John Clifford to Head BMG Production Music after Revenues Double in Two Years

BMG has appointed London-based John Clifford to head its worldwide production music business. He will report to BMG CFO Maximilian Dressendoerfer who continues to oversee the segment.

A native Australian, Clifford joined BMGPM in 2017 as MD UK and SVP Global Sales, Marketing & Repertoire.  Since then the company has more than doubled both revenues and EBITDA to become the fourth biggest player in the production music business worldwide.

“Production music is one of our most dynamic segments of business,” said Dressendoerfer. “John Clifford has made a significant contribution to this growth and I am delighted to congratulate him on his expanded role.”

John Clifford said: “In many ways BMG Production Music has followed the same growth trajectory as the core BMG business, first defining a unique market positioning and then growing swiftly by acquisition. The emphasis now is on organic growth and service delivery, but we do so now as a global player.”

Clifford has 25 years’ experience in production music, including running the former BMG Zomba in Australia and then later at Universal Production Music where he held the roles of MD UK, head of media rights Mgt. Europe, and previously, GM Australia/NZ.

As MD UK and SVP global sales, marketing & repertoire, he has contributed to the growth of BMGPM, with the integration of UK acquisitions Altitude and Deep East Music, the worldwide relaunch of the BMGPM brand, and the development of business with new clients including Ninja Tune and Red Bull.

He succeeds Geert-Willem (“GW”) Koolhof, who has decided to stand down following the completion of BMGPM’s initial build phase. Koolhof joined BMG in 2015 as finance & commercial director Benelux where he led the business integration of Talpa Music with its subsidiary music director, and the investment in and integration of 8ball Music. In 2017, he served as interim executive overseeing the BMG Talpa publishing and recordings businesses and, subsequently, assumed responsibility for the production music segment as SVP International.  

Under his leadership BMGPM expanded through acquisition in the UK (Altitude, Deep East Music), France (Tele Music, AXS) and Australia/SE Asia (Big Bang & Fuzz) as well as strengthening its presence in the US (Immediate).

Said Dressendoerfer: “GW is an accomplished business development and change manager who has successfully completed his mission to propel BMG Production Music on to a world stage. He has been a valued leader and trusted partner and he leaves the production music business in strong financial and operational health. I would like to thank him for all he has done for BMG.”

Clifford’s appointment means London will become the worldwide headquarters of BMG Production Music. Together with catalogue recordings, master licensing and sub-publishing, it brings to four the number of BMG’s global hubs now based in the UK capital.

Dressendoerfer said: “In this time of economic uncertainty around Brexit, we are delighted to reaffirm our commitment to London as a music capital.”