Vanessa Reed has been appointed president and chief executive of New Music USA, following 11 years at the helm of PRS Foundation.
During her time as chief executive of the UK’s leading funder of new music, Reed tripled its resources for organisations, composers, songwriters and artists by introducing a suite of national and international programmes.
These include the Momentum Music Fund, created in partnership with Arts Council England (2013), New Music Biennial, which began as a programme of commissions for the UK’s Cultural Olympiad (2012), and Women Make Music, which was set up in response to the gender gap in music.
During Reed’s tenure, PRS Foundation has awarded over £26m to more than 4,100 new music initiatives, with major partners including Spotify, BBC Music Introducing, BBC Radio 3, PPL, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, the European Commission’s Creative Europe programme and the Arts Councils in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland.
Across Europe and internationally, Reed is also known as the founder of Keychange, a gender balance campaign in music established in 2017 with six European and Canadian partners. She will continue to support the international Keychange programme in a voluntary role as honorary chair.
Reed will be based at New Music USA’s offices in New York City. She replaces former chief executive Ed Harsh who has left the organisation after 17 years to work as a senior staff member of the Kurt Weill Foundation for Music and to take on an independent book project.
Interim chief executive Deborah Steinglass will continue to serve in that role until Reed’s arrival this summer.
Reed said: ‘I believe that music, like every art form, deserves specialist resources and advocates that offer support, build new connections and create a better future for its creators, practitioners and audiences.
‘That’s why I’ve loved every minute of my time at PRS Foundation in the UK and why I’m excited to be taking up this post at New Music USA which plays a crucial role in supporting and connecting America’s many talented and diverse new music communities. I look forward to joining the New Music USA Board and team in New York later this summer.’
Simon Platz, chair of PRS Foundation and managing director of Bucks Music Group, said: ‘Vanessa has been the power house behind the force that has transformed the Foundation in recent years.
‘Her passion and energy has been infectious and the strategic partnerships she has struck up between the Foundation and all kinds of major funders, music organisations and national bodies like the BBC will be her enduring legacy. We wish her all the best with her exciting new appointment in New York.’
During her time as chief executive of the UK’s leading funder of new music, Reed tripled its resources for organisations, composers, songwriters and artists by introducing a suite of national and international programmes.
These include the Momentum Music Fund, created in partnership with Arts Council England (2013), New Music Biennial, which began as a programme of commissions for the UK’s Cultural Olympiad (2012), and Women Make Music, which was set up in response to the gender gap in music.
During Reed’s tenure, PRS Foundation has awarded over £26m to more than 4,100 new music initiatives, with major partners including Spotify, BBC Music Introducing, BBC Radio 3, PPL, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, the European Commission’s Creative Europe programme and the Arts Councils in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland.
Across Europe and internationally, Reed is also known as the founder of Keychange, a gender balance campaign in music established in 2017 with six European and Canadian partners. She will continue to support the international Keychange programme in a voluntary role as honorary chair.
Reed will be based at New Music USA’s offices in New York City. She replaces former chief executive Ed Harsh who has left the organisation after 17 years to work as a senior staff member of the Kurt Weill Foundation for Music and to take on an independent book project.
Interim chief executive Deborah Steinglass will continue to serve in that role until Reed’s arrival this summer.
Reed said: ‘I believe that music, like every art form, deserves specialist resources and advocates that offer support, build new connections and create a better future for its creators, practitioners and audiences.
‘That’s why I’ve loved every minute of my time at PRS Foundation in the UK and why I’m excited to be taking up this post at New Music USA which plays a crucial role in supporting and connecting America’s many talented and diverse new music communities. I look forward to joining the New Music USA Board and team in New York later this summer.’
Simon Platz, chair of PRS Foundation and managing director of Bucks Music Group, said: ‘Vanessa has been the power house behind the force that has transformed the Foundation in recent years.
‘Her passion and energy has been infectious and the strategic partnerships she has struck up between the Foundation and all kinds of major funders, music organisations and national bodies like the BBC will be her enduring legacy. We wish her all the best with her exciting new appointment in New York.’
