The European Music Managers Alliance (EMMA) has announced that Per Kviman and Virpi Immonen have been elected as the organisation’s first chair and vice-chair respectively.
Kviman is CEO of Stockholm-based Versity Music and chair of MMF Sweden, while Immoneni is CEO of the Helsinki-based Fullsteam Management and chair of MMF Finland.
The duo were appointed at the new organisation’s first formal Board meeting at Reeperbahn festival and will serve minimum two-year terms. EMMA’s inaugural chair, Keith Harris, will stand down with immediate effect.
Speaking before a meeting of more than 50 music managers from over 20 countries, Kviman said: “I am honoured to serve as EMMA’s first chair, and would like to thank Keith Harris in particular for his guidance and expertise. This organisation was established in response to some fundamental changes in our business, and to reflect the plain fact that artists and their representatives must now be at the forefront of discussions about the future of music. It’s time to seize our moment and put artist and creator rights at the heart of European music policy.”
Immonen added: “How inspirational to be elected at Reeperbahn, surrounded by music managers from around Europe and the rest of the world. Through EMMA I look forward to building these connections, and ensuring we not only have a powerful unified voice for our artist clients, but also a pathway to greater sharing of skills, knowledge and ideas.”
Launched in April 2018, EMMA was established to ensure that creators’ representatives throughout Europe can have closer involvement in the discussions and decisions that impact future direction of the global music business.
EMMA will collectively represent over 800 managers across Europe, and another 600 worldwide. Initially, it will focus on three specific issues: licensing and fair remuneration, public policy and information sharing and education research. Membership is open to individual managers in European territories.
