Ang Kwee Tiang (aka KT Ang) has joined global record company body the IFPI as its regional director for Asia.
He joins the organisation from global authors and composers’ body CISAC where he served as regional director, Asia-Pacific.
KT Ang replaces the outgoing regional director Leong May-Seey and will co-ordinate IFPI’s priorities across Asia, leading legal policy and government affairs in the region, developing the economic framework for copyright.
He will head IFPI’s regional office in Hong Kong, coordinating the work of its representative office in Beijing, as well as its national groups across the region and reporting to IFPI’s chief executive Frances Moore.
Having initially joined CISAC as Regional Legal Counsel in 1989, KT Ang has been intimately involved in copyright developments in the Asia Pacific region for the past two decades, helping to create and develop most of the copyright collective management organisations in the region including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Taiwan, Macau, Brunei, China, India and Indonesia. He also served on the board of many of those organisations during his tenure.
IFPI CEO Frances Moore said: “I am delighted to welcome KT Ang to the IFPI team. He has a strong track record of working in the music industry and an unrivalled understanding of copyright law in Asia. The international recording industry is extremely excited about the opportunities Asia has to offer.
“We have seen from the recent success of South Korea how a robust copyright framework can improve the investment environment, enabling record companies to discover, nurture and promote exciting new artists and music. KT Ang has the stature and experience to lead IFPI’s campaign to improve its members’ rights in other markets across the region, which could lead to similar commercial success stories.”
KT Ang said: “The music industry in Asia has transformed itself in recent years. It now stands at the threshold of a great opportunity as digital channels enable record companies to reach more consumers than ever before. I look forward to working with our member record companies to campaign for sound copyright laws across the region, as an essential precursor to the growth we know can be delivered.”
A lawyer by trade, KT Ang earned a first class law degree from his native Singapore, before going on to earn his Masters of Law and a Postgraduate diploma in UK, US and EU Copyright Laws at King’s College, University of London.
An expert in intellectual property law, he has undertaken more than 100 expert advisory missions and speaking engagements on behalf of WIPO to developing countries in Asia, advising on copyright law and the creation of copyright societies. He has also served as deputy superintendent of police, Singapore Police Force as part of his military service.Music Business Worldwide
