Karen Don Appointed Head Of Membership At APRA AMCOS

Karen Don is the new Head of Membership at APRA AMCOS. She started her new role on Monday (26 February) after having been promoted from her position of Director of Publisher Services.

Don joined APRA AMCOS last June and brought over 20 years of experience in the Australian music industry, including at Universal Music Australia and Universal Music Publishing, to the role. She’s served as a member of the ARIA board and built up an impressive career with experience in legal and business affairs.

As the Head of Membership at APRA AMCOS, Don will oversee the “membership division’s strategy, framework and roadmap” and deliver effective and efficient services to songwriter, composer and publisher members of the organisation.

Her role will see her partnering with the organisation’s executive leadership team in a vital position to protect APRA AMCOS members’ repertoires, maximise royalty payments and manage diverse, inclusive outreach initiatives.

In response to her promotion, Don commented in a press release, “I am very excited to be stepping into the position of Head of Membership, which is such an important role, both within APRA AMCOS and the wider music industry.

“I look forward to leading the organisation's membership initiatives and service delivery and am committed to championing the creativity and professional growth of our songwriter, composer and music publisher members.”

Chief Executive at APRA AMCOS, Dean Ormston, added: “Karen’s experience and in-depth knowledge of the Australasian music ecosystem and the global marketplace makes her incredibly well-equipped to lead the Membership team as we evolve our services and provide support that meets the diverse needs of our members.”

In November, APRA AMCOS called for a tax offset to help boost the live music industry and revive venues lost following the COVID-19 pandemic.

While the organisation first mentioned the tax offset in 2022, Ormston reiterated the suggestion last year, stating: “A tax offset to support the growth of live music would not only be a catalyst for the social and cultural development of live music but would also provide an injection of confidence across the tourism and hospitality economy.

“Live music, whether at the local pub, club, concert venue, or festival, is the beating heart of Australia’s cultural life. This is not a bottomless offset and would be quantifiable in a direct return to taxpayers due to the finite number of potential venues.”