The Incorporated Society Of Musicians (ISM) has appointed former Music Publishers Association CEO Sarah Osborn as head of services and operations.
ISM is the UK’s professional body for musicians and a nationally-recognised subject association for music, supporting more than 8,500 members.
Osborn (pictured) has been a freelance consultant since departing the MPA in 2015. Alongside running the Resonate project for the Association Of British Orchestras and PRS Foundation, her clients have included Boosey & Hawkes, Audio Network and the composers Laurence Crane and Richard Beaudoin.
She said: "Through an extensive range of campaigns across a wide range of issues, ISM has demonstrated it is an indispensable organisation for professional musicians. I am looking forward to working with Deborah and the team to develop a range of services that will upskill the membership and help them successfully navigate the challenges of the profession."
Spending her early career in music publishing, Osborn joined the Music Publishers Association as general manager before being promoted to CEO. She oversaw a period of significant change with the restructuring of MCPS, the establishment of PMLL (Printed Music Licensing ltd) and the introduction of the first licence to permit photocopying of sheet music within schools, and the implementation of the Hargreaves Review into UK copyright law.
ICM chief Deborah Annetts said: "With her extensive and illustrious career in the music industry, Sarah is the perfect fit for the ISM as our new head of services. The ISM’s services are already highly regarded across the music sector and as the UK progresses towards leaving the EU, the ISM will ensure our services are as tailored, specialist and bespoke as required for our membership of approximately 9,000 professional musicians. Sarah’s appointment is particularly crucial and we look forward to working with her in this period of great change."
Osborn is a trustee of the National Music Council and co-founded Music Network UK, and a founding trustee of Let June Make A Difference, a grant giving charity supporting children in Yorkshire.
