Sony/ATV Music Publishing has promoted Michael Abitbol to SVP, business & legal affairs, digital, based in the company’s New York head office.
The promotion is said to reflect the growing importance of digital to Sony/ATV’s business and will see Abitbol working across all aspects of the company’s interests in the sector, including negotiating and drafting license agreements with major digital music services such as Apple, YouTube, Spotify, Amazon and Pandora.
He will continue to report to Peter Brodsky, executive vice president, business & legal affairs, who commented: “I’d like to congratulate Michael on this well-deserved promotion. He is a seasoned executive with a great understanding of the complex issues facing our industry in a time of enormous change. I am delighted that Michael will continue to be an invaluable member of Sony/ATV’s digital team going forward into the future.”
Abitbol added: “I am honoured to continue to be able to have the privilege of representing the world’s greatest catalog of songs on a daily basis. During this period of seismic change in the music industry, it is more vital than ever that deals in the expanding digital market reflect the true value of the songs that Sony/ATV represents.”
Abitbol, who was previously vice president, business and legal affairs, joined Sony/ATV in 2012 following the takeover of EMI Music Publishing, where he had worked for more than five years overseeing digital issues. Prior to joining EMI he spent seven years as an attorney at New York-based law firm Davis & Gilbert in a role that included drafting and negotiating various entertainment and advertising-related agreements.
Before starting his legal career, Abitbol handled day-to-day management of acts including Maxi Priest, Third World and Big Mountain at 21st Century Artists and other talent at his own management company, King’s Flavour Management, both based in New York City.
