Stacey Tang, co-president of RCA Records UK, has been appointed chair of the BRIT Awards 2026 committee as the ceremony moves to Manchester’s Co-op Live for the next two years — marking the first time in nearly 50 years the BRITs will be held outside London.
Tang will oversee all aspects of the show’s creative direction, working alongside representatives from major and independent labels, BRITs TV and the BPI. Sony Music UK will lead the committee from 2026 to 2028, following Warner Music UK’s tenure under Damian Christian.
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Tang, a Billboard UK Power Players list honoree who was promoted to co-president of RCA UK in early 2023, has played a key role in the label’s recent success with artists such as Cat Burns and Myles Smith.
She joins a creative team including Misty Buckley, Phil Heyes, Sally Wood and Maggie Crowe. Speaking on the news, Tang said, “As a massive music fan I always watched the BRIT Awards growing up, but revisiting the shows through the lens of chair has given me a totally different perspective. Being inspired by the spectacle and show as a young person, now motivates me to create something that feels important nationally and globally, while capturing the brilliant and eccentric nuance of British music and culture.
Tang added, “The decision to move to Manchester has been met with amazing feedback from the local community and the industry. To oversee a show that’s doing something for the first time feels energising but ultimately, we also want to inject fun into the proceedings … and people in Manchester know how to have fun!”
The BRITs also announced several category updates: the Rising Star Award reverts to its original name, Critics’ Choice, and Best New Artist becomes Breakthrough Artist. Eligibility criteria have been tightened across major categories, requiring higher chart performance. Nominees must now have a top 30 album or two top 20 singles, while genre categories maintain existing standards. The Mastercard Album of the Year must also reach the top 30. These changes aim to better reflect artist impact and chart success.
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Nominees will be announced in January, with voting handled by a panel of industry professionals and, in recent years, the public for genre categories. The 2026 ceremony will take place on Feb. 28 at Co-op Live, a 23,500-capacity venue opened in 2024, signaling a new chapter for the BRITs and its commitment to celebrating British music across the country.
Check out a full rundown of this week’s staffing news below.
Veep x5 (BMG)
Image Credit: Colleen Hayes
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BMG has announced key promotions and hires to strengthen its U.S. Frontline Recordings team, elevating five executives to vice president roles. Camille Kenny becomes vp of A&R at BMG Nashville, overseeing artist development across BBR Music Group’s imprints. Diallobe Johnson, now vp of marketing, leads R&B and hip-hop campaigns for artists like YG and Maxwell. Edwin Camacho joins as vp of marketing for pop, bringing experience from Interscope and Hollywood Records to guide campaigns for Kylie Minogue and Louis Tomlinson. Daron Moore, promoted to vp of brand partnerships, has secured deals for artists including MONSTA X and DJ Khaled. Quinn Bauducco, now vp of business and legal affairs, manages recorded music agreements and has led deals for Lainey Wilson and Jelly Roll. “We believe in recognizing and investing in great people, and this latest round of promotions and hires reflects the depth of talent driving our business forward,” said Jon Loba, president of frontline recordings, North America. “Camille, Diallobe, Quinn, Daron, and Edwin have each demonstrated exceptional leadership, strategic thinking, and a deep commitment to our artists and culture.”
Brooke Webster (Prescription Songs)
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Prescription Songs has elevated Brooke Webster to A&R Manager, where she now oversees a dynamic roster from the Los Angeles office, including Slush Puppy, Nick Bailey, David Pramik, and recent signings Greyson Chance and five-time Latin Grammy nominee Gino The Ghost. A Pennsylvania native and Belmont University alum, she began her career at Back Blocks Music before joining Prescription Songs in Nashville in 2021 and relocating to L.A. in 2024. Head of A&R Rhea Pasricha praised Webster’s dual-market expertise, saying she’s well positioned to “help shape the future of the company.” Webster credited the company’s collaborative culture and “a team that values creativity and collaboration as deeply as I do.”
Matt Herman (SeatGeek)
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SeatGeek has appointed Matt Herman as chief marketing officer, tasking him with leading brand strategy, growth marketing and communications as the company expands its ticketing platform and partnerships. Herman brings deep experience in marketing and technology from Wayfair, where he helped scale the company from $1 billion to $12 billion in revenue in his 12 years there. His background in data science and personalization positions him to guide SeatGeek through the next wave of AI-driven innovation. Alongside his appointment, Sarah Kettler was named executive vp of marketing and communications, reporting to Herman. Jack Groetzinger, CEO: “As AI changes how fans discover and connect with live events, Matt’s going to help us make SeatGeek even more personal, more intuitive, and more fan-first.”
Board Elections (IMPALA)
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IMPALA has appointed a new executive board at its annual general meeting in Zagreb, Croatia, outlining a two-year agenda centered on independent sector growth, AI innovation, streaming reform and expanding market access across Southern and Central Eastern Europe. Chair Dario Draštata (RUNDA Adria) was reappointed, alongside Francesca Trainini (PMI Italia) as president and Geert de Blaere (BIMA) as treasurer. Newly elected board members include representatives from 31 organizations such as !K7, AIM, Beggars Group, Better Noise Music, Cosmos Music Group, Epitaph and Wagram Music. The meeting also honored the late !K7 founder Horst Weidenmüller and recognized Merlin’s sustainability efforts. Held during RUNDA Digital Day, the event featured the first European Independent Music Summit, bringing together EU policymakers, industry leaders, and creatives to chew finance, regulation, and cultural growth across Europe’s independent music sector. The list of elected board members can be found here.
Joe Dan Cornett and Wendy Buckner (North Chapel Music)
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North Chapel Music has named Joe Dan Cornett as creative director and promoted Wendy Buckner to senior creative director, both reporting to executive vp Paul Compton. Cornett, a Nashville native, brings over a decade of publishing experience across genres including country, gospel and film/TV, with over 600 recorded songs to his credit. Buckner, previously creative director, has over 20 years of experience in publishing, TV production and artist management. Launched in August by industry veteran Benny Brown, North Chapel’s roster includes top songwriters and catalogs with Billboard No. 1 hits like Brett Young’s “In Case You Didn’t Know” and George Birge’s “Cowboy Songs.”
Jess Kinn (ROAM)
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Global live booking agency ROAM has appointed Jess Kinn as senior agent, bringing her artist-focused roster to the newly formed company. Kinn joins from One Fiinix Live, where she was the first agent hire and played a key role in expanding its roster and reputation, including delivering Years & Years’ arena tour and major festival performances. With over 15 years in the live music industry, she’s worked with artists like Shawn Mendes and Dua Lipa, and led livestream events during the pandemic. ROAM, formed from the merger of ATC Live and Arrival Artists, represents over 800 artists globally and operates from offices in six cities. The company operates offices in London, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Paris, and Glasgow, and features dedicated divisions specializing in brand partnerships and tour marketing. Jess is reachable here: jess.kinn@roamartists.com.
Nashville Notes: Cobblestone, Spin Doctors, Play It Again
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Newly founded full-service company Cobblestone Road, which includes a record label, hired Mike Kraski as general manager. A former executive with Sony Music Nashville and Equity Records, Kraski most recently served as managing partner for New Vision Artist Management … Spin Doctors Music Group president/CEO Al Brock announced plans to retire at the end of the year. He is plotting a March 21, 2026, celebration … Play It Again Music hired director of digital and streaming Amy O’Connor and creative director Molly Reinold. O’Connor was formerly Riser House head of streaming marketing strategy. Reinold spent four years with the creative team at 50 Egg Music. —Tom Roland
Adrián Oliver (Fourvenues)
Image Credit: Fourvenues
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Adrián Oliver has been appointed U.S. country manager of Fourvenues, a global nightlife operations platform, and relocated to Miami to lead its U.S. launch. With over eight years of experience in retail, finance, and entertainment — including nearly four years at BBVA — Oliver brings strategic insight to the expansion. Fourvenues, active in over 20 countries, helps venues boost revenue and streamline operations with technology that powers top clubs like Pacha and BCM. With new offices in Miami and New York, Fourvenues offers 24/7 support and advanced tools for ticketing, marketing, and finance. Its U.S. debut will be marked by its Fun Business Days event during Miami Music Week next March.
ICYMI
Image Credit: Courtesy Warner Music Group
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Warner Music Group promoted Dan Rosen to an expanded role overseeing both Australasia and Southeast Asia, consolidating leadership across a region of over 550 million people. This strategic move reflects WMG’s commitment to unified growth and market alignment in the Asia-Pacific region… Meanwhile, YouTube elevated Christian Oestlien, formerly vp of product management, to lead its subscription products team, which includes YouTube Music, YouTube TV and YouTube Premium… In the live music space, fan-first ticketing platform CashorTrade strengthened its executive team with the addition of industry veterans Andrew Dreskin — co-founder and former CEO of Ticketfly and TicketWeb — and Craig Snyder, formerly of Intellitix and Lyte.
State Champ Radio 
