Lucas van Slegtenhorst has joined Utopia Music as vice president of Benelux.
Van Slegtenhorst previously worked at Downtown Music Publishing Benelux, Chrysalis Music Publishing, Warner Chappell, Roadrunner Records, and BMG Records Holland.
Based in Amsterdam, van Slegtenhorst will be in charge of setting up and rolling out Utopia’s activities in the Netherlands and Belgium. He will report to Utopia COO Roberto Neri.
Neri said of the appointment: “With Lucas’s experience and trusted reputation I could think of no one better to lead the charge of Utopia’s mission of ‘Fair Pay for Every Play’ in Benelux. With a growing digital market, the music industry in Benelux – like many music markets – is seeing an influx of data. To maintain sustainable growth, it’s crucial that all parts of the industry have access to this data and the insights it brings, and that creators and rightsholders are efficiently paid for the use of their works – that is what Utopia’s mission is all about.”
Van Slegtenhorst added: “I am excited to join Utopia and be reunited with Roberto Neri on a mission towards ‘Fair Pay for Every Play’ and to develop more opportunities for Utopia’s business units in Benelux. Writers and artists should be able to focus on their creative strengths while relying on accurate and fast payments for use of their works. Labels, distributors, publishers, and collection societies should have access to innovative technology and accurate data. This is where Utopia steps in: as a neutral growth partner serving the entire industry and making a positive impact on the wider music ecosystem.”
Utopia’s mission statement, “fair pay for every play", describes its aim to use its real-time technology and data platform to ensure all creators receive correct royalties.