Rachel Bolt elected and Horace Trubridge re-elected as Performer Directors following the PPL Annual Performer Meeting 2024

Rachel Bolt and Horace Trubridge have been elected as PPL Performer Board Directors.  

They will sit alongside our four other Performer Directors: Roxanne de Bastion, Jackie Davidson MBE, Peter Lale and Dave Lee. A full list of PPL Board Directors can be found here.

Rachel is an accomplished violist with a background in solo, chamber and orchestral recordings, as well as work on pop, TV and film soundtracks. She has collaborated with PPL informally for several years, advocating for improved metadata and legislative changes for non-featured artists.

A session musician and recording artist, Horace has been re-elected as a Performer Director. He has represented performers on global platforms, including the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO), and is the former General Secretary of the Musicians’ Union and Vice President of the International Federation of Musicians (FIM).  

This means that Hannah Joseph steps down.

The announcement follows the 2024 Annual Performer Meeting (APM), which this year was held at the Beacon Theatre in Bristol. The event marked a return to our roots, where a ground-breaking legal case against a local Bristol coffee shop laid the foundation for PPL’s creation in 1934. It was the second time the APM has been held outside of London, following last year’s meeting in Belfast. 

This year’s APM brought together performers, industry experts and PPL executives to reflect on our 90-year history and discuss how we’re supporting performers today. 

John Smith OBE, Chair of the Board, opened the meeting by reflecting on PPL’s journey, from its story beginning in Bristol through to becoming a global organisation. 

“Neighbouring rights have become a significant part of performers’ incomes, and PPL is really an important part of their professional lives,” John said, noting the rise in revenue collections and membership numbers.  

He also acknowledged ongoing challenges for performers, including job cuts in UK orchestras, and expressed hope that the new government’s focus on arts and music education would lead to positive change. 

Left to right: John Smith OBE, Jez Bell, Laurence Oxenbury, Dan Millington, Camilla Waite, Peter Leathem OBE.

Business progress

CEO Peter Leathem OBE shared updates on PPL’s performance. He noted that public performance licensing was the largest driver of revenue growth in 2023, with over 400,000 UK businesses across the UK being licensed for the use of recorded music.  

Broadcast and online licensing also saw a strong performance, reaching £96.4 million, due in part to renegotiated agreements with major broadcasters.  

On the international front, collections reached £75.4 million, supported by PPL’s network of agreements spanning 51 countries. Peter emphasised PPL’s commitment to continue its work in increasing payouts for performers, which have more than doubled over the past decade

Panel discussions

The APM also featured two panel discussions, each exploring key issues in the music industry. The first was chaired by our Chief Licensing Officer, Jez Bell, and featured members from our senior management team Laurence Oxenbury (Director of International), Dan Millington (Head of Client Services) and Camilla Waite (General Counsel). The discussion covered:  

Licensing: Ensuring fair deals for licensees while maximising revenue for our members.

Member Services: How our team are driving success with an impressive lineup of performers joining the PPL roster for international collections.  

Technology: How tools like Repertoire Data Exchange (RDx) and Virtual Repertoire Database (VRDB) are improving efficiency in international collections. 

Public Affairs: PPL’s ongoing work in supporting government policy on areas such as AI. 

The second panel, chaired by Bristol Beacon’s Owen Parry, explored the opportunities and challenges facing grassroots artists in today’s music industry.  

Performers Kayla Painter, Holysseus Fly, and Tom Sharkett shared their experiences and advice on navigating the ever-changing landscape, highlighting how “time, space, and money” are essential for artists to thrive. Each performer discussed the difficulty of finding opportunities, particularly for those who may not feel confident in the business side of their careers. 

Left to right: Owen Parry, Tom Sharkett, Holysseus Fly and Kayla Painter

Kayla and Holysseus emphasised the importance of understanding the industry’s evolving needs around marketing, promotion and gigging, noting that many artists struggle without the support of mentors, management teams or funding. 

Tom also reflected on the thriving dance music scene in Manchester and Salford, driven by DJs and grassroots clubs, which is building a strong sense of community in the region. However, he pointed out a disconnect in the band circuit, where small venues support grassroots acts, but there are fewer opportunities for these artists as they progress to larger stages. 

The panel agreed that while opportunities for emerging performers are out there, accessing them requires persistence, adaptability and a clear understanding of the industry’s demands. “The more you put yourself out there, the more opportunities come your way,” Tom concluded.  

Supporting performers through PPL Giving

The impact of PPL Giving was also touched on throughout the event, highlighting our broader commitment to supporting performers across the UK.  

Formally launched in March 2024, the programme supports talent development, artist welfare, and music education across the UK. Around £1 million a year is distributed to over 35 organisations, including The Brit School for talent development, BAPAM for health and well-being advice, and Music Minds Matter for mental health support. Both BAPAM and Music Minds Matter were present at the APM to further promote their work to performers in the South West area.