BPI Chief Executive Officer to step down

Chief Executive Officer of record label trade body BPI GEOFF TAYLOR has announced intention to step down from his role in 2023.

Taylor has led the BPI, a role which involves overseeing the BRIT Awards and the Mercury Prize, for more than 15 years and has worked with label associations for 25 years. He plans to step down to move to a more directly commercial role.

A former General Counsel at global trade body IFPI, Taylor helped secure industry and UK government support for the extension of copyright terms, and led the BPI’s strategy to reduce online music piracy.

Taylor oversaw the BRIT Awards’ move to the O2, steered the acquisition of the Mercury Prize and championed the government's creation of the Music Exports Growth Scheme (MEGS), administered by the BPI.

Indie representation at the BPI strengthened substantially during Taylor's tenure, with independents labels including Dirty Hit, Good Soldier and Marathon joining and total membership expanding to over 500 music companies. 

He also led the creation of the BRITs Apprentice Scheme, which provides funded apprenticeship opportunities across the music industry to young people from diverse backgrounds. 

Taylor says it has been a "great privilege to lead the BPI during such a transformational period for British music".

“With a new Chair appointed and our 50th anniversary next year, it feels like BPI is opening a new chapter,” he said.

“After much reflection, I have decided that running the BPI for 15 years is enough for any moderately sane individual and that now is the time to use my experience more directly in a commercial environment.”

Taylor will stay in post to help BPI Chair YOLANDA BROWN find an appropriate successor.