New Director of Publisher Relations with big ambitions

When Andreas Rasmus Elley joined Koda in 2015, the tasks and challenges looked rather different from today. A member survey at the time revealed that many music publishers felt Koda did not understand their business and were therefore looking for alternative solutions. That became the starting point for a wide-ranging, multi-year effort to change this state of affairs.

Back then, Andreas Rasmus Elley began as Key Account Director and spent his first year visiting publisher members. He sat down with them in person, listened and learned. It was a simple but highly effective approach, and one which built dialogue and understanding. Those meetings helped shape a new strategy, with Koda developing tools and processes that reflected publishers’ real needs. And they marked the beginning of a new, trust-based partnership.

‘For the first year or so, I spent a great deal of time speaking with our publisher members. I went to see them in person, sat down and talked with them. From that came an understanding of who they are and what they need,’ explains Andreas Rasmus Elley.

The initiative generated direct feedback, which in turn led to tangible improvements: an analytics tool in My Koda, improved processes, and a culture in which music publishers feel Koda genuinely takes their needs seriously. Today, member satisfaction is significantly higher, and the publisher’s perspective has become central within the organisation.

An independent division with international ambitions

In October 2025, Publisher Relations became an independent department, with Andreas Rasmus Elley as director. This move reflects Koda’s ambition to strengthen its efforts both in Denmark and internationally. Music publishing is occupying an increasingly prominent place in Koda’s strategy, and the ambition is clear:

We must be a trusted partner for music publishers in Denmark and across territories

- Andreas Rasmus Elley

Read more about Music publishers at Koda

The international perspective is not about shifting attention away from Danish music publishers, but about building a strong platform that supports all members. Andreas Rasmus Elley emphasises that the goal is to deliver value and service that makes Koda a natural choice for music publishers, regardless of size.

The vision: Best in class service

Andreas Rasmus Elley’s vision is both clear and ambitious:

"We must be a trusted partner for music publishers in Denmark and across territories,’ says Andreas Rasmus Elley."

Doing so requires in-depth understanding of members’ needs as well as the ability to evolve in step with the industry. For Andreas Rasmus Elley, a key objective is to remove friction and making processes as efficient as possible, enabling members to essentially spend less time on Koda and more time on their core business.

Industry trends: Focus on AI and metadata

The music industry is in the midst of a technological revolution, and AI is a major topic for both Koda and its members. For Koda, this involves adapting to new formats, while also helping members understand how technology is affecting their business.

In addition, metadata and data quality are crucial to ensuring accurate royalty distributions and efficient administration. Andreas Rasmus Elley stresses that transparency and quality are key to maintaining members’ trust:

Our repertoire is our gold. If we don’t have our members’ trust, they will go elsewhere

- Andreas Rasmus Elley

Read more about music publishers at Koda

The future: trust – and attracting repertoire

Looking ahead, two key themes are at the top of Andreas Rasmus Elley’s list: trust and attracting repertoire. Koda is working to retain existing repertoire and attract new works, and that requires members to fully trust that Koda is the best partner to manage their rights. Building and maintaining that trust is not only a strategic objective; it also manifests as an everyday practice that runs through everything from technology investments to personal dialogue with members.

With a strong vision, a dedicated team and a clear strategy, Andreas Rasmus Elley is ready to take Koda’s Publisher Relations into its next era, all while focusing on innovation, an international outlook and ever-closer relationships with members.