Matthew Capper Dies: Music Industry Remembers ‘Gentleman’ Ex-Warner Chappell Chief

Tributes are flooding in for Matthew Capper, the late, long-serving ex-leader of Warner Chappell Australia, who has died following surgery for a ruptured appendix. 

Capper clocked-up more than 20 years with Warner Chappell Australia, serving as managing director from 2010, until his exit in February 2024 — making many friends and allies along the way. 

After learning the ropes as administration manager at Festival Music Publishing, a now-defunct Australian independent music publishing brand which was acquired by Mushroom Music, he joined Warner Chappell in 2003, initially as a copyright/royalty analyst, before his elevation to general manager in 2004, and again in July 2010 as managing director. 

A precocious publishing talent, Capper was elected in 2007 to the board of APRA, becoming the youngest-ever director of the authors’ rights society, aged 30.

“Matthew had a quick and particularly dry sense of humour,” comments Dan Rosen, president, records and publishing, Warner Music Australasia, in an internal message to staff, “and while he didn’t often place himself in the spotlight, he surprised us all at our 2023 Learning and Development conference with an enthusiastic rendition of “the worm” to help his team win extra clues—a moment of impeccably timed sportsmanship that had us all laughing and cheering.”

Rosen continues, “He cared deeply about the songwriters he represented, and his efforts to protect and celebrate their music made a lasting impact on Warner Chappell and the broader music community in Australia. He was above all else, in every interaction, a gentleman.”

As news of his untimely death spreads through the music industry, Capper is being remembered as man of integrity, a great colleague and a nice guy. 

“Completely shocking news,” comments Dean Ormston, CEO of APRA AMCOS, in a social post. “Matthew was a long- standing member of the APRA AMCOS Boards and well known and regarded by all of us who knew him. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Matthew’s family.”

“Indeed a man and executive who conducted himself with the highest of integrity,” recounts Danny Keenan, promoter at Destroy All Lines.

Writes Heath Johns, president of BMG Australia: “Devastating news. Thinking of the Capper family and sending my love. His energy, passion and humour will be missed.”

Fellow music publisher Simon Moor, managing director Kobalt Music Group APAC, notes: “My sincere condolences. This is such sad news and I know Matthew will be missed by all who knew and worked with him. I enjoyed greatly my time with Matthew on the APRA, AMCOS and AMPAL boards, he was a true lover of music and carried out his work with the highest of integrity and passion.”

Mark Callaghan, the experienced music publisher and frontman of Ganggajang and Riptides, adds, “I’m deeply shocked by this awful news. I loved working with Matthew and loved his passion for music. My deepest condolences to the Capper family and all Matthew’s friends. RIP Matthew you were a wonderful person.”

Outside of his duties leading Warner Chappell’s affiliate from Melbourne, Capper was non-executive director of APRA and AMCOS, deputy chair of AMCOS, chair and non-executive director of publishers trade association AMPAL, and treasurer and non-executive director of ICMP, the global trade body representing the music publishing industry worldwide.

As previously reported, Capper passed a week ago, unable to fight off the infection after the operation. During his lifetime, he “reached some dizzying heights, and he met a lot of people that he greatly respected, even after meeting them,” reads a family statement.

“We think he was quietly proud of his achievements. We certainly were. We’re also certain he thought he had a lot more work to do. Hopefully others have been inspired by him and can continue that.”