for blending traditional Brazilian styles with rock and psychedelia. The partnership aims to preserve his legacy while introducing his music to new generations and global territories. As one industry analyst observed, "Gil's work is not just music; it's a cultural document of Brazil. This deal signals a growing international market for Latin American intellectual property."

On the publishing front, Concord Music Publishing has signed a joint venture deal with 23-year-old Norwegian producer and songwriter Aksel Arvid, in partnership with producer Lido (Peder Losnegård). Arvid, who executive-produced PinkPantheress's Grammy-nominated "Fancy That" album and has collaborated with artists like Jack Harlow, represents a new wave of hybrid producer-songwriters. Concord's SVP of A&R, Jeremy Yohai, cited Arvid's "extraordinary work ethic and distinct point of view" as key to the signing. Elsewhere, Pulse Music Group has promoted Saul Fitton to Senior Vice President and Head of Creative for the U.K., tasking him with developing the company's songwriter roster from London.

Finally, the independent label Ipecac Recordings—co-founded in 1999 by Faith No More vocalist Mike Patton and industry veteran Greg Werckman—has entered a worldwide distribution pact with Secretly Distribution. Known for its eclectic and confrontational roster spanning rock, hip-hop, and experimental genres, Ipecac finds a philosophical ally in Secretly. Werckman likened the partnership to "joining a commune of like-minded, independent music lovers." Tom Davies of Secretly Distribution praised Ipecac's 25-year history of releasing boundary-pushing music, stating the label's commitment to groundbreaking artists aligns perfectly with their own. This deal ensures Ipecac's catalog and future releases, from established acts like Melvins to newer insurgents, will reach a global network of independent music channels.