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DOWNTOWN UPS STEPHENSON
3/30/23

Emily Stephenson has been promoted to president, Publishing, at Downtown Music. Downtown Music Services Global President Mike Smith is departing the company after nearly three years of service.

Stephenson will report to Downtown Music President Pieter van Rijn and oversee all publishing efforts, including client acquisition and business development, A&R, rights management, and client services for the group's publishing companies—Downtown Music Publishing, Songtrust and Sheer.

Stephenson was most recently the division’s VP of Business Operations and during her 10-year tenure at the company has been responsible for all aspects of publishing administration and client services for Downtown’s songwriter and publishing clients, including Ryan Tedder, Big Yellow Dog and the John Lennon estate.

“Emily is a proven leader and Downtown Publishing is excellent hands,” van Rijn said. “Mike stewarded Downtown Music Services through a period of great change and leaves it as a global leader. Now, with Downtown’s publishing companies aligned, we’ve created a powerful service offering that will maximize client revenue and present new opportunities to Downtown’s client base.”

In addition to Stephenson’s promotion, Jedd Katrancha has been upped to chief commercial officer, Publishing. New York-based Katrancha joined Downtown Music Publishing in 2007, the first hire to be made by founder Justin Kalifowitz, and subsequently led the company’s creative services and sync licensing business from its inception. In his new role, Katrancha will report to Stephenson and oversee business development, A&R, and sync for Downtown’s group of publishing companies.

Smith is leaving the company to pursue several personal projects and to focus on his ongoing charitable work, which includes board positions with Teenage Cancer Trust, EarthPercent, In Place of War and The Creative Society.