Lyne Tastet (ESILV 2001) Executive Director of Operations at Sacem

A graduate of ESILV, Lyne began her career in computer engineering before moving on to strategic roles at the heart of the music industry. Now Director of Operations at Sacem, she oversees major issues related to data, automation, and copyright protection. Combining technology, management, and a passion for music, she looks back on the major milestones in her career, the challenges of her job, and the advice she would give to future engineers who are still finding their way.

What were the major milestones in your career?

The first milestone came when I graduated from ESILV. As a newly qualified design engineer, I joined a service company where I led various projects, particularly in Java development. I then joined Sacem as a service provider to the IT department. 

There, I did what is known as project management assistance.  In other words, I was the interface between the developers and the end users. Finally, the third milestone was when I left the world of IT to join and manage operational departments at Sacem. 

Can you explain your job to us?

Sacem is a collective management organization and a world leader in its field. Its two main missions are to collect copyright royalties from television channels, internet platforms, radio stations, and all music users. And finally, to distribute the royalties paid to them by these music users.  

My role as Director of Operations is to oversee the documentation of musical and audiovisual works, such as films and series. In fact, it involves identifying the various contributors to these works: the authors of the lyrics, the composers of the music, and the publishers who accompany them. And finally, distribution operations consist of processing all the broadcasting data received from TV channels, internet platforms, radio stations, etc., in order to identify all the works in Sacem's repertoire and thus pay the rights holders whose music has been broadcast. 

What are your current challenges?

Our current challenges are really related to data. Sacem is a true data company. We process trillions of pieces of data every year. The challenge is to automate our tools as much as possible, to have effective tools for identifying works, and to reduce manual operations in order to ensure the fairest possible distribution. 

What are the essential qualities for success in this role?

The music industry is undergoing rapid change. That's what makes it so exciting: there are always new challenges, new ways of using music, and new ways of defending rights, particularly with the advent of artificial intelligence. It's really important to protect music and the creators who make a living from it. 

What do you particularly like about your job?

What I particularly like about this profession is the subject matter: music. It's something important in our lives. For me, it's an essential part of our lives. I also like transforming organizations and procedures, combining people with technology, and developing business processes. 

How did your studies at ESILV contribute to your career path?

My studies at ESILV were really decisive in that I left ESILV with a background as a general engineer, which allowed me to tackle different issues and various projects. And finally, at the time, it was quite innovative: we had a semester abroad. I did mine in Halifax, Canada. And being fluent in English was a key factor in my development. 

What advice would you give to a student who wants to pursue a career like yours?

The advice I would give to someone who wants to pursue a career like mine is to be curious about everything, ask questions, and be on the lookout for opportunities. And it's true that graduating from ESILV is a real asset.

LinkedIn Lyne Taster