Jim Selby Elected to ASCAP Board of Directors

The BMG executive has joined the governing board of the performing rights organization.

Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Music — General

Bold flat-color editorial illustration featuring a brass tuning fork on a stone plinth, representing music industry governance. — BMG executive Jim Selby has been elected to the ASCAP Board of Directors as a publisher member, bringing extensive industry leadership to the organization. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

ASCAP has elected Jim Selby to serve as a publisher member of its Board of Directors. Selby currently serves as the President of Global Music Publishing at BMG.

Why it matters

The appointment brings extensive industry leadership experience to the organization representing over one million songwriters, composers, and music publishers. ASCAP board members are elected directly by their voting songwriter and publisher membership.

ASCAP represents more than one million songwriters, composers, and music publishers across the United States. Board members for the performing rights organization are elected by the body of active members.

The players

Jim Selby

He is the President of Global Music Publishing at BMG and formerly served as the Chairman of the A2IM Board of Directors.

ASCAP

This U.S. performing rights organization manages public performance licensing for its network of more than one million members.

The details

Selby brings a diverse background in music publishing, having previously served as the Chief Publishing Officer at Concord. He currently holds board positions at the National Music Publishers Association, the Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency, and the International Confederation of Music Publishers.

September 24, 2026: Jim Selby was announced as a newly elected board member.

Industry Dynamics

The appointment of a senior BMG executive to the board highlights the ongoing influence of major global music publishers within the governance of domestic rights organizations. This move follows a pattern of corporate leadership integration intended to bridge the interests of global publishing entities and local performance licensing structures.

This leadership change impacts how the rights organization manages licensing and royalty distribution for its one million members. Future policy shifts or operational changes under the new board composition could influence how songwriters and publishers interact with ASCAP services.

The takeaway

The election of industry veterans to board positions signals a focus on professionalized governance at the top levels of music rights management. Songwriters and publishers can monitor future board decisions for potential changes to royalty administration procedures.