Culture news and discussion on TalkFuse.
PRS For Music Names Ben McOwen Wilson as Incoming CEO
PRS for Music has appointed Ben McOwen Wilson as its incoming chief executive, succeeding Andrea Czapary Martin after her seven-year tenure. He will take up the post on 12 October, bringing experience from Google, YouTube and UK creative-industry bodies as the collection society navigates AI, gaming and changing digital music consumption.
McOwen Wilson was selected after an international search and most recently led Google Play and Google Television across EMEA. PRS represents 190,000 songwriters, composers and publishers, and collected £1.24 billion in royalties in 2025, up 7.7% year on year; the appointment follows a Court of Appeal decision rejecting Blur drummer Dave Rowntree’s proposed class action over the distribution of unallocated “black box” royalties.
In short
- PRS for Music appoints Ben McOwen Wilson as CEO from 12 October.
- He joins from senior Google and YouTube roles.
- PRS collected £1.24 billion for members in 2025.
Explained simply
PRS for Music is an organisation that collects payments from radio stations, streaming services, venues and shops whenever music is used. These payments, known as royalties, are then distributed to the 190,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers the organisation represents. Last year it handled over £1.24 billion in payments.
The music industry is undergoing rapid change driven by artificial intelligence, gaming platforms and evolving consumption through streaming services. These shifts create complex questions about how royalties should be fairly collected and distributed to creators. The incoming chief executive, Ben McOwen Wilson, brings technology expertise from senior roles at Google and YouTube to address these challenges.
McOwen Wilson is succeeding Andrea Czapary Martin, who led the organisation for seven years. His appointment comes after an international search for a leader capable of navigating the industry's transformation.
Art Business Companies Culture Entertainment Music