Spotify Names James Duffett-Smith Global As Head of Publisher Relations

Spotify has appointed James Duffett-Smith as Global Head of Publisher Relations. Previously he was Head of Licensing Business Affairs at Spotify, which is joined in 2009.

_________________________________________In this new role, Duffett-Smith is responsible for Spotify’s relationships with music publishers, collecting societies, performing rights organisations and the songwriters they represent.Commenting on the new role, James Duffett-Smith said: “Publishers and societies perform an

enormously important role at the very heart of the music industry and, of course, without songwriters there would be no music for us all to enjoy in the first place. I’m very much looking forward to building on our existing partnerships with the publisher, songwriter and society communities around the world.”Prior to joining Spotify, Duffett-Smith was Director, Legal and Business Affairs for Fox Interactive Media in Europe. Based in London, he worked as part of the legal team responsible for major properties including MySpace.com and ign.com. Duffett-Smith has also held London-based solicitor roles at Pinsent Masons and Collyer Bristow, LLP.