The MLC picks Nashville as its base; brings in new execs

By Emmanuel Legrand

The Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC), the new entity charged with licensing and administering mechanical rights in the USA, haspicked Nashville for its headquarters.

  The MLC is expected to operate with up to 100 employees, the vast majority of which will be located in Nashville in a yet-to-be-determined location. “Locating The MLC’s headquarters in Nashville further cements the city’s reputation as the national hub for the music industry,” said MLC CEO Kris Ahrend (pictured, below). “Nashville is an extraordinary city with a strong talent pool and a terrific entrepreneurial spirit, and we’re excited to build a brand new, globally recognized data and technology startup right here in Music City.”



  In addition, the collective management organisation has beefed up its executive team with the hiring of managers for the company’s customer experience, marketing and communications, education and outreach, human resources, and third-party partnerships efforts. 

  New executives include:
  - Ellen Truley, Chief Marketing Officer, who will be in charge of building "a robust and proactive communications operation that will engage and inform both the music community and the public at large." Truley worked for 22 years for Nashville-based PRO SESAC until 2018.
  - Leigh McCorkle, Chief People Officer, who was most recently the Executive Director of Human Resources for US PRO BMI. McCorkle will lead The MLC’s "efforts to build a talented, diverse team of professionals who are passionate about the MLC’s mission of serving songwriters and music publishers and providing them with exceptional service."
  - Dae Bogan, Head of Third-Party Partnerships, who will lead The MLC’s strategy "of engaging third-party entities that provide support to creators and publishers in the areas of rights administration, data management, operations, and education." Bogan is the founder of several music technology companies, and adjunct lecturer at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music.
  - Serona Elton, Head of Education Partnerships, who will lead The MLC’s effort "to engage future members of the music industry currently studying music business and related subjects at colleges and universities across the country and around the world in support of The MLC’s outreach and education efforts." Elton is Director of the Music Business & Entertainment Industries Program, and Associate Dean of Administration at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music.
  - Lindsey Major, Head of Customer Experience, responsible for "designing an effective customer experience strategy and leading a world-class customer experience team for The MLC." Major worked with companies such as Smile Direct Club and Lyft.

  “We’re excited to build our team of knowledgeable experts who are passionate about helping to improve the licensing, administration, and payments process for digital audio mechanicals and provide greater transparency to songwriters and publishers," said Ahrend. "Our newest employees bring a wealth of valuable experience and insight that will be incredibly helpful as we continue to build The MLC in the coming months."

  Ahrend added: “These five leaders are among the first to join our team. In the coming weeks and months, we will be actively seeking to fill additional roles at The MLC as we continue to build and grow our organisation.”