A seat has been named in Leicester’s Curve theatre to mark Peter Leathem’s 10th year as Chief Executive Officer of music licensing company PPL.
PPL licenses recorded music in the UK when it is played in public (shops, bars, nightclubs, offices, etc.) or broadcast (BBC, commercial radio, commercial TV, etc.) and ensures this revenue flows back to its members. These include both independent and major record companies, together with performers ranging from emerging grassroots artists through to established session musicians and globally renowned artists.
The presentation took place in The Theatre auditorium, with Leathem meeting Curve’s Chief Executive Chris Stafford alongside Andrea Gray, Managing Director of PPL and PRS for Music’s Leicester-based public performance licensing joint venture, PPL PRS.
Leathem is a board member of PPL PRS and, as Chief Executive Officer of PPL, was instrumental in setting up the company and its launch in 2018. PPL PRS is the biggest public performance licensing venture of its kind in the world, turning over hundreds of millions of pounds.
Under Leathem’s leadership, PPL has regularly supported Curve’s work, including sponsoring the orchestras for recent acclaimed Made at Curve productions of A Chorus Line and Sunset Boulevard – at Home.
The seat is inscribed with the words ‘With thanks to Peter Leathem from Team Curve’ and is situated next to a seat gifted by Curve to Sir Ian McKellen to celebrate the legendary actor’s 80th birthday tour of theatres across the UK.
Peter Leathem, Chief Executive Officer at PPL, said: “It is an honour to be recognised by Curve for PPL’s support of its work and to be allocated a seat next to such a prestigious actor. PPL’s backing of Curve is a natural fit, as we represent more than 130,000 performers and rightsholders of recorded music, helping them get paid when their recordings are played in public. Many of our membership have successful careers thanks to cultural landmarks like Curve. They provide regular opportunities for musicians to perform and also act as incubators for emerging local talent to hone their craft, developing local creative hubs in the process. Our cultural landscape, and PPL’s membership, is enhanced by institutions like Curve, so it is right that we should support its contribution to the UK’s performing arts sector. Thank you Chris and the team at Curve for all that you do.”
Curve’s Chief Executive Chris Stafford and Artistic Director Nikolai Foster said: “We are incredibly proud of our partnership with PPL and we are indebted to Peter Leathem and his colleagues for their continued support of Curve over the last few years. Peter’s passion and commitment to Leicester is inspiring, and we are thrilled to name a seat in Peter’s name to mark his 10 years with PPL and his contribution to Curve. Many congratulations to Peter and here’s to the next 10 years!”
