04/23/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/23/2025 06:55
NEW YORK, April 23, 2025 - The American Society of Composers Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) has promoted Nicole George-Middleton to Executive Vice President & Head of Creative Membership. Reporting to CEO Elizabeth Matthews, George-Middleton will sit on the ASCAP Senior Leadership Team and she will oversee songwriter, lyricist and composer relations at ASCAP and lead the ASCAP Creative Membership Department.
"Nicole is an extraordinary executive with a passion for music and an expansive vision for how ASCAP can help our creator members thrive in an increasingly complex and challenging environment," commented ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews. "Nicole is an innovative leader who brings an unparalleled level of tenacity, intelligence, hard work and good humor to every situation. She is committed to ASCAP's 'creator first / future forward' mission and I have every confidence that she will successfully execute her vision to provide creators the agency and support that they deserve."
Most recently, George-Middleton held the positions of Senior Vice President of Membership as well as Executive Director of The ASCAP Foundation. Nicole will continue to serve as Executive Director of The ASCAP Foundation while The ASCAP Foundation begins the search for her replacement so that she can devote full-time to her new role.
"Through my work both in membership and at The ASCAP Foundation, I have been fortunate to build relationships with ASCAP members in all genres of music which is fulfilling on every level," added George-Middleton. "I look forward to working with the entire ASCAP membership team to find new ways of supporting the careers of our members by promoting and celebrating their creative work and cultivating new opportunities for them to make connections and succeed."
In her role as SVP of Membership, she was instrumental in signing and retaining top ASCAP talent including Cardi B, Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Baby, Sexyy Red, Migos, Mustard, Big Sean, Swizz Beatz, Tyla, Beyoncé, Jay Z, Victoria Monét, Lil Baby, G. Herbo, Muni Long, Raphael Saadiq, Theron Thomas, Timbaland, 50 Cent, Kid Cudi, The-Dream, Andre 3000, Alicia Keys and Tommy Richman, among others. She successfully launched a number of member programs to celebrate and foster the careers of our members, including the ASCAP Grammy Brunch, Women Behind the Music, Country/Urban Song Camp as well as elevating ASCAP's Rhythm & Soul Music Awards and ASCAP's Aspire Internship Program to develop the next generation of music industry talent.
George-Middleton has been at ASCAP since 2008, and was promoted to Senior Vice President, Membership, in 2016, responsible for the oversight and daily operational management of ASCAP's Rhythm & Soul and Symphonic and Concert Membership Departments.
In 2021, Nicole added the new role of Executive Director of The ASCAP Foundation to her
already existing responsibilities. In this additional role, she ensured that The ASCAP Foundation successfully fulfilled its mission of nurturing the music talent of tomorrow and sustaining the creative incentive for today's music creators through a variety of educational, professional and humanitarian programs and activities. The ASCAP Foundation's music programs reach over 300,000 people annually, including 60,000 students at 700 K - 12 schools nationwide who do not have access to music education.
Before coming to ASCAP, Nicole was Director of Business & Legal Affairs at Zomba Music Group, and prior to that she practiced entertainment law at The Middleton Law Group PC. She received her B.A. from University of Pennsylvania and her J.D. from Brooklyn Law School. She is a member of the American Bar Association, Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association, the Executive Committee of She Is The Music, and was named to the Billboard R&B Hip-Hop Power Players List in 2019 - 2024.
About ASCAP
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) is a membership association of more than one million songwriters, composers and music publishers, and represents some of the world's most talented music creators. In 2023, ASCAP reported record-high financial results of $1.737 billion in revenues and $1.592 billion available in royalty distribution monies to its members. Over the last eight years, ASCAP has delivered a 7% compound annual growth rate for total revenues, and an 8% compound annual growth rate for total royalty distributions to members. Founded and governed by songwriters, composers and publishers, it is the only performing rights organization in the U.S. that operates on a not-for-profit basis. ASCAP licenses a repertory of over 20 million musical works to hundreds of thousands of businesses that use music, including streaming services, cable television, radio and satellite radio and brick and mortar businesses such as retail stores, hotels, clubs, restaurants and bars. ASCAP collects the licensing fees; identifies, matches and processes trillions of performances every year; and returns nearly 90 cents of every dollar back to its members as royalties. The ASCAP blanket license offers an efficient solution for businesses to legally perform ASCAP music while respecting the right of songwriters and composers to be paid fairly. ASCAP puts music creators first, advocating for their rights and the value of music on Capitol Hill, driving innovation that moves the industry forward, building community and providing the resources and support that creators need to succeed in their careers. Learn more and stay in touch at www.ascap.com, on Xand Instagram@ASCAP and on Facebook.
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CONTACT:
Cathy Nevins, ASCAP
cnevins (at) ascap.com