MTG and Discovery execs make Swedish music move

Former Modern Times Group (MTG) and Discovery communications executives, Felix Mannheimer and Peter McKelvy have joined Stockholm-based production music library Epidemic Sound.

Mannheimer held various roles at MTG since joining the firm as a trainee in 2003. Most recently he was partner sales manager at MTG’s Nordic pay TV broadcaster Viasat, prior to which he was acting CEO of Viasat Oy and head of studio at TV8. He joins Epidemic Sound as chief operating officer.

McKelvy left Discovery Communications in 2012 after 22 years at the firm – during which time he held roles including senior vice-president of global music and footage services, and vice-president of Discovery Studios. He becomes Epidemic Sound’s managing director for North America.

Epidemic Sound aims to make it easier for content creators to license music – offering a library of more than 25,000 tracks that, for a fee, can be used in any country, on any platform, for any time-period.

“Production music accounts for 90% of all music used in TV and Internet video today, and Epidemic Sound has created a totally hassle-free way for video content creators to find and use that music,” said Mannheimer.

At the same time, Epidemic Sound’s founding COO, Helena Bengtsson, takes the new role of chief creative officer.