As Chairman and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Jon Platt leads the number one global music publisher. With an inclusive leadership style, he is transforming the culture within the company and creating a powerful example for the music industry.
Since his appointment in April 2019, Platt has attracted key new signings and executive talent, as well as expanded opportunities for songwriters. With a promise to deliver best-in-class service, he is revolutionizing how songwriters are discovered, developed and supported, both creatively and commercially.
“Sony/ATV is nothing without its incredible songwriters,” he says, “and I want to do everything in my power to help them succeed.”
With his mantra to always put songwriters first, Sony/ATV is the only music publisher offering expedited foreign royalty payments to its songwriters, which is establishing a new standard for publishing companies. In an industry where many songwriters have endured a history of being undervalued and underpaid, Jon’s dedication to songwriter advocacy continues to move the needle.
In addition to elevating the needs of songwriters as the head of Sony/ATV, Platt is focusing on diversity to reshape the corporate culture. Under his watch, the company has significantly increased representation by women in its leadership ranks. According to Women in Music, an organization that champions gender equality, the gender divide at music companies is roughly 70% male to 30% female. Platt’s path as a leader has inspired people of color, women, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and others who have been underrepresented within the music industry.
“Music is very diverse and it always has been. However, when you look inside our industry, it’s not,” Platt says, “I want the industry to look like the music it represents.”
Culturally, Platt is acknowledged for his influence as a creative executive. He is widely credited for bringing hip-hop music to dominance in the music publishing industry by elevating how R&B/ hip-hop artists are respected and compensated as songwriters. Throughout his career, he has signed and collaborated with prominent songwriters, including Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Drake, Kanye West, Pharrell Williams, Rihanna and Usher.
Platt also provides educational assistance to the community. In 2005, he launched the Big Jon Platt Scholarship Program for high school students from his hometown attending college. “I think it’s important to look out for the next generation. I believe that the new intern could be the next CEO with the right resources and opportunities, and as a leader I want to encourage that mindset,” Platt says.
Platt’s career history alone is an encouragement to any hardworking professional striving for success. Without having spent a day in college, Platt started his career as a DJ where he gained notoriety and began managing producers. His success in this field landed him a job at EMI Publishing working in A&R. Seventeen years later, Platt worked his way up within the music industry and earned the position of President of Creative, North America at Warner Chappell and, in 2015, became Chairman and CEO and led the company’s turnaround. He helped Warner Chappell break Billboard market share records and signed a number of hit songwriters. “It’s always been about the music for me; it is what I love,” says Platt.
Now at the helm of Sony/ATV, Platt is looking toward the future. “I’m proud of all that we have accomplished over the past year by better supporting songwriters and creating a more inclusive environment. This kind of change is starting to happen throughout the industry, and it’s a great sign,” he says, “There is much more work to be done, but I’m looking forward to a bright future.”
