Kobalt Promotes Derek Cournoyer to Senior Vice President of Global Digital Business
Los Angeles, CA – July 24, 2025 – Kobalt, the world’s leading independent music publisher, has promoted Derek Cournoyer to Senior Vice President of Global Digital Business at the company. In this expanded role, Cournoyer will play a pivotal role in negotiating strategic partnerships with global leaders such as 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 important role in forging innovative deals with new partners while ensuring that we have strong relationships with the major digital services and platforms. I am 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 tenure at the social singing app Smule, he returned to Kobalt in 2019 as Senior 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.”
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About Kobalt
Kobalt Music is the leading independent music publishing destination for songwriters and publishers, powered by technology. Across 10 global offices, Kobalt serves over 1 Million songs, representing some of the biggest songwriters in the world, including Roddy Ricch, Max Martin, Karol G, Andrew Watt, Stevie Nicks, Phoebe Bridgers, The Lumineers, Gunna, Justin Quiles, The Foo Fighters, Paul McCartney, and many more. On average, Kobalt represents over 35% of the top 100 songs and albums in the US and the UK. With a relentless focus on advancing the interests of creators, Kobalt leverages cutting-edge technology to streamline the complex processes of music publishing administration. The company's dedication to transparency, coupled with its forward-thinking approach, has positioned it as a trusted partner for songwriters and rights holders navigating the ever-evolving music industry.
Kobalt’s unwavering commitment to empowering creators and reshaping the future of music rights management solidifies its standing as a global leader in the music industry. The company continues to transform the industry, most recently via AMRA, its global digital music collection society designed to maximize value for songwriters and publishers in today's digital age, while providing the highest level of transparency and efficiency. For more information about Kobalt, please visit www.kobaltmusic.com.