The BPI has appointed Beth Sidwell to the role of director of policy and public affairs.
Sidwell has held the position of head of policy and public affairs at the BPI since June 2023, having joined the organisation in August 2021. She takes on the director role with immediate effect.
Her appointment follows a recruitment process after BPI chief strategy officer Sophie Jones left in August to take up the position of CEO at the Royal Television Society.
“Beth has played an important role in shaping the BPI’s policy advocacy over the past five years, acting as a representative face for the industry on key issues such as AI and Copyright, streaming, education, and trade and exports,” said a statement.
Sidwell has also been spearheading the BPI’s work to open a new specialist creative college – dubbed BRIT School North – in Bradford, West Yorkshire.
She will now build on all this activity by leading the BPI’s policy and public affairs team, working closely with BPI CEO Dr Jo Twist OBE and colleagues, BPI members and industry partners to help shape a supportive business and policy environment.
Prior to joining the BPI, Sidwell was a senior leader in a Westminster-based public affairs and communications agency, Connect, working with clients across culture, sport, housing, education and pensions. She also spent close to four years working in Parliament for Conservative MP Helen Grant, who held roles as a government minister and the party’s vice-chair.
Beth has led on many key areas of our policy and public affairs work and has had an impressive career journey prior to joining the BPI
Dr Jo Twist
Beth Sidwell, BPI director of policy and public affairs, said: “I am delighted to be stepping into this role after spending the past five years championing an industry which I feel so passionately about. There has been no shortage of important issues to be discussing with policymakers during that time and we’ve made some excellent progress, but there’s more work to do to ensure the UK remains a world leader in music, and that label businesses can continue to invest in, and support, artists.
“It is a privilege to work with my talented colleagues at BPI and our diverse and innovative membership, and I’m excited to see what more we can achieve together in this next chapter.”
Dr Jo Twist OBE, BPI chief executive, said: “Congratulations to Beth on this well-deserved appointment. This is a pivotal time for our industry as it innovates and evolves, but it is also a critical time to be engaging with colleagues across central and devolved governments who share our ambition for local to global growth.
“Beth has led on many key areas of our policy and public affairs work and has had an impressive career journey prior to joining the BPI. We look forward to Beth taking this work to the next level on behalf of our members and British recorded music.”
PHOTO: Louise Haywood-Schiefer
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