Kobalt Ups Cournoyer To SVP, Global Digital Biz
• Kobalt, the world’s leading independent music publisher, has promoted Derek Cournoyer to SVP of Global Digital Business. In his enhanced position, Cournoyer will play a pivotal role in negotiating strategic partnerships with YouTube, TikTok and Meta, as well as pioneering initiatives with emerging media segments in the creator economy, web3 and AI.
“As a tech-forward music company, it is crucial that our songwriters are protected and are positioned to earn income from emerging technologies,” said Bob Bruderman, Chief Digital Officer at Kobalt. “Derek has played a vital role in forging innovative deals with new partners while ensuring that we have strong relationships with the major digital services and platforms. I’m pleased to be able to recognize his contributions by expanding his role at Kobalt.”
Cournoyer has spent the majority of his career at Kobalt, first joining the company in 2011 in the synch department and, after a stint at the social singing app Smule, returned to Kobalt in 2019 as Sr. Director, Synch & Business Development. He began his career at Artist Publishing Group.
“I’m incredibly grateful to Bob, Laurent Hubert, and Jeannette Perez for fostering a culture of innovation and for their trust in me to help push our mission forward,” said Cournoyer. “We’re at a turning point in the music industry as AI transforms the landscape and micro-licensing opens up powerful new pathways for the creator economy. Kobalt is not just adapting to this moment — we’re built for it. With one of the most sophisticated metadata infrastructures in the business, we’re positioned to license music smarter, faster, and more strategically. I’m proud to be part of a team that’s not just responding to change, but leading it — and redefining what’s possible for music publishing in the digital age.” [Photo courtesy of Kobalt]
