Music technology firm Audoo has named Melanie Johnson as Chief Commercial Officer, reporting directly to CEO Ryan Edwards.
Succeeding Will Mills as CCO, Johnson will be based in London to oversee the global expansion and adoption of the Audoo Audio Meter, the company said.
With over two decades of experience in the music sector, Johnson’s appointment expands a team, and board of senior experts from APRA AMCOS, BMG, Bowers and Wilkins, PRS For Music, Sony Music Publishing, and more who have joined Audoo since its formation in 2018.
Johnson’s track record includes securing and growing strategic accounts, driving revenue growth, and optimizing costs. Her expertise spans business development, strategy, partnerships, licensing, and sales, having contributed to the success of publishers, labels, DSPs, and tech platforms including music and media companies such as EMI Music Publishing, Facebook, and Sony ATV Music Publishing.
In addition to her role at Audoo, Johnson also serves as a board trustee at Music Minds Matter, the dedicated Mental Health Charity of Help Musicians, and The Ivors Academy Trust.
Her appointment comes on the heels of Audoo’s collaboration with PRS For Music and PPL. The deployment of Audio Meters in the UK seeks to further establish the global standard for music royalties, enhancing distribution efficiency for their collective 300,000 members.
Commenting on her appointment, Johnson said: “My mission is always to empower the music community with transparency, data, innovation and kindness. Through my role at Audoo, building on the excellent existing work, we strive to innovate and transform the way music royalties are identified and collected, ultimately serving recognition of music creators.”
“Adding [Johnson’s] expertise to Audoo as we mark a milestone five years in business, we move closer to our goal of being the partner of choice for PROs and CMOs, and continue on the mission of revolutionizing the public performance royalties space worldwide.”
Ryan Edwards, Audoo
Audoo Founder and CEO Ryan Edwards said: “Mel’s stellar professional and personal reputation precedes her. Adding her expertise to Audoo as we mark a milestone five years in business, we move closer to our goal of being the partner of choice for PROs and CMOs, and continue on the mission of revolutionizing the public performance royalties space worldwide.”
Johnson’s appointment follows that of Chief Technology Officer Steve Robbins in 2021.
Founded in 2018, Audoo is a music technology company that developed the Audoo Audio Meter, a device that helps in the collection of data related to public music performances. The technology aims to improve accuracy, transparency, and reporting in real-time without causing any significant burden on licensees, performance rights organizations and collective management organizations.
The Audoo Audio Meter, when installed in various business establishments like cafes, bars, salons, restaurants, gyms, and retail locations, works by identifying the music being played, matching it with song data, and then reporting this usage back to PROs and CMOs.
In 2020, Audoo raised GBP £5.2 million (approx. USD $6.3 million) in its series A funding round and GBP £7.2 million in its pre-series B funding round in 2021. The company counts MPL Ventures, Tileyard London, Steve Sidwell, and Björn Ulvaeus (ABBA/CISAC) among its backers.
Music Business Worldwide