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James Leach, vp of creative services and West Coast operations for SESAC, passed away on Thursday (Oct. 17) in Los Angeles. The well-respected music industry executive died following a battle with cancer.
Beginning his tenure at SESAC in 2001 as director of writer/publisher relations, Leach covered pop, R&B and rock. During his 23 years with the performing rights organization, Leach signed funk legend George Clinton, Lalah Hathaway and Ab-Soul as well as songwriter/producers such as Nate “Danja” Hills, Harvey Mason Jr. (The Underdogs) and John “Jaylien” Wesley. He also established the company’s Los Angeles office.
Paying tribute to Leach, SESAC commented in part on its website, “Emanating from his warmth, kindness and enthusiasm for life, James will continue to shine light on those he knew … James was not just a leader for the Los Angeles-based creative services team but a constant wellspring of support and inspiration for SESAC-affiliated songwriters and publishers. In addition to his deep love of music and unwavering dedication to nurturing talent was his advocation of culture and DEI. He continuously promoted awareness and understanding. His ethos of service and making things better was the keystone of his work.”
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Hailing from Montclair, N.J., before relocating as a teen with his family to L.A., Leach graduated from Pepperdine University with a degree in broadcast management. His lifelong love affair with music and the arts laid the foundation for a multi-faceted career that included stints in TV and radio sales, as a recording studio owner and as the head of his own music placement firm, Leach Entertainment. Internships at Famous Music and Michael Jackson’s ATV Music (prior to its merger with Sony) led to his being appointed director of creative affairs at ATV. During his seven years there, Leach signed writer/producers like Keith Crouch and Derek Allen and also worked with the catalogs of Jackson, The Beatles and Sly & the Family Stone.
Returning to Famous Music as director of creative affairs/urban music, Leach signed then-unknown songwriter/artist Akon. After leaving Famous, Leach worked as a music supervisor and consultant. His credits in that arena include the popular ‘90s series New York Undercover and Magic Johnson’s The Magic Hour.
A Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players honoree in 2019, Leach was presented with the Entertainment Advocate Award by the Living Legends Foundation in 2015. He also served on the foundation’s advisory board.
Calling Leach “the consummate professional,” Living Legends Foundation chairman David C. Linton tells Billboard, “He brought such value to enhance our mission of ‘service, scholarship and preserving the legacy of Black music executives.’ His presence will be missed both professionally and personally. Our prayers go out to his family and all who know and love him.”
Leach is survived by his mother, Claudia Leach, in addition to his siblings and other family members. The family is asking that donations in his honor be made to The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation.
Twitch’s head of music, Cindy Charles, has died after being involved in a traffic accident last week in The Netherlands.
Twitch CEO Daniel Clancy confirmed Charles’ death Friday (Oct. 18) on LinkedIn. Clancy remarked that “anyone that uses music on Twitch owes a debt of gratitude to Cindy’s work. She always had a bright smile on her face even as she negotiated unprecedented music licensing agreements for Twitch including the recent DJ agreement.”
That deal, which specifically covers DJs who live-stream on the platform, was announced in June and involved Twitch signing music licensing deals with all three major labels — Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment — as well as many indie labels represented by Merlin.
Charles was meant to speak on a panel Thursday (Oct. 17) at the Amsterdam Dance Event, an annual dance music industry conference in the Dutch capital, offering expertise for DJs using Twitch.
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Before her six years at Twitch, Charles worked as an independent digital media consultant and also spent three years at Amazon, where she worked as the head of business development in the music department of Amazon Ticketing, along with working in the Video Shorts department. Earlier in her career, she spent seven years at Viacom, where she managed digital legal and business affairs for entities within MTV Networks.
Beyond those positions, Charles served as an advisor to the board of governors at the Recording Academy, was a co-founder of Women in Digital, which has more than 1,500 members, and co-founded the San Francisco chapter of She is the Music.
Charles was based in Berkeley, Calif., and grew up in Queens, N.Y., majoring in political science at SUNY Buffalo. She is survived by her husband, Ricky Fishman, and her two sons.
“Every success, every setback, every moment of working toward our shared mission felt deeply personal,” Twitch’s Kira Karlstrom wrote in a remembrance of Charles, “because Cindy made it that way. She cared about her team with all her heart, and our work was an extension of that care.”
Dorothy “Dottie” Leonard Miller, an entrepreneurial executive who founded several influential gospel and Christian music companies during a career spanning decades, died Friday (Oct. 11) at age 79.
After launching her own distribution company, New Day Christian Distributors, in 1981, Miller went on to create a veritable empire in the faith-based music business, with subsequent ventures including DayWind Soundtracks, DayWind Records, DayWind Music Publishing, two recording studios, and a cassette and CD manufacturing facility. More recently, she expanded her businesses to encompass DayWind Worship (choral music), Spiritus Distribution (Catholic products), Billy Blue Records (bluegrass), Billy Jam Records (country and Americana), Billy Blue Publishing and the DayWind Music Foundation, which provides an internet radio station focused on Southern Gospel.
“Dottie was a visionary, a pioneer, she was determined, humble, and generous,” said Rick Shelton, vp of DayWind Publishing, in a statement. “Serving her vision, her artists, her songwriters and the industry she loved has been a tremendous honor. What she did with her life touched the lives of so many.”
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Across her various music ventures, Miller worked with a laundry list of gospel and Christian artists including the Cumberland Boys, Greater Vision, the Crabb Family, Karen Peck and New River, Brian Free and Assurance, The Isaacs, Triumphant Quartet, Down East Boys, the Perrys, the Hoppers, Jonathan Wilburn, the Steeles, the Nelons, Lefevre Quartet, Michael English, Appalachian Road Show, Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, Tennessee Bluegrass Band, Carolina Blue, Kristy Cox and Grasstime, Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers, and Bob Minner.
Miller’s success garnered her a slew of awards over the years, including lifetime achievement awards from the Gospel Music Association, BMI and the Southern Gospel Music Guild. She was also inducted into the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.
“Dottie Leonard’s story is a woman with vision, faith, and courage to make a difference,” said Jackie Patillo, president of the Gospel Music Association, in a statement. “Her work and tenacity will be forever remembered as will her legacy as a single mother, founder of Daywind Records, and New Day Distribution, and member of the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame. On behalf of the GMA Board of Directors and the entire gospel music community, we say farewell to Dottie and offer our deepest condolences to her family as she has now received her greatest reward.”
Born Aug. 10, 1945, in Wilmington, Del., Miller’s early jobs included clerical work at an accounting firm and a law firm, selling Jhirmack hair products, and working for the Democratic Party of Tennessee on campaigns for Senator Jim Sasser, President Jimmy Carter and more. As a single mother raising two children in Hendersonville, Tenn., she made ends meet throughout this early period by working a second job in ER admissions at a local hospital.
Miller’s first music industry job came when she was hired as a receptionist at Calvary Records in Nashville. She went on to work with radio stations and Christian bookstores promoting artists including the Hinsons and the Telestials. She later took a job at Windchime Records, where she worked with artists including the Paynes and Heavenbound before founding New Day with funding from her father, brother Bill Golt and family friend Ray Lorrig.
In addition to her family, co-workers, friends and artists, Miller enjoyed spending time in Florida and at her cabin in Lafayette, Tenn., where she had alpacas, donkeys and goats. Her travels took her throughout the U.S., Europe, Africa and the Caribbean.
Miller is survived by her daughter, Susan Leonard Sovine, and grandchildren Taylor McKellar and Kennedy Sovine; her son, Ed Leonard, his wife Kathleen, and their children Eddie Leonard, Mary Leonard, Evan Leonard, Aidan Leonard (Caroline Leonard), Rachael Zuckett (Joey Zuckett), Caroline Leonard, Ian Leonard, Liam Leonard, and Emily Leonard; her great-grandchildren Leo Zuckett and Eloise Joyce; her sister, Cynthia Paranczak; and her longtime companion, Jere Miller. She was preceded in death by her brother, Bill Golt, and her parents, William and Dorothy Golt.
A celebration of Miller’s life will be held at a later date.
You can read more tributes to Miller below.
“For the more than forty years of our friendship, Dottie was a champion for our genre’s Music. She was a pioneer in her field, and she was passionate about her mission to get The Gospel to as many people as possible. I will miss her enthusiasm and our conversations, which always included lots of laughter. My friend is with The Lord, but we WILL meet again, soon!” – Gerald Wolfe, Greater Vision
“Dottie was one of my greatest heroes and influences. She blazed the trail for many of us in Southern Gospel Music. I love that she always trusted the Lord in fulfilling her dreams of spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ into all the world. Those dreams became realities. Now she is reaping the harvest of the many souls she touched for the cause of Christ. I love and appreciate Dottie more than words can express. She will be greatly missed. Her legacy will live on forever.” – Karen Peck-Gooch, Karen Peck & New River
“Almost 30 years ago I met a wonderful, smart, classy lady named Dottie. She had the ability to make you smile even when you didn’t necessarily feel like it. She lit up a room the moment she walked in no matter who else was there. She also showed the world she was a savvy businesswoman by starting the best record company in the world. I’ll miss you Dottie and so will many other people but I’m glad you’re not in pain anymore. I’ll never forget your smile.” – Brian Free, Brian Free & Assurance
“I’ve been with Daywind Records for over 20 years. I’ll never forget Dottie taking a chance on signing me after I got out of rehab and I was only six months clean and sober. She will be truly be missed” – Joseph Habedank
“She was a front runner in a world where businesses were run by men. She was an incredibly strong woman. She gave a lot of families hope and jobs. Nothing got in the way of her vision. On a personal side, our family has been a part of Daywind for over 25 years. We love Dottie. When Shellye and I first got married, we were doing everything we could to make ends meet. Dottie would give us her condo to have a vacation. Dottie was special to all of us. She is forever going to be miss. BUT can you imagine what she’s doing right now? She’s having a time. We wouldn’t bring her back for nothing. Dottie, enjoy it. You told everybody about. You helped everybody tell others about it. Welcome into the kingdom.” – Jason Crabb
“We can only imagine the reunion our beloved friend Dottie is having with so many artists she helped and loved along the way. She is home and at perfect peace with her Savior who is no doubt smiling with her because of the incredible heavenly choir she helped ensure with her earthly faithfulness. We will join them one day and we will all finally feel complete. Dottie, you are so loved and will be missed so much.” – The Isaacs
“Our beautiful Dottie Leonard has taken her flight like a mighty eagle. What an exceptional woman of faith, wisdom, foresight, courage and excellence; she paved the way for so many of us! She was a true fan of Gospel Music and believed it was her lifelong calling to ensure that great gifts in us are to be celebrated & given worldwide platforms. On a personal note…. she was/is a dear friend whose legacy will live forever. She was the treasure of encouragement. We didn’t ‘lose’ her… we know exactly where she is! Please give Mama Dottie Rambo a hug from me. Love you so much… see you at The House.” – Reba Rambo
“Dottie was one of the most respected and admired people in Southern Gospel music and beyond! Her work ethic was what one should strive to emulate. Awarded here, rewarded on Heaven’s shore!” – Doyle Lawson
“We will always remember Dottie as a sweet, dedicated, woman of God, who changed the world with her love of gospel music, and we will be forever grateful for the gift of her encouragement in our lives.” – Jim and Melissa Brady
“I met Dottie over 30 years ago, and I knew then I had met a “life friend”. She was a friend, business partner, and great counselor. Life was made sweeter because of her love for me. I will meet her again because of our belief in the savior, Jesus Christ.” – Jonathan Wilburn
“Had it not been for Dottie Leonard Miller, you would have never heard a song I’d written, a track I’d produced, or an orchestration I’d created. She believed in me when others didn’t. She believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. She gave us the truest example of how faith in motion works. And now her faith has become sight. I am heartbroken, but I know I will find her again.” – Wayne Haun
“Dottie Leonard Miller wasn’t just a pioneer; she was a trailblazer with a heart full of faith and a vision that reshaped the landscape of Southern Gospel music and the Christian bookstore industry. Through Daywind Records and New Day Christian Distribution, she brought light, and hope to so many, empowering artists, songwriters, bookstores, publishers, record labels and touching countless lives. Her legacy is one of unwavering dedication and belief in the power of the gospel to change hearts. We have lost a true giant and a treasured friend, but her spirit will continue to inspire us every day.” — Dusty Wells, Director of A&R and Label Relations, Daywind Music Group
“Dottie Leonard Miller was a true inspiration and encourager to many across this country and around the world. Her love for others and leadership through Gospel Music will continue to impact lives for decades to come.” – Gary Casto, Tribute Quartet
“Dottie was a visionary and a pioneer. People with that gift and calling are a breed apart, often questioned and sometimes misunderstood, but fiercely dedicated to allowing the dream inside them to manifest itself in the physical realm. Dottie’s dedication to that dream and its’ subsequent value will only fully be recognized in eternity. The music she championed reverberates not only on earth but in heaven as well, and countless lives have been changed, hearts have been encouraged, and burdens lightened by the message of the resources provided by New Day Distribution and Daywind Records. Thank you, Dottie, for being true to the call God had on your life. We are all blessed by the fruit you bore and your faithfulness to never give up.” – Billy Blackwood, Blackwood Brothers Quartet
“Dottie Leonard Miller’s passion for music was unmatched. And, her vision and God-given ability to use the power of that music to reach people in a positive way through the companies she has built, has literally impacted millions of lives over her long and illustrious career. She was easily one of the strongest women and most faithful servants of God I have ever known. She was so proud of our Daywind, New Day, and Billy Blue family, and she loved and appreciated each and every artist and member of our family. She will be greatly missed, but her legacy will be honored by continuing to spread the Gospel and love of Jesus Christ through the music and products we create.” – Jerry Salley, A&R/Creative Director, Billy Blue Records
Time to drop the needle on the latest Executive Turntable, Billboard’s comprehensive(ish) compendium of promotions, hirings, exits and firings — and all things in between — across music.
Read on for good news and also check out Billboard‘s annual list of music’s highest compensated executives, plus our weekly interview series spotlighting a single executive, our helpful calendar of notable events, and have you ever wanted to look at tchotchkes inside the office of an executive while reading their in-depth answers to the most important questions facing the biz? From the Desk Of is probably your jam.
Capitol Records appointed Justin Grant as senior vice president and head of urban digital — putting him in charge of digital marketing efforts for R&B and hip-hop artists across Capitol, Motown and Priority Records. Grant spent a decade at Atlantic Records, rising from intern to vp of digital marketing & sports partnerships, where he worked with artists like Cardi B, Lil Uzi Vert, Kodak Black and NBA YoungBoy. Additionally, Capitol promoted Dante Smith to head of Motown digital. Smith will manage digital campaigns, direct-to-consumer efforts and brand development for the storied label. Since joining Capitol in 2020, Smith has collaborated with artists such as Ice Spice, Quavo, Lil Yachty and Kali Uchis. Grant will be based in NYC while Smith works out of Capitol’s Hollywood headquarters. In comments about both executives, Capitol Music Group chairman and CEO Tom March said Grant “knows what it takes to break artists” and is “hugely respected and exceptional at what he does,” while Smith has “delivered brilliant marketing campaigns for a number of years now for artists across the roster.”
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Creative agency WMA appointed Sony Music veteran Mike O’Keefe as global vice president of creative, effective immediately. With three decades of experience under his belt, O’Keefe joins in a creative and strategic consultancy role and will help oversee bigger 360 creative projects at WMA. O’Keefe started his career in the early 1990s with Conspiracy Films and Oil Factory before joining Sony Music in 1995. At Sony, he worked on notable projects like Jamiroquai’s groundbreaking “Virtual Insanity” video and later became vp of creative at the label. He has collaborated with artists such as One Direction, Kasabian, Little Mix and Calvin Harris. Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2023, WMA has delivered award-clinching campaigns for clients like Doja Cat, Billie Eilish, Dolly Parton and Spotify, among others. Founder and Global CEO Seb Weller expressed pride in WMA’s decade-long journey and said he was thrilled to work with O’Keefe again, while global vp Crystina Cinti called it an exciting to be “working with such a legend,” adding, “Mike’s credibility and experience in the industry is immense and he joins us at a significant time.”
Prescription Songs promoted Rachel Wein to senior director of A&R. Throughout her more than seven year with the company, Wein has played a key role in expanding Prescription’s Nashville roster to over 30 songwriters, artists, and producers, contributing to the company’s broader network of 150 acts. In her elevated role, Wein will continue managing roster artists and songwriters, including Morgan Nagler, known for co-writing “Kyoto” with Phoebe Bridgers, a Grammy-nominated hit. Under Wein’s leadership, Nagler has collaborated with mxmtoon, Astrid S, Maddie Zahm, and more. Wein has also been instrumental in developing emerging acts like JORDY, Greyson Chance, and Parson James, while overseeing top producers such as Sean Small (Keith Urban, Lainey Wilson) and Spellz (Wizkid, Burna Boy). Wein joined Prescription Songs in 2017 as the first hire in their Nashville office. Outside of music, Wein actively supports community initiatives, serving on leadership boards for Family Alliance in Music and Salt Lick Incubator. She also mentors LGBTQ+ youth through Youth Villages and was honored with the Marchetti Impact Award for her efforts with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Katie Fagan, Prescription Songs’ head of A&R, praised Wein as an “integral part of our growth as a team here in Nashville and I’m looking forward to seeing her win big in the coming years,” while Wein expressed her excitement about continuing to work with the “simply unmatched” company.
Universal Music Group Nashville promoted Damon Moberly to the role of senior vp of promotion. Moberly has been with the label group for over 25 years, most recently serving as senior vp and head of the Mercury Nashville imprint’s radio promotion team. Moberly launched his country radio promotion career with work on the launch of Shania Twain’s Come On Over album and has since aided in the careers of artists including Jamey Johnson, Terri Clark, Chris Stapleton and The War and Treaty, in addition to working special projects including an Eagles single to country radio and the breakout hit “Man of Constant Sorrow” from the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack. –Jessica Nicholson
NASHVILLE NOTES: Concord named Anke Becker as vice president, information technology. Becker will be based in Concord’s London office and will report to Jonathan Eby, Concord senior vp, information services and technology. Becker previously spent a decade at BMG, where she led the creation of BMG’s proprietary client portal … Gabb, makers of kid-safe tech and the Gabb Music streaming service, hired Sidney Coury as its new digital operations coordinator. Earlier this year, Marco Vega joined the team as music coordinator. Coury previously worked at Olivia Management, while Vega has worked at Universal Music Publishing Group and Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy. The hires coincide with the opening of Gabb Music’s new office on Music Row in Nashville (1030 16th Ave S), and Gabb HQ’s recent move to an expanded facility in Lehi, Utah.
CD Baby, a division of Downtown Music, appointed Jean Mischler as senior vp of marketing. Based in New York, Mischler will oversee marketing for CD Baby and its direct-to-creator services, including Soundrop and CD Baby Stages. Reporting to CD Baby president Molly Neuman, she’ll lead initiatives to help independent artists grow their fanbase and visibility globally. Mischler previously served as vp of growth marketing at Sofar Sounds, where she boosted ticket sales and revenue through social media, email and partnerships. Neuman noted Mischler’s nearly 20 years of experience, saying “her approach to marketing and deep understanding of the independent music landscape will be instrumental as we expand CD Baby’s reach to independent artists around the world.”
Believe introduced a new global music strategy led by Romain Vivien, its global head of music and president for Europe. The strategy focuses on enhancing artist development and creating more value for artists and labels at all career stages. As prez of Europe, Vivien oversees operations in France, the UK, and Germany — and collaborates with teams across 50 markets to design and implement strategies that accelerate Believe’s “Artist Services” business, supporting digital artists across 14+ countries. He’ll also work to strengthen Believe’s “Label & Artist Solutions” offering by aligning distribution, marketing, digital promotion and publishing services. Denis Ladegaillerie, Believe’s founder and CEO, praised Vivien’s leadership in scaling the company’s global presence. “He has been instrumental in building our music vision across the group,” he said. “Constantly leading his teams to innovate and push barriers to enable the emergence of new talents across hip-hop, pop, electronic music and more – all the while sustaining an impeccable delivery of premium services to our top artists and labels.”
RADIO, RADIO: Juan Navarro was promoted to chief revenue officer of Entravision Communications, replacing Karl Meyer, who was dismissed following challenges related to the loss of Meta’s Authorized Sales Partner program. Despite this setback, Entravision reported a 12% increase in net revenue for Q2 2024. Navarro brings over 20 years of media experience to his new role, having previously served as executive vp of local sales and integrated marketing solutions and as regional vp of integrated marketing solutions … iHeartMedia division and region president Tom McConnell is retiring after nearly 30 years with the company, leading to an executive restructure. Eddie Martiny, currently Houston region president, will become division president for the big four Texas markets (San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, Houston), as well as New Orleans and Baton Rouge. John Karpinski, evp of strategic partnerships, will take on the role of division president for markets in the Carolinas, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Memphis, and Kentucky.
JET Management added veteran manager Elena Awbrey to its team. Awbrey’s career began in Live Nation’s touring department before she transitioned to management, working with Motley Crüe and discovering Mannequin Pussy. She later managed Miguel at Atom Factory, guiding his Grammy-nominated albums. At Career Artist Management and Roc Nation, she developed artists like Chika, a 2020 XXL Freshman and Grammy-nominated Best New Artist. Awbrey, who also founded Moonshot Management, was named one of Billboard’s 2020 Changemakers. Founded in 2020 by John Scholz and Tyler Goldberg, JET’s roster features top-tier talent like Justice, Suki Waterhouse, LP Giobbi, Madeon, Sam Gellaitry, and Girl Talk. JET is also partnered with Firebird, a next-generation music company.
Granderson Des Rochers appointed Joey Seiler as senior counsel in its New Media practice. Seiler, a seasoned music licensing attorney, joins from Block, where he led TIDAL’s licensing team. With over a decade of experience, he has worked with labels, digital service providers and creatives to license music for innovative business models. His career includes roles at Empire and Loeb & Loeb, representing a range of clients from startups to multi-platinum artists.
ICYMI:
Takeshi Okada
David Gray was appointed U.K. managing director of Universal Music Publishing Group, succeeding Mike McCormack, who is stepping down from the role after almost nine years in charge to launch a new consultancy and joint venture with UMPG … and Warner Music Japan appointed longtime Universal Music executive Takeshi Okada as the label’s new president and CEO. [KEEP READING]
Last Week’s Turntable: Sphere Sheds CFO
Indie music giant Concord said on Friday it has acquired parts of the music publishing and recorded music catalog of reggaetón superstar Daddy Yankee.
The deal encompasses certain rights to Daddy Yankee songs including “Con Calma,” his rights as a featured artist on “Despacito” and “Gasolina,” whose “unforgettable hook” and “revolutionary” beat landed it in Billboard’s Top 50 Latin songs of all time. The deal also includes certain name, image and likeness rights, according to a press release from Concord.
Concord declined to comment on price. However, earlier this month in a KBRA report about Concord’s asset backed security, the bond rating agency wrote that Concord acquired the catalog of “a highly successful Latin Music artist and songwriter” in 2024 and that those works were valued at $217.3 million.
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How much does Daddy Yankee stand to benefit from the deal? The Latin hitmaker, whose Barrio Fino was the first reggaetón album to debut at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart in 2004, sold this portion of his catalog several years ago to a fund that asked not to be named. That fund sold the assets to Concord, so the artist will not get a cut of this sale of his works.
But Billboard reported in July that Daddy Yankee still owns part of his publishing catalog, which is administered worldwide by Sony Music Publishing and partly by Spirit Music in the United States. From 2021 to 2023, Daddy Yankee’s works averaged 375,333 album consumption units, with 346,000 album consumption units so far this year, according to Luminate.
CRAZY FOR CATALOGS
Catalogs are an important revenue driver for Concord, and the company’s CEO Bob Valentine said this week that through various marketing, distribution, film and commercial licensing agreements, the company regularly generates 5-15% more revenue from the assets it acquires than the prior owner.
“We can then create value for the artist, for our shareholders, for our debt holders, for our pension holders—all the people who are somehow invested in that effort,” Valentine said, speaking at the Mondo.NYC conference in Brooklyn. “The two things we talk about [with artists] is how are we going to protect your legacy and how are we going to make it live.”
Concord’s ownership — the Michigan State Retirement Systems own 93% — and how it has recently financed acquisitions, through asset backed securities, make it a uniquely long-term focused catalog acquirer that aims to hold these assets for 30-40 years.
The company also employs around 750 people worldwide, and it operates a label, music publishing division and one of the most significant theatrical companies with the catalogs of Rodgers & Hammerstein Theatricals, The Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection, and more.
However in some circles, Concord is better known for the 1.3 million songs it has acquired, including some of its biggest money-making assets like John Fogerty’s Credence Clearwater Revival publishing catalog and Phil Collins’ rights to Genesis songs.
Speaking at the Mondo.NYC conference, Concord described these works “as music and genres that fit so perfectly with an era that to own them … means you own that segment of someone’s nostalgia.” Anyone who ever makes a movie about the Vietnam War will likely call Concord to license CCR’s songs, Valentine says.
But Concord also owns the Latin label Fania Records and Mexican record label Musart Records, and several of the Latin artists it represents through its publishing division were nominated for Latin Grammy’s this year: Daymé Arocena’s nomination for Song of the Year for “A Fuego Lento,” writers Julian Bernal and Sammy Soso’s nomination for Best Pop Vocal Album for Orquídeas performed by Kali Uchis, and Camilo Lara’s nomination for Best Cumbia/Vallenato Album for Se Agradece performed by Los Ángeles Azules.
CALL HIM DADDY
Daddy Yankee’s catalog will be managed out of Concord’s recently expanded Miami office, the company said.
“Since he burst onto the scene, Daddy Yankee has been at the forefront of not only reggaeton, but pop music generally,” Valentine said in a statement. “We were incredibly excited by this opportunity to work alongside Daddy Yankee to continue building on his remarkable legacy and significance. His real and lasting cultural impact is clear, and Concord is thrilled to be a part of his story.”
Concord financed the acquisition of Daddy Yankee’s works by issuing a third round of asset backed security notes that were priced this week that bring its total ABS to $2.6 billion. Daddy Yankee’s catalog will be contributed to the ABS’s collateral pool, according to the KBRA report. Concord has used previous ABS notes to acquire Round Hill Music Royalty Fund in 2023 and Mojo Music and Media in 2022.
This type of financing makes sense for Concord because of its scale — which exceeds most banks’ normal financing abilities — and because it affords them a fixed, low interest rate.
“The benefit of an ABS market is we take out a loan and the interest rate is fixed for 5 years,” Valentine said. “It doesn’t change. Suddenly you’re financing with these fixed rates of return that are lower because of our scale and that changes the dynamic of the valuation pretty dramatically.”
This is part of a new column Billboard is launching in which we will unpack one financial issue a week for an artist in the news. Thanks for reading, and if you have suggestions or tips, email me at ediltsmarshall@billboard.com.
Sandbox Succession, the legacy division of Sandbox Entertainment, partnered with the Patsy Cline estate through Patsy Cline Enterprises. Under the agreement, Sandbox Succession will collaborate with Cline’s daughter and heir, Julie Fudge, to expand her legacy across film, TV, publishing, merchandising, hospitality and licensing. Gregory Hall, a key player in the management of Cline’s estate, will remain an instrumental member of the team. A new biography and documentary on Cline are both in development. Sandbox Succession also represents the estates of Johnny and June Carter Cash and Loretta Lynn.
Business-to-business digital music platform Tuned Global forged a partnership with streaming fraud detection company Beatdapp, through which Tuned Global will incorporate Beatdapp’s fraud detection capabilities into the Tuned Global platform. The deal will help Tuned Global ensure that client royalties are fairly distributed to rights holders. Beatdapp also has deals in place with Universal Music Group and the Mechanical Licensing Collective.
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Oak View Group (OVG) and Middle East event management and venue operator Ethara struck a joint venture to enable OVG’s entry into the Middle East market. Under the agreement, Ethara — which operates venues in the United Arab Emirates, including the Etihad Arena, Etihad Park, Yas Marina Circuit and Yas Conference Centre — will provide OVG with knowledge of local markets, with the two companies exploring growth opportunities together across the region. Ethara will also work closely with Rhubarb Hospitality Collection (RHC), a British venue caterer recently acquired by OVG, to improve the fan experience by providing food, beverage and hospitality services at venues across the Middle East.
Dreamliner, a provider of upscale travel coach buses for entertainers, acquired two events logistics companies: Denver-based Shomotion and Nashville-based Show Pro, with founders of each company joining Dreamliner’s executive team. Dreamliner will retain all Shomotion and Show Pro employees and expand its footprint by adding Shomotion’s Denver facility and Show Pro’s Nashville facility. The acquisition adds over 70 trucks and 220 trailers to Dreamliner’s offerings. – Jessica Nicholson
AtVenu, a leading provider of live event software and payment solutions, received a $130 million equity investment from Sixth Street Growth. The partnership will allow atVenu to expand and speed up the company’s growth into new live event markets, including sports and food and beverage. AtVenu helps ease the process of managing locations, inventory and the deployment of point-of-sale hardware while offering real-time data for organizers to optimize the event experience. According to a press release, the company processes more than $1.6 billion in merchandise and food and beverage volume every year and works on more than 125,000 events annually, from small clubs to stadiums. Raymond James served as atVenu’s financial advisor in the transaction.
Armada Music Group’s BEAT Music Fund acquired several new catalogs. They include the artist shares from a portion of techno pioneer and artist Kevin Saunderson‘s Inner City catalog; master and artist royalties for trance DJ and Coldharbour Recordings owner Markus Schulz; and the catalog of Robbie Rivera’s dance label Juicy Music. BEAT’s roster, through acquisitions, also includes Sultan + Shepard, Jax Jones, Amba Shepherd, VIVa MUSiC, Sola Records, King Street Sounds and Chocolate Puma.
Warner Music Group (WMG) Benelux acquired Netherlands-based record label Cloud 9 Recordings, which counts artists including Claude, Jaap Reesema, Kris Kross Amsterdam, Snelle and Turfy Gang on its roster. Under the deal, the Cloud 9 team will relocate to The Amsterdam Music Harbour, which serves as the creative hub of WMG Benelux in the Amsterdam Houthavens. Raymond van Vliet will retain his role as president of Cloud 9, which will remain a separate label, as well as his responsibilities at Blue Skies Publishing. Along with the acquisition, WMG Benelux entered an exclusive global administration agreement with the Cloud 9-affiliated Blue Skies Publishing, which represents songwriters including Claude, Davina Michelle, Edwin van Hoevelaak, Flemming, Frank van Etten, John Dirne, La Fuente and Snelle and owns several catalogs. Blue Skies Publishing will continue to manage the creative process with its current team, while its office in the Dutch town of Laren will serve as a satellite office for Cloud 9.
Moombix, described as a music education platform enabling adult hobbyists and aspiring music professionals to have one-on-one online classes with expert teachers, closed a seed funding round of over 1.9 million pounds ($2.47 million), led by Iceland’s Frumtak Ventures with participation from angel investors. The money will be used to scale the Moombix marketplace and improve the user experience, accelerate customer acquisition and prepare for a strategic launch into the U.K., where 200 teachers have already signed up to offer classes, according to a press release. Moombix offers classes on instrument learning, voice coaching, DJing, production and more.
Downtown-owned business-to-business distributor FUGA struck a new partnership with UNIFIED Music Group, a multi-service music company that operates across Melbourne, Syndey, L.A., New York, Nashville and Toronto. Under the deal, FUGA will support UNIFIED Recorded Music labels including UNFD and Domestic La La, which will leverage FUGA’s platform and suite of services, including strategic marketing and account management, social video management, YouTube channel partnerships, physical distribution, synch and licensing solutions via Downtown Music Publishing, and neighboring rights collection through Downtown Neighbouring Rights. Since 2022, UNIFIED has been a client of Downtown-owned royalty accounting platform Curve.
Live Nation signed a deal to manage Allas Live, a 2,500-capacity open-air venue within the Allas Sea Pool complex in Helsinki, Finland. Under the deal, Live Nation will also manage the Allas Live outdoor concert series in partnership with Allas Sea Pool.
ASM Global reached an agreement with the City of Worcester, Mass., to extend ASM’s management services of the city-owned DCU Center Arena and Convention Center. The five-member Civic Center Commission, which oversees ASM’s management contract on behalf of the city, voted unanimously to recommend the contract extension. As part of the 10-year extension, ASM has committed to a $3.5 million investment in the DCU Center that will focus on enhancing food and beverage operations, creating digital advertising opportunities and implementing further technology upgrades.
Acrisure Arena, located in Palm Springs, Calif., announced Silvercrest as the official sponsor of its exclusive outdoor VIP space, the Silvercrest Compound. The space includes a nine-hole mini golf course along with bocce ball, pickleball, half-court basketball, fire pits, and food and beverage offerings just steps away from the stage.
The music’s industry’s newest leadership and wellness conference, organized by jump.global, will return for its second year Nov. 17-20 in Los Angeles. Today (Oct. 17), the conference announced its final keynote speaker, Kei Henderson.
Henderson will deliver a featured interview on Nov. 19, sharing stories about music management, founding a label and also the importance of taking time off – in 2019, Henderson took a partial hiatus from the music industry to prioritize her mental health.
“Conferences like this are more than necessary for the music industry, and I feel incredibly honored for the opportunity to share my journey with like minds,” Henderson said in a statement to jump.global. “We need more spaces that are not just about the highlight reel, but the real.”
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Henderson joins a previously announced lineup of speakers including Michelle Jubelirer, former chair and CEO of Capitol Music Group, and Jacqueline Saturn, president of Virgin Music Group North America and evp of global artist relations. Jubelirer will speak with Bandier Program director, Bill Werde, while Saturn will speak with her sister Samantha, appearing together on stage for the first time.
Launched last year, the jump.global Annual Summit operates as an end-of-year personal and professional development conference and retreat for the music industry. The conference brings together coaches and professionals to lead workshops, keynotes and panels on topics such as financial wellness, mental health, effective leadership and more.
Most notably, the summit does not list any speakers or attendees with their titles or company names on-site, aligning with its guidelines and tagline that “your first and last name matter more than your job title.”
“The summit is [provides] the rare opportunity to focus on executive development, instead of artist development,” says jump.global Founder Nick Maiale. “We’re so excited to return for a second year and provide a safe space for everyone — whether you’re part of a music team, longtime friends from your internship days, a consultant growing your business, an HR professional, or someone seeking inspiration.”
Badges can be purchased here.
Legendary singer-songwriter Randy Newman has sold his share of his recorded music and publishing rights to Litmus Music, a catalog-acquiring firm backed by private-equity giant Carlyle Group.
The deal encompasses Newman’s seminal film scores along with his catalog of popular solo hits. The rights acquisition includes his compositions for Disney franchises like Toy Story (“You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” “We Belong Together”), Monsters, Inc. (“If I Didn’t Have You”) and The Princess and the Frog (“Almost There”), among others.
The list of non-animated movies he has worked on over the decades includes The Natural, Three Amigos, Awakenings, The Paper, Maverick, Ragtime, Pleasantville, Meet the Parents, Seabiscuit and his recent pairing with director Noah Baumbach, for The Meyerowitz Stories and Marriage Story.
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The lifelong Angeleno launched his career in 1968 with a self-titled solo debut but came into his own in the following decade with a string of critically acclaimed albums including 1970’s mature 12 Songs, 1972’s lush Sail Away, 1974’s provocative Good Old Boys and 1977’s slick Little Criminals. His solo output slowed in the 1980s, but included 1983’s pop-leaning Trouble in Paradise and 1988’s rock-tinged Land of Dreams. In 1995, he released musical album based on the story of Faust, followed by a more traditional pop-rock effort in 1999’s Bad Love and then 2008’s jazzy Harps and Angels. He has also released three collections of stripped-down versions of his work under the moniker of The Randy Newman Songbook.
His catalog of solo hits, featuring that folksy, does-he-have-a-cold? warble, includes “I Love L.A.,” “Short People,” “It’s Money That Matters,” “Feels Like Home,” “Short People,” “Baltimore” and “It’s A Jungle Out There.” Many of his songs have been picked up and made into hits by others, including “Mama Told Me Not To Come” (Three Dog Night) and “You Can Leave Your Hat On” (Joe Cocker).
Newman’s work ethic over the years has earned him seven Grammys, three Emmys, two Oscars, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and inductions into the Songwriters and Rock & Roll Halls of Fame.
Litmus did not disclose financial terms of the acquisition. Launched in August 2022 with a $500-million-investment from Carlyle’s Global Credit Platform, Litmus has so far acquired publishing and recording rights of artists from a range of genres, including rights to Katy Perry’s first five studio albums for Capitol Records, Keith Urban‘s master recordings and a package of publishing and performance copyrights from producer Benny Blanco.
Dan McCarroll, co-founder of Litmus Music, expressed unbridled enthusiasm about the acquisition, calling Newman a “brilliant songwriter and performer” whose work transcends generations. Hank Forsyth, co-founder and CEO, thanked Newman for entrusting them with his songs, which “continue to transcend time and illuminate films. And Alex Popov, head of private credit at Carlyle, emphasized the enduring presence of Newman’s music as a “staple of childhood memories and experiences for decades.”
It was an emotional Billboard Latin Power Players event, with executive of the year George Prajin and his star artist, Peso Pluma, both delivering heart-felt messages that touched upon resilience, friendship and belief against all odds.
“I love you like a father George,” said Peso Pluma, who surprised Prajin at the Power Player celebration at Casadonna in Miami to give him his award.
“The talent and sacrifice that we put in is one thing, and all the doors that you have opened for us, and all the things that you have done so that we can have an opportunity to show ourselves as greats before other exponents of music and the industry, have been very important not only for me and for you as a person, but for an entire country, an entire generation,” he said.
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Prajin, a Latin music veteran who began his career working at his father’s one-stop distribution company in Los Angeles and now not only manages Peso Pluma but also is a partner in his Double P Records as well as heading Prajin Parlay, was visibly emotional when he picked up his award.
“I realized dreams that I never thought I would realize,” he said. “And I stand today because of you,” he added, pointing to Peso Pluma. “And I share this award with you. We’re doing this together. Regional Mexican has always been a genre that’s been one of the most profitable genres but often overlooked. And I’m very proud to be receiving this award on behalf of the genre.”
Prajin went on to thank numerous people, including his roster of artists (including Tito Double P and Jasiel), his staff (including publicists Elina Adut) and other music industry executives and companies, including Jimmy Humilde, Richard Bull, Jason Pascal of The Orchard and Del Records, who released early hit “Ella Baila Sola” alongside Eslabón Armado.
While Prajin was the centerpiece of the celebration, the evening also honored, for the first time, the main label and publishing winners of the 2024 Billboard Latin Music Awards. Sony Music Latin president Alex Gallardo picked up the award for Top Latin albums label of the year, home to Shakira, Marc Anthony and Manuel Turizo, among many others. The label also wins Latin airplay label of the year; Tropical airplay and albums label of the year; Latin pop airplay label of the year; regional Mexican albums label of the year and Latin rhythm airplay label of the year.
Hot Latin songs label of the year went to Interscope Capitol Labels Group, with hits by Xavi, Ivan Cornejo and Karol G, and was picked up by Nir Seroussi and fellow power players José Cedeño and Manny Prado.
Publishing Corporation of the year went to Sony Music Publishing, home to Keityn, Shakira and Edgar Barrera, and was picked up by CEO Jorge Mejía.
In addition, the Choice award went to Rebeca León of Lionfish Entertainment and RImas Entertainment was honored with a special 10 year impact award accepted by founder and CEO Noah Assad along with co-founder Junior Carabaño and Raymond Contreras, head of Rimas’ management arm, Habibi, and Rimas Entertainment CEO Jorge Bracero.
If you work in dance music, there’s a good chance you’re currently on a plane or train or are otherwise somehow en route to Amsterdam.
Per mid-October dance music tradition, the Amsterdam Dance Music Event, or ADE, is happening this week in the Dutch capital, with thousands of dance industry execs, artists and fans taking part in a dizzyingly robust program that caters to professionals, people trying to get into the industry and people who just like the music. Programming includes representatives from companies including SoundCloud, Bandcamp, Tresor, Tunecore, Empire, Spotify and more.
While ADE always reliably draws industry types from around Europe, the event is also “seeing a notable increase in attendees from the U.S., Africa, and Asia this year,” says ADE’s managing director Jan-Willem van de Ven, “so it’s a good mix of electronic music industries and cultures and global territories that see ADE as a gateway to Europe in a number of different ways.”
With the thriving electronic music scene in Africa gaining more attention and global influence, ADE 2024 is also hosting representatives from the Nigerian festival Homecoming for a special five-panel series on the dance scene in the country and across the continent.
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“The roots of electronic music are deeply tied to African music and culture, so this focus felt timely and essential,” says van de Ven. “The culture across many African territories offers so much we can learn from, particularly in terms of creativity and community, and in return, we can hopefully contribute some knowledge of industry infrastructure, things like that. Our collaboration with Homecoming is designed as a mutual exchange, where both sides — artists, audiences, professionals and ourselves — can inspire and grow from each other’s experiences.”
In total, ADE programming is famous for offering more panels, networking events, performances and mixers than a single person could possibly attend, so van de Ven advises that those going create a schedule based on what they personally want to get out of the conference. He also recommends “making full use of networking sessions and our new matchmaking formats, which are great for connecting with the right people.”
Jan-Willem van de Ven
Sarah Wijzenbeek
This year, ADE has also launched a new ADE App that will help attendees navigate the program while keeping their personal agendas on hand, for maximum productivity and likely a fair amount of fun. As always, ADE 2024 is split between PRO programming for industry professionals, Lab programming for those coming into the scene, festival programming for fans, and arts and culture programming for everyone.
Even van de Ven himself acknowledges that it’s difficult to fit everything in over the conference, with his assistant helping ensure he gets everywhere he needs to be. “I’m also just a big fan of everything we do,” he adds, “so I really try my best to experience as much as possible.”
Below are van de Ven’s top ADE 2024 schedule picks across all categories. (All times are CEST.)
ADE Pro
20 Years of Tomorrowland: How to Rise and Stay on Top – Wednesday, Oct.16, 2:15 p.m.
In this talk, Tomorrowland founder Michiel Beers will discuss the 20 year anniversary of the annual Belgian dance mega-festival, offering insights on the strategies that have made it the world’s biggest dance festival.
SoundCloud – Essential Insider Knowledge – Thursday, Oct. 17, 12:30 p.m.
Representatives from SoundCloud will take part in a conversation with Dutch producer Mau P, focusing on how the platform supports independent artists and offering insights on how artists can find success on digital platforms.
From Detroit to Durban: The Learnings of 30 Years of Dance Music – Thursday, Oct. 17, 1:30 p.m.
Artists including Detroit legend Carl Craig and South African producers Major League DJz will take part in a panel exploring the origins and influence of the techno and amapiano genres. The conversation will focus on growing these genres while preserving their cultural heritage and ensuring creators retain ownership.
Amelie Lens x Charlotte de Witte – Friday, Oct. 18, 4:30 p.m.
The techno titans will take part in a panel focused on their individual careers and newfound partnership.
ADE LAB
BIIANCO: How I Play Live hosted by DJ Mag – Thursday, Oct. 17, 5:15 p.m.
Multi-instrumentalist, producer and DJ, BIIANCO — whose 2023 viral hit “Against The Wall” aggregated 35 million streams — will give a talk on live performance technology for creators looking to build a live show and integrate live elements into hybrid DJ sets.
DJ Babatr: The Story of Raptor House – Saturday, Oct. 19, 2:45 p.m.
Venezuelan DJ Babatr, a pioneer of the Raptor House genre, will discuss his role in creating a sound that encapsulates the energy of Caracas.
CLUB Lab – Live Showcases (in association with DJMag) – Saturday, Oct. 19, 8:30 p.m.
The nightclub element of ADE’s Lab programming will feature live music, A/V shows and dancing, offering a place for ADE Lab attendees to celebrate at the end of the event.
ADE Arts & Culture
ADE Opening Concert: 50 Years of J Dilla – Wednesday, Oct. 16, 11:00 a.m.
Speakers including Carl Craig and Miguel Atwood Ferguson will celebrate the legacy of game-changing producer J Dilla in the year that artist would have been 50 years old. Atwood-Ferguson & Metropole Orchestra will perform the longstanding Dilla tribute project Suite for Ma Dukes before the ‘Dilla 50’-talk.
ADE Opening Concert: COCON II – Wednesday, Oct. 16, 7:00 p.m.
Designed especially for ADE, the audiovisual live performance by Cello Octet Amsterdam and Nick Verstand will feature a combination of live playing and robotics.
ADE Opening Concert: 24classics presents Philip Glass by Lavinia Meijer & Nikki Hock – Wednesday, Oct. 16, 7:30 p.m.
Harpist Lavinia Meijer and multidisciplinary artist Nikki Hock will present an interpretation of Phillip’s Glass music, with Meijer getting special permission for Glass himself to transcribe his music for harp. Hock, meanwhile, will create visuals in the room.
Festival
Tomorrowland Presents Afterlife – Wednesday, Oct. 16 and Thursday, Oct. 17, 10:00 p.m.
Tale of Us and a collection of other artists will play the city’s famed Ziggo Dome venue for two nights of music.
Barry Can’t Swim – Thursday, Oct. 17, 8:30 p.m.
The rising, award-nominated Scottish producer will perform a show incorporating his signature synthesis of piano playing and electronic productions.
Awakenings Upclose ADE presents Four Tet, Friday, Oct. 18, 3:00 p.m.
The U.K. producer will play an extended six-and-a-half-hour set at Amsterdam venue Gashouder, a former industrial gasworks complex.
Jeff Mills presents: Tomorrow Comes The Harvest – Friday, Oct., 8:00 p.m.
The collaborative project Tomorrow Comes The Harvest was initiated by Nigerian afrobeat pioneer Tony Allen and Detroit techno icon Jeff Mills. Together with keyboardist Jean Phi Dary, the trio toured the globe until Allen’s death in 2020. Now playing with tabla virtuoso Prabha Edouard, Tomorrow Comes The Harvest will present a new chapter of genre-spanning sounds and rhythms.
AMF 2024 – Saturday, Oct. 19, 9:00 p.m.
The night-long festival will feature a host of producers including Maddix, Martin Garrix, Tiësto, Timmy Trumpet and more.