Amy Eligh Promoted to Vice President of Publishing and Licensing at Arts & Crafts

Amy Eligh is stepping into a new role as vice president of publishing and licensing at Arts & Crafts.

The music industry executive joined the independent publishing company in 2017 as director of publishing and licensing, remaining in that role for over eight years. During her almost decade-long tenure, Eligh assisted the indie label in expanding its indie rock roots to include songwriters from a variety of genres, including country and pop.

Now, Eligh’s role will expand to include the company’s global business development strategy as she continues to nurture both A&C’s new and legacy rosters. Her new role will ensure the company maintains its presence in all aspects of the industry as the Canadian music industry landscape evolves.

“I’m excited to be expanding my role here at A&C with the steadfast support of the executives and team,” says Eligh. “I’m so appreciative of the autonomy and trust I’ve been given to grow our small but mighty publishing company. We will continue to strive to be a creative and innovative contributor in this corner of the industry that I love so much.”

Before her stint at A&C, she served as director of sync and creative series at indie songwriting collective, Red Brick Songs.

Formed in 2003, Arts & Crafts has been known as a hub for some of the most celebrated indie artists in the country, from Broken Social Scene to Constantines, Feist to Mustafa.

More recently, the company's publishing department, Arts & Crafts Music Publishing, has been one its biggest successes. A&C has secured a small roster of emerging songwriters, some of whom have played a part in penning hits for some of today’s biggest artists. Ontario native Megan Bülow is a credited songwriter on Beyoncé’s Grammy-nominated hit “Texas Hold ‘Em” from her Grammy-winning album Cowboy Carter. Songwriter Josh Berkowitz has written a handful of tracks for pop artist Kelly Clarkson, Canadian singer-songwriter Forest Blakk and Nigerian gospel musician Blessing Offor, including "Somebody's Child" featuring music legend Dolly Parton.

Another major moment for Arts & Crafts Music Publishing was the signing of Toronto rock band The Beaches back in 2022. The group's manager, Laurie Lee Boutet, worked at the indie label in A&R before leaving her role to pursue her own artist management company, Wednesday Management, full-time, that same year. Boutet had already secured a publishing deal for artist Alex Porat, and when she started to manage The Beaches, the company struck up a second deal.

A&C’s additional register of rising songwriters includes artists Broken Social Scene, Young Friend, Jordan Hart, Sylo, Katie Tupper, Dear Rouge, plus solo songwriters like Parker Bossley and Steve Bays, who have written for homegrown artists such as Billboard Canada Airplay chart hitmakers Hotel Mira, Dear Rouge, Fitz and the Tantrums and Yukon Blonde.

The company has also expanded its country efforts, signing Canadian country artists and songwriters, including Saskatchewan’s Jake Vaadeland and the now Nashville-based Chris Buck. The former received accolades at this year’s Junos and the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) Awards, while the latter’s track “One Two Step” debuted at No. 47 on the Country Airplay chart earlier this year.

"Amy joined us almost a decade ago and has grown our publishing division, both in overall revenue and in the breadth of songwriters and genres with which we work,” shares Kieran Roy, president and co-owner at Arts & Crafts. “Her entrepreneurial spirit and willingness to take risks and approach opportunities and challenges with an open mind has helped to earn A&C Music several awards and accolades over the past several years. Amy has also been central to our foray into country music, both on the label and publishing sides.”

At Billboard Canada Women in Music 2024, Eligh took the stage to recognize the importance of royalties and rights for songwriters, alongside Meg Symsyk, CEO of FACTOR, where Eligh has been on the board of directors since 2017.