Ben McOwen Wilson Appointed CEO of PRS for Music

PRS for Music has named former Google and YouTube executive Ben McOwen Wilson as its next chief executive officer, marking a leadership change for the U.K. collecting society as it continues to navigate the evolving music and technology landscape.

McOwen Wilson will assume the role on Oct. 12, succeeding Andrea Czapary Martin, who announced in March that she would step down after leading the organization since 2019. PRS said the appointment follows an international search conducted by its Members’ Council.

Most recently, McOwen Wilson served as managing director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Google Play, a position he held since 2022. Before that, he spent more than a decade at YouTube, overseeing the platform’s business operations across the EMEA region. Earlier in his career, he served as CEO of UEFA New Media and as managing director at British broadcaster ITV.

Beyond the private sector, McOwen Wilson has worked with the U.K. government through the Creative Industries Council and the Creative Industries Federation, contributing to discussions on intellectual property, innovation and industry growth.

The appointment comes after another record financial year for PRS for Music. In 2025, the organization distributed a record £1.07 billion to songwriters, composers and publishers, a 4.9% increase from the previous year. Royalty collections reached £1.24 billion, marking the second consecutive year PRS distributed more than £1 billion to rightsholders.

PRS for Music represents the rights of more than 190,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers. Alongside royalty collection, the society has taken an increasingly active role in advocating for creators on issues such as artificial intelligence and copyright, while also pursuing legal action against Valve Corporation over the alleged unlicensed use of members’ music on the Steam platform.