LONDON (CelebrityAccess) – Ralph W. Peer has been named Managing Director, peermusic UK, expanding his role within the premiere independent music publishing firm to oversee creative and administrative operations for the company in the United Kingdom (UK) region as announced today by Mary Megan Peer, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), peermusic and Nigel Elderton, President, peermusic Europe.
Peer will be based in the London offices and continue directing peermusic initiatives in Australasia and its African and Middle East operations. His new title is Managing Director, UK, Australasia and Vice President, peermusic’s African and Middle East operations. Peermusic UK staff will report directly to him, with Elderton continuing to oversee the company’s creative and administrative operations throughout Europe.
Elderton commented: “We remain steadfastly focused on providing our peermusic roster of artists, songwriters, and producers with the very best in executive talent, A&R prowess, sync, and administrative expertise. With this move, we know our U.K. office remains in very capable hands as we continue to expand peermusic as the preeminent independent music publishing company throughout Europe. I have every confidence that Ralph will provide our peermusic songwriters and business partners with the best level of attention and care, and our entire peermusic team joins me in wishing Ralph continued success.”
Peer commented: “Nigel is a true music man who knows every facet of the music publishing business—I’m honored for the opportunity to continue contributing to peermusic’s future and lead our UK operations while working alongside some of the best music publishing executives in the business. The team at peermusic U.K. has a proven track record of implementing creative strategies that move our songwriters toward career-defining moments with the utmost levels of attention and nurturing. As an independent publisher with 39 offices in 32 countries, peermusic is uniquely positioned to offer our U.K. roster the global footprint needed to build their international opportunities backed by the administrative strengths to ensure they receive optimal royalties.”
Peer joined the company full-time in August 2019 as VP for Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East before working in Business Affairs in the London office in January 2020. In 2022, Peer was appointed managing director of the company’s South Africa office. Later that year, he expanded his role to oversee creative and administrative operations for the company in the Australasia region. During this time, Peer worked across Australia, Fiji, New Guinea and New Zealand, signing, developing and implementing a creative strategy for its music publishing roster. He established peermusic Australia’s premiere international songwriting camp to inspire cross-cultural collaborations. He worked with the company’s US creative team to bring multi-platinum, legendary hitmakers from the U.S. to Australia to work with some of Australia’s top artists, songwriters and producers.
Peer holds a master’s degree in law (LLM) from Columbia Law School, a graduate diploma in law from City University of London Law School, and an MSc in Finance and Financial Law from SOAS University.
Peer’s appointment comes at unprecedented momentum for the peermusic UK team. Earlier this year, peermusic UK signed Nothing But Thieves to an exclusive global publishing deal for the band’s fifth studio album. The band released their fourth album, Dead Club City, in June 2023, debuting at No. 1 on the UK and Netherlands Album Charts, nabbing the band their first album chart crowns. The record features the hit single “Welcome to the DCC,” BBC Radio 1’s Hottest Record of the Year –finishing above Olivia Rodrigo’s “Vampire” and Miley Cyrus’s “Flowers,” while their other hit single, “Overcome,” was crowned Record of the Year 2023 by listeners of Radio X.
Peermusic UK also announced a creative joint venture (jv) with iconic music brand Marshall earlier this month. Through the deal, peermusic and Marshall will work to sign and develop artists/songwriters with the Marshall Records label via a creative joint venture. Marshall Records Publishing also signed an exclusive global administration deal with peermusic.
