Josh Pyke named as PPCA Chair Full PPCA Board details for 2023

20 March 2023

Phonographic Performance Company of Australia (PPCA) today announced updates to its Board, including the selection of respected musician Josh Pyke as Chair, and Senior Legal and Business Affairs Manager at Warner Music Australia, Lauren Pelser, as 2023 Observer.

Josh Pyke has been a member of the Board since 2016, when he was initially appointed through the Artist Representative Director election process.  Josh has served continuously ever since, and was recently returned unopposed for a further two-year term.

Josh has used his public position as a successful musician to remain a staunch advocate for the arts. With his work as an ambassador for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation as well as his own project for young musicians, The Josh Pyke Partnership, Pyke has endeavoured to not only raise funds and awareness for the arts, but offer his insights and mentorship from his experience as a working musician.

PPCA Chair, Josh Pyke, said: “Being the first artist to Chair the Board of PPCA is a huge honour. It’s a time of refocus and rebuilding in the creative sector, and I look forward to continuing PPCA’s work to improve our rights holders’ revenue streams, with a particular eye on the interests of the artist and performer. I’m really excited to be part of the positive changes the music industry is undergoing.”

Newly elected Observer, Lauren Pelser, is deeply passionate about music and the creative industries having gained extensive experience as a key business partner enabling creatives on a cross border, multi-jurisdictional basis at companies within media, technology, and e-commerce. 

Prior to joining Warner Music Australia, Lauren held a senior role at tastemaker independent record label, artist management, and publisher, Future Classic, along with roles at talent agency Insanity Group, Chugg Entertainment, and Nova Entertainment. 

The PPCA Observership Program was established last year in partnership with The Observership Program, which was founded in 2014 to facilitate practical experience and ongoing networking opportunities to create a passionate and motivated community of future leaders.

PPCA’s program builds capability by exposing talented individuals to the decision-making and operations of the PPCA Board and aligns with the Board’s goal to contribute to the growth of the Australian music community and the enhancement of inclusivity within Australian music boards.

In addition to the selection of the Board Chair and Observer, today’s meeting was the first for new Board members CEO and Chair of Sony Music Australia and New Zealand, Vanessa Picken, and President, Universal Music Australia and New Zealand, Sean Warner.

They join returning board members Chief Operating Officer of TMRW Music Group, Duncan Collins; Managing Director of One Louder Entertainment, Bill Cullen; President Warner Music Australasia, Dan Rosen; Owner of Rubber Records and the principal of entertainment law firm Media Arts Lawyers, David Vodicka; and Artist Representative Director JoAnne Volta.