Kobalt Promotes Derek Cournoyer to Senior Vice President of Global Digital Operations
In a strategic move to bolster its position in the rapidly evolving music industry, Kobalt, a tech-forward music company, has promoted Derek Cournoyer to the position of Senior Vice President of Global Digital Business.
Cournoyer's key responsibilities in this expanded role include negotiating strategic partnerships with major digital platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, and Meta, and leading pioneering initiatives in emerging media sectors like the creator economy, web3, and AI.
With one of the most sophisticated metadata infrastructures in the music publishing business, Kobalt is well-positioned to leverage these partnerships and initiatives. Cournoyer's efforts will focus on using this advanced system to license music more strategically, enabling creators to earn income from new technologies and micro-licensing opportunities.
Bob Bruderman, the Chief Digital Officer at Kobalt, emphasized the importance of protecting Kobalt's songwriters and positioning them to earn income from emerging technologies. "It's crucial that our songwriters are protected and positioned to earn income from these new technologies," Bruderman said.
Cournoyer's appointment aligns with Kobalt's mission to maximize revenue for its creators in the evolving music industry ecosystem. By strengthening partnerships with global digital platforms, driving innovation in emerging technology areas, supporting the growth of the creator economy, and enabling smarter, faster, and more strategic music licensing, Kobalt aims to lead, rather than merely respond, to industry transformation.
Cournoyer, who began his career at Artist Publishing Group, first joined Kobalt in 2011 in the sync department. Since then, he has played a vital role in forging innovative deals with new partners. After a period at Smule, he returned to Kobalt in 2019, where he has been serving as the Senior Director, Sync & Business Development.
Cournoyer expressed gratitude towards Bruderman, Laurent Hubert, and Jeannette Perez for fostering a culture of innovation at Kobalt. He also highlighted the potential of micro-licensing and the transformative impact of AI on the music industry.
With these strategic initiatives in place, Kobalt is poised to adapt to the evolving digital landscape and ensure that its creators benefit from cutting-edge developments. The company's focus on digital innovation and partnership development is a testament to its commitment to protecting songwriters' interests and maximizing their revenue in the digital age.
- Derek Cournoyer's expanded role at Kobalt, as Senior Vice President of Global Digital Business, involves leveraging their advanced technology to negotiate strategic partnerships with platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Meta, and to pioneer initiatives in areas like the creator economy, web3, and AI for the sake of music publishing finance within the entertainment business.
- Kobalt's mission, as a tech-forward music company, is to optimize revenue for its creators in the rapidly evolving music industry, which they aim to achieve through strengthening partnerships with global digital platforms, driving innovation in emerging technology sectors, supporting the growth of the creator economy, and enabling smarter and more strategic music licensing.
- By focusing on digital innovation and partnership development, Kobalt demonstrates its commitment to protecting songwriters' interests and maximizing their revenue in the digital age, positioning itself to adapt to and benefit from the evolving digital landscape, including micro-licensing opportunities and the transformative impact of AI on the music industry.
