ASCAP Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Matthews Named Billboard Women in Music Executive of the Year

NEW YORK, April 17, 2026 - Billboard, the world's most influential music publication, today announced that ASCAP Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Matthews has been named its 2026 Women in Music Executive of the Year. The Billboard Women in Music issue featuring her interview and honoring the top female artists and executives in the music industry is now online here.

Matthews will accept her award at the Billboard Women in Music event on April 29 in Los Angeles, alongside a star-studded lineup of ASCAP members who will also receive awards. They include K-Pop Demon Hunters' EJAE and Rei Ami (Women of the Year), Kehlani (Impact Award), Laufey (Innovator Award), Tate McRae (Hitmaker Award) and The Beaches (Global Force Award). Fans can view Billboard Women in Music 2026 presented by Sonesta International Hotels live on April 29 at 6:30pm PT/9:30pm ET on Billboard.com or the Billboard YouTube Channel.

In a feature story titled "ASCAP's Elizabeth Matthews Is Looking Out For Songwriters - And Protecting Their Futures," Billboard writes, "Matthews may now stand among the most powerful women in the music industry…"

Matthews is quoted in the story: "What we do matters to more than a million people and their lives… We take quite seriously our obligation to work as hard as humanly possible to protect their rights, to advocate for them, to push on negotiations and licensing, to collect as fast as possible, to match and process as fast as possible and to get people paid. Because on the ground, it's about paying the rent and buying food and paying tuition."

Billboard Co-Chief Content Officer Leila Cobo said: "The import and influence of Beth's position as the person who steers ASCAP and looks after its more than 1.1 million songwriters and publisher members and their work at a time of upheaval in the music industry cannot be overstated. She is that rare executive that understands artistry and business, and also brings in a dose of good humor to the equation. We are thrilled to honor her as our Women In Music Executive of the Year."

"Beth is what I call a true 'warrior for the light' and has been since she took the helm of ASCAP in 2015," said ASCAP Chairman of the Board and President Paul Williams. "She wakes up every single day thinking about how ASCAP can excel at serving its songwriter, composer and publisher members, who depend on ASCAP for their livelihoods. I heartily congratulate Beth on this well-deserved honor."

Matthews has led ASCAP to record-breaking revenues and distributions for the past ten years. In 2025, ASCAP delivered $1.945 billion in revenue and $1.759 billion in distributions, up 6.0% and 3.7%, respectively, over the previous year. Since her tenure as CEO in 2015, ASCAP has generated a 6.7% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for total revenues, and a 7.3% CAGR for total royalty distributions to members. ASCAP is the only U.S. performing rights organization that operates on a not-for-profit basis and delivers nearly 90 cents of every dollar collected back to its members as royalties with a 10% operating ratio. Under Matthews' leadership, ASCAP is a fierce creator advocate in the age of AI.

Matthews acted quickly to support LA-based members affected by the January 2025 wildfires, launching a $1 million emergency relief fund. Her stellar leadership has enabled ASCAP to attract and retain top hitmakers like Jay Z, Jack Antonoff, Tate McRae, EJAE, Shaboozey, Mustard, Rosé, The 1975, Timbaland, Lola Young, Max Martin, Hans Zimmer, Tom Petty, Boy George and more.

Matthews has earned a spot on Billboard's Power 100 list ten times since 2016 and has been regularly featured in Billboard's Women In Music issue. Within the last year, she was selected for CNBC's Changemakers: Women Transforming Business, recognized as one of Forbes "50 Over 50," and as one of SPIN's "26 Most Influential People in Music 2026." She also serves on the Board of Directors for the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC) as well as on the Board of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, among other Board seats.

Matthews joined ASCAP in 2013 as Executive Vice President and General Counsel, overseeing the ASCAP Business & Legal Affairs department. Previously, she worked at Viacom Media Networks (formerly MTV Networks), where she held the position of Executive Vice President & Deputy General Counsel, overseeing the VMN Business and Legal Affairs teams. Prior to Viacom Media Networks, Matthews worked in the Intellectual Property and Corporate Groups for Chadbourne & Parke and the Business Technology Group for Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy. Matthews received her B.A. from Purdue University and her J.D. from Emory School of Law.

About ASCAP

The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) is a membership association of more than 1.1 million songwriters, composers and music publishers, and represents some of the world's most talented music creators. Founded and governed by songwriters, composers and publishers, it returns nearly 90 cents of every dollar collected to its members as royalties and has the lowest overhead rate of any U.S. PRO. 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 and identifies, matches, processes and pays royalties to its members for trillions of performances every year. 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 X and Instagram @ASCAP and on Facebook.

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CONTACT:

Cathy Nevins, ASCAP

cnevins (at) ascap.com