Australia’s music trade is mourning the lack of Matthew Capper, the long-serving former managing director of Warner Chappell Australia, who died unexpectedly earlier this month following a surgical process.

Capper suffered a ruptured appendix in late December, and couldn’t struggle off the an infection after the operation, reads a press release from his household.

A stalwart with greater than 20 years’ service at Warner Chappell Australia, Capper led the enterprise as managing director from 2010, till his departure in February 2024, a part of a company-wide downsizing.

Dan Rosen, president of Warner Music Australasia, remembers Capper as a top-notch government, sport, and an important individual. “He cared deeply concerning the songwriters he represented,” Rosen writes in a message to workers, The Music Community studies, “and his efforts to guard and rejoice their music made a long-lasting impression on Warner Chappell and the broader music group in Australia. He was above all else, in each interplay, a gentleman.”

In 2005, Capper turned the youngest individual ever appointed to the AMCOS board on the age of simply 28. Two years later, in 2007, he turned the youngest to affix the APRA board, at 30. He remained a director on each boards till late February 2024, in addition to serving as deputy chair of the AMCOS board from 2020-2024.

Buddies, former colleagues and enterprise rivals are paying their respects. “I’m utterly shocked and saddened to listen to of the passing of pricey pal and colleague, Matthew Capper. I bear in mind Matthew as an extremely honest, principled skilled who was captivated with music publishing. He was self-deprecating, all the time liked a joke and loved spending time with colleagues,” feedback Dean Ormston, CEO of APRA AMCOS.

“He had nice regard for the work of APRA AMCOS and was very happy with his lengthy connection to the group and workers. He will probably be sorely missed by us all, and our ideas exit to his family and friends at this very tough time.”

Jenny Morris, chair of APRA, says Capper’s loss of life is a troublesome one for the trade. “We have now had many losses from the music trade household in the previous few years, all of which have been sources of nice unhappiness, however Matt’s loss of life has been an enormous shock,” she remarks. “Matt was probably the most first rate, sensible and humorous folks and I really feel very privileged not solely to have recognized him, however to have had his friendship.”
Capper, she continues, “labored with real care and a large amount of trade consciousness on the APRA board, and on various events despatched supportive messages at simply the best time. He was an empath as properly.”

By means of his profession, Capper was a tireless advocate for the music publishers group. He was voted into the place as chair of the Australasian Music Publishers’ Affiliation (AMPAL) in 2013, nearly a decade after becoming a member of the commerce physique’s board, in 2004. Capper additionally represented AMPAL on the Worldwide Confederation of Music Publishers (ICMP) board, each as non-executive director and extra not too long ago as Treasurer, a place he was particularly happy with. His involvement with ICMP prolonged to chairing its Australasia and Asia Regional Group.

“I used to be fortunate to spend so much of time with Matthew on the AMPAL, AMCOS and APRA boards, usually travelling to Sydney collectively from Melbourne for conferences,” remembers Jaime Gough, chair of AMCOS. “Matthew was a real skilled, an important mentor and sounding board. He was passionate concerning the songwriter and writer members we symbolize, and a vocal advocate for his or her rights.” 

Gough, managing director of Harmony Music Publishing ANZ (previously Native Tongue), continues, “I’m nonetheless in a state of shock at Matthew’s passing. He had a lot extra to present to the music trade, many extra meals to cook dinner, and will probably be sorely missed. My ideas exit to his household and associates.”

The late government won’t have a funeral, per his needs.

Capper “reached some dizzying heights, and he met lots of people that he enormously revered, even after assembly them,” reads the household assertion. “We expect he was quietly happy with his achievements. We definitely have been. We’re additionally sure he thought he had much more work to do. Hopefully others have been impressed by him and might proceed that.”