The Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA) has appointed UWS graduate Robert Kilpatrick as Interim CEO and Creative Director.

Robert, who graduated with a BA (Hons) Commercial Music in 2016, will now lead the SMIA’s executive team and work with the company’s board to increase the value of Scotland’s music industry both at home and on the world stage; economically, socially and culturally.

Robert said: “Having lived and breathed the SMIA for almost a decade, I’m incredibly honoured, proud and excited to now be leading the company, and I’d like to thank our Company Board for placing their confidence in me to undertake such a crucially important role.

Scottish music inspires me like nothing else; it’s the stories of our lives, the heart of our cultural identity and the glue that binds us together. I’ve worked with and learned from some incredible people over the years, and I look forward to building on our strengths and driving the SMIA and our industry forward.

The SMIA and Scotland’s music industry have had no shortage of challenges in recent years, and as we now face rising costs compiled with reduced consumer spending, strains on public funding and the lasting impacts of both the pandemic and Brexit, artists, industry professionals and music businesses at all levels continue to face instability and require key support. The SMIA’s role as a sector-support organisation therefore continues to be vitally important, and the strength and depth of experience across our team will allow us to continue to deliver strategic work that makes a meaningful difference.”

Robert previously worked for music licensing organisation PPL, as well as for festivals including The Great Escape and Bestival. In 2019 Kilpatrick co-founded Scottish indie-label ICEBLINK LUCK with Stina Tweeddale (Honeyblood).

Having been involved in the SMIA since 2014, Robert has spent almost a decade building the organisation in a range of executive roles delivering work to support and champion Scotland’s music industry. With a proven track record in creative and strategic direction, project management, leadership and business development, he was instrumental in the SMIA successfully securing Regular Funding from Creative Scotland in 2018, enabling the company to scale up its operations and increase both the impact and accessibility of its support services.

Speaking of the new appointment, Nick Stewart, Interim Chair of the Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA), said: “Robert understands the SMIA’s importance better than anyone else. Hard-working and driven, he has been instrumental in achieving the organisation’s aims. He is a powerful, experienced and very capable advocate for the musicians, technicians, promoters, artist managers, tour managers, venues, publishers, agents, label and countless other industry roles that need strong representation and industry development now more than ever. Our board, which includes representatives of key industry organisations from across the UK, are unanimous in our support of him in this challenging role at a key time for the Scottish music industry.”

The SMIA now comprises over 4,000 members working across Scotland’s music industry ecosystem. The organisation provides a voice for its membership when speaking to Government, Parliament and development organisations. It delivers a wide range of services, projects and events designed to stimulate domestic and international growth, sustainability, development and innovation; all with equality, diversity and inclusion at the core.

Photo credit: Jean Yuzheng Zhang