John Minch transitions to songwriter advocacy role at Concord, Jeff Van Driel promoted to GM, International Operations – Music Business Worldwide

Concord has announced what it calls a “planned transition” at the top of its international music publishing business.

Longtime executive and Concord’s President of International Publishing, John Minch, will step back from his day-to-day managing of international publishing operations to refocus on the rights held by Concord and to advocate for the songwriters and composers represented by Concord.

He will do this under the title of Executive Director, Publishing.

Meanwhile, Jeff Van Driel will move from Concord’s US headquarters in Nashville to London, as General Manager, International Operations. He will be responsible for Minch’s music publishing operations duties as well as the European operations of all of Concord’s businesses.

Minch will continue to report directly to Jim Selby, Chief Publishing Officer and Van Driel will report to Vic Zaraya, Chief Operating Officer.

As Concord’s General Manager of Global Administration for the last three years, Jeff Van Driel has led what the company says was the “significant restructuring” of the administration teams, spearheaded by what it says is “ongoing technology and process enhancements”. He has also overseen “acquisition onboarding” across Concord’s business units and “has introduced systems and staff to improve interaction with its roster of artists and songwriters,” according to a press release.

Concord notes that Van Driel “developed strong operational and leadership skills” during his decade and a half in manufacturing and transportation prior to moving from Canada to Nashville in 2007.

Since then, he has filled a variety of operational, business affairs and executive roles in the music industry and tech startup space including 11 years at the classical label and distributor Naxos before moving to Concord.

John Minch started his career in traditional book and magazine publishing, joining Boosey & Hawkes (B&H) as its Managing Director in 2001.

In 2003, he led a management buyout of the music publishing company under B&H, with executives Janis Susskind (currently Managing Director, B&H) and Winfried Jacobs.

Along with Susskind, Minch expanded the business of the classical publisher, developing a catalog of music by living composers such as John Adams, Steve Reich, Sir James MacMillan, Sir Karl Jenkins, Detlev Glanert and Osvaldo Golijov but also Stravinsky, Britten, Bernstein, Copland and Elgar. Concord notes that “B&H then came to be valued as a perpetuity business and not a victim of copyright expiry”.

Minch continued to lead Boosey & Hawkes once Imagem bought the company in 2008 while also helping to lead the development of the acquiring company.

He was part of the Imagem acquisition team that bought Rodgers & Hammerstein in 2010 and struck a deal to administrate the Genesis and Pink Floyd catalogs. Added the release: “After the recruitment of Kim Frankiewicz, the Imagem frontline list was aggressively developed, re-signing Daft Punk and signing artist, songwriter and producer Mark Ronson”.

Minch was appointed President of Concord’s International Music Publishing when Imagem was sold to Concord in June 2017.

Since then, Minch has led the acquisitions of the historic Sikorski catalog consisting of the works of Shostakovich, Prokofiev and Khachaturian and music publisher Native Tongue in Melbourne, Australia. He will remain a director of PRS and MCPS in the UK and of ICMP in Brussels, focusing his efforts on songwriter advocacy.

“I am hugely grateful to Concord for the freedom and encouragement they have given me over the last seven years and for encouraging me to continue to represent Concord and our composers and writers on industry associations.”

John Minch

“I’ll work on projects and with clients that I have had a close relationship with, but it is time to make way, after nearly twenty-five years,” said Minch.

“It’s a pity, I am only just starting to understand what I am doing. But it’s time to put my feet up and light a cheroot.

“I am hugely grateful to Concord for the freedom and encouragement they have given me over the last seven years and for encouraging me to continue to represent Concord and our composers and writers on industry associations.”

“I am honored and excited to be taking on this role for Concord.”

Jeff Van Driel

Added Van Driel: “I am honored and excited to be taking on this role for Concord.

“Given Concord’s rapid and disciplined growth, there are ongoing opportunities to enhance operations and prove our global commitment to the creative community throughout the world.

“We have dedicated and talented teams who embrace continuous improvement, utilizing the best and most practical technological solutions in the market.

“Concord is a full-service music company representing many of the world’s best artists, songwriters, creators and catalogues and I am committed to its continued growth and success.”

“I believe that with Jeff and John as a team in our London office, Concord will only further solidify its strengths as a global independent publisher.”

Jim Selby, Concord

Selby said: “Concord is truly a global force and that’s a testament to John’s contributions

“I believe that with Jeff and John as a team in our London office, Concord will only further solidify its strengths as a global independent publisher.”Music Business Worldwide