Downtown Music Holdings (DMH)-owned Downtown Music has formed a new Artist & Label Services division. Ben Patterson has been promoted to the role of President of the newly-coined Downtown division.
The Artist & Label Services division was born from Downtown’s distribution arm, DashGo, and the company says that it is “integral” to its “core mission to empower artists and build an equitable music ecosystem”.
DashGo was acquired by Downtown in 2019 when it acquired AVL Digital Group for an estimated $200 million. Patterson founded DashGo in 2004.
The news arrives six months after DMH formed the Downtown Music unit.
Downtown Music combined all of Downtown’s global business and professional services including distribution, label and artist services, publishing administration, video and user-generated rights monetization, neighbouring rights, royalty accounting solutions, sync licensing and creative support services.
Amongst those combined divisions were Downtown Music Services, music publishing platform Songtrust, rights management company Adrev, indie distribution company CD Baby and B2B music tech and services platform Fuga.
Led by President, Pieter van Rijn, Downtown Music is described by DMH as “the first step towards creating a clear market proposition that combines technology and an extensive range of music services under three core pillars – Publishing, Artist & Label Services, and Distribution”.
According to Downtown, the new Artist & Label Services division will “provide a home to and roll up the repertoire” of artists and labels previously serviced by DashGo and Downtown Music Services.
With this latest announcement, Downtown says that Patterson completes the leadership team of its core services.
Other leadership changes at Downtown arrived in September 2022, when Van Rijn’s successor, Christiaan Kroner, was named President of FUGA, Downtown Music’s B2B Distribution services company, and then in March 2023, Emily Stephenson was promoted to President of publishing, Downtown Music.
Mike Smith also departed Downtown after nearly three years as Global President of Downtown Music Services.
“There is no better person than Ben to lead the Artist & Label Services division, and I can’t wait to see how his leadership and passion benefit the incredible artists and labels we represent.”
Pieter van Rijn, Downtown Music
President of Downtown Music, Pieter van Rijn, said: “At Downtown, we empower artists, creators and those businesses who represent them. We honor the value that artists bring into the world.
“Through his experience and affinity, Ben understands and respects the role of the artist and knows how to navigate through the unique challenges that they face today.
“There is no better person than Ben to lead the Artist & Label Services division, and I can’t wait to see how his leadership and passion benefit the incredible artists and labels we represent.”’
“With a global team focused on artists’ success during the lifetime of their projects, the Artist and Label Services division enables artists to succeed on every platform and build a listening fanbase to sustain careers.”
Ben Patterson
Said Ben Patterson, President, of Downtown Artist & Label Services: ”Artist independence has been the central driver of my career, and empowering artists is at the core of everything we do at Downtown.
“With a global team focused on artists’ success during the lifetime of their projects, the Artist and Label Services division enables artists to succeed on every platform and build a listening fanbase to sustain careers.
“I’m excited to continue my tenure at Downtown Music surrounded by colleagues that share the same vision and embrace the opportunity to support more artists and their teams at all stages of their careers.”
“We’re extremely fortunate to have Ben and the rest of the leadership team that guides this division and I am excited to see how they continue to grow and evolve.”
Andrew Bergman, Downtown Music Holdings
Downtown Music Holdings CEO Andrew Bergman, added: “With Ben’s move, we have completed a series of changes that we commenced two years ago, firmly establishing Downtown as the premier provider of distribution, publishing, artist, label and related services to the broader industry.
“We’re extremely fortunate to have Ben and the rest of the leadership team that guides this division and I am excited to see how they continue to grow and evolve.”
Prior to his promotion, Patterson served as Chief Operating Officer of Downtown Music Services.
Now, as Artist & Label Services President, Downtown says Patterson will “lead the charge in guiding independent artists and recording labels through the complexities of the music industry today”.
Los Angeles-based Patterson is an industry veteran of 20+ years, who previously served in senior roles at The Firm and GMG Entertainment, and founded DashGo in 2004, with the artist and label-centric distribution company later acquired by Downtown in 2019.
Since then he has served as Chief Operating Officer of Downtown Music Services, the combined publishing and distribution service that served as the precursor to Downtown Music.
Downtown says that under his management, Downtown Music Services’ distribution business revenues grew 250% year over year with hit releases from artists including Cheat Codes, Los Tucanes De Tijuana, and TV Girl, and labels such as Avex USA’s label Selene, Nataniel Cano’s label Los CT, and New 11.
Music Business Worldwide
The best of MBW, plus the most important music biz stories on the web. Delivered for FREE, direct to your inbox each day.
