Former CMRRA President joins SoundExchange as Senior Vice President, Business Development to identify strategic growth opportunities, forge new partnerships, and help position the organization for the future.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — SoundExchange today announced the appointment of Paul Shaver as Senior Vice President, Business Development. In this role, he will lead efforts to identify strategic growth opportunities, expand partnerships, and position SoundExchange for the future of music. Shaver joins the SoundExchange executive team, reporting to President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Huppe.

A respected music industry leader with more than three decades of experience across music publishing, recorded music, rights administration, data services, and technology, Shaver joins SoundExchange from the Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency (CMRRA), where he served as President of both CMRRA and SX Works. During his tenure, he expanded global client relationships, strengthened data and administration capabilities, and helped drive increased value for music publishers and songwriters.

In his new role, Shaver will spearhead SoundExchange’s efforts to identify strategic growth opportunities, develop innovative partnerships, and expand the organization’s impact across the music ecosystem. He will also help shape SoundExchange’s approach to emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, as the organization evolves to meet the future needs of creators and rights owners.

“Paul is a respected and forward-thinking executive with experience across many aspects of the music industry,” said Michael Huppe, President and CEO of SoundExchange. “He has a proven ability to anticipate change, build innovative solutions, and turn opportunity into growth. As technology reshapes how music is created, distributed, and monetized, Paul’s leadership will help SoundExchange expand its impact and remain at the forefront of the industry’s evolution.”

Shaver most recently led CMRRA through a period of exceptional momentum, including significant increases in royalties distributed to clients, substantial growth in global publisher affiliations, and expanded international reach through SX Works. Under his leadership, CMRRA continued to strengthen its reputation as a trusted partner to music publishers and self-published songwriters while earning widespread recognition across the music industry.

Prior to CMRRA, Shaver held senior leadership positions with Nielsen Entertainment, Universal Music Group, EMI/Capitol Music, and Virgin Records. He has also served in industry leadership roles with the Canadian Country Music Association and the Canadian Private Copying Collective. In recognition of his impact on the industry, he was named to Billboard Canada’s Power Players list in both 2024 and 2026.

“SoundExchange has the expertise, relationships, and data assets to help shape the next chapter of the music industry,” said Shaver. “I am excited to join the team and work with creators, rights owners, licensees, and industry partners to build meaningful partnerships, identify new opportunities for growth, and ensure those we serve continue to benefit as technology reshapes the music ecosystem.”

Shaver’s appointment underscores SoundExchange’s commitment to innovation, strategic growth, and long-term value for creators and rights owners in a rapidly changing music landscape.

About SoundExchange
SoundExchange is the largest global neighboring rights organization in the world, redefining how creators in the music industry get paid. By turning data into fast, accurate revenue for artists and rights owners, we have collected and distributed more than $13 billion in digital performance royalties to date on behalf of more than 800,000 music creators. As the sole organization designated by the U.S. government to administer the Section 114 sound recording license, SoundExchange seamlessly collects and distributes digital performance royalties from platforms like Pandora, SiriusXM, iHeartRadio, and thousands more, as well as all available international performance royalties through a strong global partnership network. For more information, visit soundexchange.com.

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SOURCE SoundExchange