ASCAP Hires Stephanie Ruyle As Licensing EVP

Performing rights organization ASCAP today appointed media executive Stephanie Ruyle executive vice president and head of licensing, reporting directly to ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews. 

As a member of ASCAP’s leadership team, Ruyle will be responsible for ASCAP’s licensing revenues and operations across all platforms including broadcast and cable television, terrestrial and satellite radio, digital, live concerts, venues, retail, restaurants, bars, background music, etc.

She succeeds Vincent Candilora, who led ASCAP licensing since 1995, and who in 2016 announced that he planned to retire at the end of 2017.

Commented Matthews: “Stephanie brings a wealth of experience driving revenue growth and negotiating multifaceted licensing agreements, which is vitally important to the execution of our strategic plan of transformation and modernization in an increasingly complex and evolving media environment. Her deep understanding of content strategy, distribution, sales and affiliate marketing across media platforms will prove incredibly valuable to ASCAP as we innovate to provide our members and our licensing partners with new opportunities for success through music.”

On Candilora’s retirement, Matthews added: “I know the entire ASCAP community — our team of ASCAP employees, our Board of Directors and our ASCAP members — thank Vincent Candilora for his passion, advocacy, humanity and truly outstanding successes as our head of licensing for these past 22 years.  Our songwriter, composer and music publisher members have benefited immeasurably from his dedicated leadership.  Vincent will always be part of our ASCAP family and will continue to provide consulting services to ensure a smooth transition.”

Prior to joining ASCAP, Ruyle was EVP of distribution and affiliate relations for Participant Media’s television venture Pivot, a millennial-targeted television network focused on socially relevant content. In this role, Ruyle was responsible for developing and executing the distribution strategy, including negotiating and structuring distribution agreements for Pivot content across traditional and digital platforms; and business development, identifying new content distribution business and partnership opportunities.

Ruyle began her career in entertainment and media with Viacom in its distribution group. She served in a series of ascending positions within Viacom over a career that spanned 17 years with leadership positions in national accounts, field sales, affiliate marketing and affiliate ad sales.

In addition, Ruyle led the distribution efforts for Viacom’s international content in the U.S., the initial launch of its Epix premium cable channel as well as leading the strategy and negotiations for a number of major MVPDs.

Ruyle obtained her MBA, from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, and earned her B.A. from the University of Iowa’s Tippie College of Business.