Login
For assistance please contact Our Customer Service on: Tel: +44(0)20 8955 7020. Email: musicweek@abacusemedia.com
Please enter your email so we can send you password reset link.
An email has been sent to you containing a link to reset your password
For assistance please contact Our Customer Service on: Tel: +44(0)20 8955 7020. Email: musicweek@abacusemedia.com
Former Spotify UK & Ireland managing director Tom Connaughton has spoken exclusively to Music Week about the ambitions for independent boutique distributor Canvas Music.
Connaughton joined Canvas in October 2024 as partner and senior advisor, alongside founder and chief executive, Richard Lyne. It followed a six-year spell running Spotify’s UK & Ireland business.
“I really saw up close how vital distribution was becoming in the new music industry, and how exciting and burgeoning the independent sector and scene was,” said Connaughton.
The former Spotify boss and Lyne first worked together at Sony Music in the 2000s.
“Tom went on and did huge things, and I went through the industry, working at different major labels and tech companies, and then the last few years working with some of the big distributors,” said Lyne. “I began to feel that there was an opportunity to do distribution a bit differently and to approach it in a more boutique way.”
Connaughton had been closely following the development of Canvas Music by his former colleague since its launch in 2020.
“I had been really impressed with what he’d been quietly building here,” he told Music Week.
“It just felt like a great opportunity to learn more about distribution, and to really help push Canvas forward in a way that’s really fair and artist-centred,” he said of taking the role.
Canvas Music is working with new artists such as Moio, Lucy Gaffney, Lucy McWilliams, Thom Southern, Billie-Angela and Monjola, including a focus on emerging independent Irish talent.
More established UK acts include Ego Ella May, Professor Green and Will Joseph Cook’s new project under the name Aki Oke. Lyne describes the approach of Canvas Music as “very A&R-driven, which is my background”.
It involves working with a smaller number of artists compared to some distributors, who are more focused on volume.
“If you speak to most people who work in music, the thing that gets you out of bed in the morning is new artists and supporting new music – and the boutique approach really gives us the opportunity to do that,” added Connaughton.
If you speak to most people who work in music, the thing that gets you out of bed in the morning is supporting new music
Tom Connaughton
Canvas Music provides the same range of services as bigger label and artist services operations, including financial advances, sync and digital marketing. They are able to provide holistic guidance across areas including social media strategy, digital advertising, press and radio.
While the former Spotify boss acknowledges the power of data, he stressed that A&R will be at the heart of the operation.
“It really starts with the strength of the music,” said Connaughton. “We believe that we can help the artists and their teams achieve their objectives, so what’s really resonating is the personal connection we have with them.”
With the combined industry experience of Connaughton and Lyne, artists with Canvas Music can expect to benefit from the executives’ strong relationships with streaming services.
“When we think the music is good enough, we can make sure that artists are getting those opportunities at the DSPs,” said Lyne.
Connaughton’s move to digital-focused Canvas coincided with a new joint venture with US firm Symphonic Distribution.
“That gives us access to best-in-class technology, which was really important to me given my background, and also gives us a transatlantic link,” said Connaughton. “We’ve got teams on the ground in America – that’s quite unique for a UK distribution company to truly be able to prioritise music in the US market.”
Canvas oversaw 500-plus releases in 2024 and secured more than 250 distribution clients. It achieved streaming volume growth of 250% year-on-year during 2024 and is tracking above that in 2025.
Canvas Music also claimed a viral TikTok moment in late 2024 for Moio’s track Moments, which amassed millions of views. Lyne has been working to help develop the Irish alternative R&B artist for the last few years.
“We were able to help augment the social media activity and ensure great coverage in terms of playlist covers and features, working with our partners at Spotify and across the DSPs, and supporting that with marketing spend as well,” said Connaughton. “Moio is an extremely exciting and talented artist.”
Lyne said Canvas is able to gain an edge by securing the trust of emerging artists and teams.
“It is competitive, but I think our philosophy as a distribution company is very appealing, because they’re essentially getting an indie label [ethos] but on a distro deal,” he explained.
“We think it’s really important for this to be a truly independent option for artists and their teams today,” added Connaughton.
As it expands, the leadership team is now focused on growth on their own terms.
“I’ve seen a lot of great new companies burn out pretty quickly from growing too fast,” said Lyne. “So it is about growing steadily at a rate the business is comfortable with, especially given the model of what we’re trying to do.”
PHOTO: Grayce Leonard
For more stories like this, and to keep up to date with all our market leading news, features and analysis, sign up to receive our daily Morning Briefing newsletter
