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  • An even more representative council and board for Gramex

    28.01.2025 Sari Aalto-Setälä
    Gramex’s autumn meeting elected a new council in December. At the end of the year, the council also appointed a new board for Gramex, which now represents the music field even more broadly. For the first time, the board includes an independent artist representative from Musicians Union as well as a representative of independent record labels.

    New members elected to the council as artist representatives were Mirkka Kivilehto and Mia Kari. Continuing their work on the council are artist representative Jaakko Kämäräinen and producer representatives Antti Kotilainen, Tuomas Hämäläinen, and Tom Pannula.

    The composition of the board was significantly expanded with the addition of an independent representative for musicians and a representative for independent record labels. The board, now with two additional members, brings a broader perspective and greater representation of the music field to Gramex’s decision-making.

    A stronger professional voice than ever before

    Maija Vilkkumaa was elected as the independent artists’ representative from the Musicians’ Union.

    In the photo: Maija Vilkkumaa. Photo by Camilla Hanhirova

    Since 1990, Vilkkumaa has built a career as an artist and songwriter and aims to use her position on the board to enhance the value and recognition of Finnish pop music.

    “I want to be part of building the rise in the value of popular music and its creators. We have great creators and potential for anything. I also hope to bring to the board a rather direct understanding of what music creators think,” says Vilkkumaa.

    Producer representation strengthened

    Tom Pannula from Playground Music was elected as the representative of independent record labels to the board. He has previously been involved as a deputy member of Gramex’s board and in the council.

    “I want to influence the fact that Finnish music remains vibrant in the future as well. Gramex plays a very important role for us. Without Gramex remunerations, our operations would be much smaller in scale,” Pannula says.

    Pannula reminds that producers also need to fulfill their role in handling Gramex royalties.

    “Remember to submit the phonogram reports– and preferably on time!”

    In the photo: Tom Pannula. Photo by Camilla Hanhirova

    Without Gramex remunerations, our operations would be much smaller

    The board was expanded earlier in the autumn with representatives from major record labels. Olli Sjöström, CFO and HR Director of Sony Music Finland, and Petri Mannonen, CEO of Universal Music Oy, were elected to the board.

    Finland as a force in the Baltics

    Petri Mannonen, who has had a long career at Universal, has previously been responsible for the record company’s Baltic operations. He was already familiar with the board work of copyright organisations from his time with Gramex in Estonia and Latvia.

    According to Mannonen, remunerations are an important part of producers’ revenue generation now and in the future.

    In the photo: Petri Mannonen. Photo by Camilla Hanhirova

    Music has a significant value, which should be reflected in the remunerations paid to right holders.

    “In an ever-changing market, we need to enable and facilitate the use and licensing of music, while ensuring the level of royalties and the most efficient payment of royalties. Music has a significant value, which should be reflected in the remuneration paid to rightholders,” says Mannonen.

    “It is also great that we have been able to develop the activities of copyright organisations in the Baltics in recent years, thanks to the fruitful cooperation between Gramex and the Baltic organisations,” Mannonen says.

    Part of the top team

    Olli Sjöström, CFO and HR Director of Sony Music Finland, who has also had a long career with the major company, was elected to the Gramex Board.

    In the photo Olli Sjöström. Photo by Camilla Hanhirova

    Gramex has great talent, so it is a privilege to be on the board of such an organisation.

    Sjöström promises to bring his expertise and experience to the Board, especially in financial matters.

    “Copyright remunerations are an important source of income for producers, artists and musicians. Therefore, it is very important that the organisation managing royalties is reliable and a pioneer,” says Sjöström.

    “Gramex has top talent employed, so it is a privilege to be on the board of such an organisation. I look forward to the future!”

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