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Executive Turntable

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Trending on Billboard Face value ticket exchange CashorTrade has added two major names to its leadership ranks as the fan-first ticketing platform continues to gain traction across the live music industry. Industry veterans Andrew Dreskin — best known as co-founder and former CEO of Ticketfly and TicketWeb — and Craig Snyder, formerly of Intellitix and […]

Trending on Billboard Unit1 Studio has entered the scene as an independent producer of avatar concerts, backed by a roster of seasoned industry figures. The company is betting on advances in visual effects and AI-driven CGI to deliver hyper-realistic artist avatars more quickly and affordably, reimagining iconic live performances for modern audiences while addressing the […]

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Rayna Bass and Selim Bouab have been appointed executives-in-residence at the Warner Music/Blavatnik Center for Music Business at Howard University in Washington, D.C. The pair are the co-presidents of 300 Entertainment and Atlantic Records Hip-Hop, R&B and Global Music.

Bass and Bouab’s appointment is in keeping with the center’s goal to connect Howard University’s students with top executives in the global music industry. The program provides one-on-one mentorship, master classes and practical insights about executive leadership, creativity and the future of the business.

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In the press release announcing the duo’s new roles, Jasmine Young, MBA, director of the Warner Music/Blavatnik Center for Music Business at Howard University, commented, “Rayna Bass and Selim Bouab are two of the most visionary leaders in the industry, and we are honored to welcome them as executives-in-residence. Our students will benefit directly from their knowledge, creativity and commitment to breaking barriers. This appointment reflects our mission to provide Howard students with direct access to the highest levels of leadership in the global music industry.”

“Howard University, together with the Warner Music/Blavatnik Center for Music Business, has a strong legacy of cultivating bold, creative leaders,” said Bass and Bouab in a joint statement. “That mission aligns with what we do at our label, and we’re excited to share our experiences and help raise up the next generation of music business innovators.”

Bass took on an expanded role within the Atlantic Music Group earlier this year when she was appointed co-president of Atlantic Records Hip-Hop, R&B and Global Music. She initially joined 300 Entertainment as its first marketing hire in 2014. Promoted to senior vp of marketing in 2019, Bass was elevated to co-president of 300 Entertainment in 2022. A Billboard Women in Music and R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players honoree, Bass has helmed campaigns for Megan Thee Stallion, Young Thug, Gunna, Mary J. Blige and PinkPantheress, among other artists.

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Since joining 300 Entertainment as well in 2014, Bouab later served as the label’s senior vp and head of A&R before being named co-president with Bass in 2022. Then again alongside Bass, Bouab added the co-president post at Atlantic Records Hip-Hop, R&B and Global Music this year. Along the way, he has signed, developed and collaborated with artists including Megan Thee Stallion, Fetty Wap and Tee Grizzley as well as Young Thug, Gunna and Jordan Adetunji. Bouab, who’s also established his own Unauthorized Entertainment label, is a multiple-year Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players honoree.

“Rayna and Selim embody what it means to lead with both innovation and integrity,” stated Julian Petty, executive vp and head of business/legal affairs for Warner Records and the Warner Music/Blavatnik Center’s Visionary. “Their careers represent the possibilities for our students, and their willingness to pour into the next generation is what makes this partnership so special. The center continues to set the standard for excellence in music business education, and I am thrilled to see Rayna and Selim take on this role.”

After catching up on this week’s edition of Executive Turntable — Billboard’s roundup of the latest music industry moves — be sure to explore the 2025 Pride List, spotlighting 27 influential executives making a difference.
Live Nation Entertainment announced that former Liberty CEO Greg Maffei retired from its board of directors, effective following the company’s annual meeting of stockholders on June 12. During the meeting, 11 director nominees were elected to serve one-year terms, according to a filing with the SEC. Notably, directors elected include Maverick Carter, Jimmy Iovine, Rich Paul and LN CEO Michael Rapino. Missing from the list: Kennedy Center director and Trump ally Richard Grenell, who was very recently announced as joining the board. (Live Nation has not responded to requests for comment.) Voting showed strong support for most nominees, though board chair Randall Mays of Mays Family Enterprises and Chad Hollingsworth of Liberty Media received more opposition. Shareholders also approved an advisory resolution supporting the company’s executive compensation (159.8 million votes in favor and 56.7 million against) and ratified Ernst & Young LLP as the independent auditor for fiscal year 2025.

Believe named Romain Becker as chief product of operations and marketing services officer, unifying core functions to enhance its global support for independent artists and labels. Previously president of label and artist solutions, Becker brings over 15 years of experience in music and tech, including roles at Believe and YouTube’s music partnerships team at Google. Based in Paris, Becker has led distribution and marketing across 50-plus territories and will now oversee product, operations, and marketing services to strengthen Believe’s global capabilities. “Romain is the perfect candidate to connect product, operations and marketing services at Believe,” glowed Believe founder and CEO Denis Ladegaillrie. “With his extensive experience and strategic vision, I am confident that he will drive innovation across our services and help further elevate Believe’s position as a leader in artist and label development globally.”

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Kyle Loftus is the new president of Independent Artist Group (IAG), the agency formed from the 2023 merger of APA and AGI. Announced by CEO Jim Osborne, Loftus also joins the firm’s board of directors. Starting as an intern 16 years ago, he rose through the ranks to partner and eventually to executive vp and head of content development. In his new role, Loftus will continue leading key departments including Motion Picture and TV literature, alternative TV, media rights and publishing, while expanding his leadership agency-wide. He represents major clients like 50 Cent and Mary J. Blige, as well as several showrunners for hits like Ted Lasso and Gran Torino, and has helped develop production companies for stars such as Gary Oldman and Taraji P. Henson. “This company believed in me from day one, and I have so many amazing colleagues, mentors, clients and friends to thank — most importantly, my partner and friend Jim Osborne, who has been an unwavering champion,” Loftus said. “We have a fantastic team at IAG, and I am proud to step into this role, lend my support and expertise across the agency and continue amplifying the IAG story by championing the growth of our exceptionally talented clients.”

The Core Entertainment hired Kate Bowling as director of creative, where she will lead visual branding and creative direction across The Core Entertainment, overseeing photo shoots, music videos, digital content and long-term creative strategy. The Core Entertainment’s clients include Bailey Zimmerman, Nate Smith, Josh Ross, Hannah McFarland and Nickelback. Bowling joins The Core Entertainment from Warner Music Nashville, where she served as a multimedia designer. –Jessica Nicholson

Prescription Songs promoted Nick Guilmette to senior director of A&R. Based in Los Angeles, Guilmette has signed diverse talents, including songwriter Charli (Tinashe, LE SSERAFIM), producer Cooper Holzman (Mon Rovîa) and Korean-American songwriter EJAE during his three years at Prescription. He also works with artists like Ryan Ogren, Chloe Angelides, and lil aaron. Formerly general manager at Ozone Entertainment, Guilmette began his music career supporting Brockhampton in high school. Head of A&R Rhea Pasricha praised his leadership, saying, “Nick embodies exactly what we strive to accomplish here at Prescription Songs with his creative energy, boundary-pushing ideas, and genuine passion he has while working across the roster.”

444 Sounds appointed Libby Kallins as its new marketing director. Based in New York City, Kallins brings experience from her previous roles at Armada Music and Arista Records/Sony Music, where she focused on marketing, partnerships, and artist development. At Armada, she led U.S. marketing strategies and artist development for acts such as Armin van Buuren, Lilly Palmer and D.O.D, and helped organize the Armada Label Residency with Peloton. She also played a key role in catalog marketing for influential dance labels like King Street Sounds and KMS Records. In addition to her professional work, Kallins actively supports industry advocacy initiatives, including She Is The Music and Support Women DJs.

WME appointed Laura Ruiz as an agent in its contemporary music department, focusing on electronic music. Based in London, she’ll oversee the agency’s electronic music business in Spain and Portugal. Ruiz brings clients including Oguz, Joyhauser, Don Woezik, Diøn and Milo Spykers. “This appointment further strengthens WME’s commitment to the global electronic music sector, building on a foundation of strategic talent development and market-specific leadership,” the company said. Previously, Ruiz was managing director at The Bliss Office, leading operations across the Americas and representing top talent. She also founded her own agency and worked at The Bullitt Agency in Barcelona, gaining experience across European and American markets.

Musicians On Call, which brings live music to hospitals, expanded its team with nine new hires across various departments. New leadership includes Hailey Gilleland as director of development and Kathryn Bennett as director of individual giving, both bringing extensive experience in fundraising and donor engagement. Katie Trent joins as development coordinator, while Danys Coronel steps in as digital content manager, overseeing MOC’s digital presence and campaigns. Christopher Anthony, with a background in television, is now PR & talent coordinator, managing artist and media relations. Emiley Roye, Abby Tannler and Ella Hunt have been appointed as program coordinators for regions including the Northeast, Denver, Phoenix and the Mid-Southeast, bringing diverse backgrounds in healthcare, entertainment and nonprofit work. Delaney McBride joins as executive assistant to president and CEO Pete Griffin, who said, “The diverse experiences and fresh perspectives they bring will be instrumental as we grow our reach, expand our fundraising, and strengthen our programs across the country.”

Worldwide Entertainment Group (WEG) named Bruce Wheeler as president of its new Live Performance Group. Wheeler, a seasoned executive in live entertainment, has held leadership roles at Central Park SummerStage, The Capitol Theatre and The Beacon Theatre. In his new position, he will oversee WEG’s festivals, tours, corporate events and other live properties while collaborating with the Talent Management and Licensed Merchandise divisions. Reporting to WEG President Dave Lory, Wheeler is tasked with driving innovation and growth in the live sector. “Bruce is the ultimate professional and his experience in running live events and maximizing every aspect of the live event experience will be an incredible addition as we build the Worldwide Entertainment Group,” said Lory.

STURDY., a Los Angeles-based creative studio, announced a major expansion of its brand and experiential division, complete with a new leadership team: Nico Poalillo as director of development, Rikke Heinecke as director of production and development, and Myron Batsa as director of experiential. STURDY. has also partnered with VICE Media’s Pulse Films to enhance its production capabilities and global reach. This collaboration debuted with a high-profile activation at the 2025 Miami Grand Prix, featuring major brands like Apple and Formula 1. STURDY. now offers expanded services across production, media and social strategy. Heinecke has led production teams at major companies like Warner Music Group and ViacomCBS, while also playing key roles in launching and scaling several innovative production startups. Batsa has held senior positions at VICE Media and Insomniac Events, where he partnered with leading brands such as Live Nation, Festival Republic, and Tao Group. Meanwhile, Poalillo’s creative career includes work with global brands like GM and Nike, and top agencies including Leo Burnett, Doner, McCann, Pulse Films and VICE.

Last Week’s Turntable: Triples Is Best at BMI

Wes Donehower has been promoted to senior vp of A&R for both Mercury Records and Big Loud Records, in recognition of the alliance between the two labels. He was most recently senior vp of A&R at Republic Records. The New York-based Mercury and Nashville-based Big Loud have worked closely together on artists including Morgan Wallen as […]

While headlines from California, D.C., India and Iran have dominated a chaotic news cycle this week — plus add in a restructuring at MCA and the loss of two stone cold icons — the music industry has actually had a meh few days when it comes to promotions and new hires. So without any further delay here’s the latest edition of Executive Turntable.
BMI‘s board of directors has voted to keep president and CEO Mike O’Neill on for three more years, through Dec. 31, 2029. O’Neill has been with BMI, one of the most dominate performing rights organizations (PROs) in the U.S., for the last 30 years, and since taking the helm as president and CEO, O’Neill has guided the company through some of the biggest business changes in its history. This includes its 2024 sale to New Mountain Capital, its move to for-profit status, and its partnership with Music Nation to establish a licensing infrastructure in the UAE. “I have never been more optimistic about the future of BMI, and there are only greater things ahead,” O’Neill added. “BMI’s mission to drive value for our affiliates, increase our distributions and ensure the long-term success of our family of songwriters, composers and publishers continues at full speed.”

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Wasserman elevated Shelley Pisarra to chief insights and innovation officer, reporting to COO Darrell Coetzee. Previously evp of global insights, Pisarra will now lead the company’s strategy and innovation platforms, aiming to fuel growth across sports, music and entertainment. Based in NYC, Pisarra’s new role includes expanding Wasserman’s product offerings and creating proprietary tools to drive revenue for talent, brands, and rights holders. With over 25 years of experience across sports, media, and consumer goods — including positions at PepsiCo, Novartis, Nestle and Bristol-Myers Squibb — Pisarra has played a key role in transforming Wasserman’s insights capabilities through data analytics, consumer profiling, and fan segmentation. “I’m thrilled to step into this role, as Wasserman continues to demonstrate our commitment to putting insights to work to best serve our clients, while anticipating what’s next for the fan at the intersection of sports, music, and entertainment,” said Pisarra.

NASHVILLE NOTES: FEM co-owner Leslie Fram was named governor of the Recording Academy’s Nashville Chapter … Artist management company Make Wake Artists launched an in-house digital strategy department. The new department is led by Jess Keifer (head of digital marketing and social strategy) and Kyle Jonas (artist strategy and management coordinator). Make Wake Artists’ clients include Luke Combs, The Castellows, The Wilder Blue, Brent Cobb and Cooper Alan.

Centricity Music promoted four team members to vice president roles, highlighting the Nashville-based Christian label’s growth. Matt Ewald is now vp of A&R, Kris Love becomes vp of promotions, Joshua Wurzelbacher advances to vp of creative and Michael Pons is promoted to vp of finance. These promotions follow five earlier ones this year, with all four individuals having advanced internally since joining between 2013 and 2020. “Centricity has grown over the years in terms of artists, writers and employees,” said Caren Seidle, CEO. “This growth has led to increased responsibilities and work load of our staff. These promotions recognize the leadership these employees provide to their departments consistent with the high level of service for which Centricity is known.”

RockForce, a provider of workforce and production solutions for the live industry, opened a new office in Nashville to support regional productions. The office includes RockForce divisions The Production Collective and Collective Payroll. Jeremy Young, the company’s evp of business development, has also been named vp of operations for the new location. With nearly 30 years of experience in artist management, touring, and commercial leadership, Young began his career at SFX/Clear Channel Entertainment and has worked with artists like Maroon 5 and Gavin DeGraw. He later managed DeGraw’s career and led national sales for CAPS/Cast & Crew before joining RockForce. “RockForce is experiencing meaningful and sustainable growth, and I’m thrilled to be part of it,” said Young.

RADIO, RADIO: Matt Pinfield returns as host of Flashback With Matt Pinfield on Westwood One this weekend, following a near-fatal stroke in January that left him unresponsive for over two months. After extensive rehab in Los Angeles, the former MTV VJ is set to resume hosting duties on June 14–15 on the nationally syndicated rock show. During his recovery, Leslie Fram served as interim host of Flashback. Pinfield also continues his weekday role on The Matt Pinfield Show on 88.5 The SoCal Sound in Los Angeles. Cumulus Media’s Brian Philips praised Pinfield’s recovery, calling him a “warrior.”

ICYMI:

Mike Harris

Under new boss Mike Harris, MCA Nashville laid off nearly 20 employees across multiple departments. The cuts affect several high-level execs, including vps Leigh Malleus (media marketing), Karen Naff (creative services) and Gary Keffer (strategic marketing). Senior directors Michelle Hall, Troy Scott and Leah Ducey were also let go, along with multiple directors and coordinators. [Keep Reading]

Last Week’s Turntable: iHeartMedia Shuffles Top Accountants

The Academy of Country Music held a round of layoffs on Thursday (June 5), with approximately one-quarter of the staff impacted, Billboard has learned.
“Coming off a successful 60th ACM Awards week and renewal with Prime Video through 2028, the Academy implemented a strategic staff realignment in an effort to support its future business and growth initiatives, resulting in the elimination of five staff positions across various departments including communications, marketing, events and community relations,” the ACM told Billboard in a statement. “We thank these individuals for their dedication and contributions to the work of the Academy.”

ACM staffers who were laid off include Alexis Bingham (coordinator, events), Lexi Cothran (senior manager, communications and strategic initiatives), Jesse Knutson (director, publicity and media relations), and Brittany Uhniat (manager, creative and content production).

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Prior to joining the ACM, Knutson joined the ACM in 2022 and previously worked in television news, including time at Nashville’s NewsChannel 5 (WTVF). Bingham served as an intern at the ACM before joining the staff full-time in 2021. Cothran joined the ACM in 2024, and previously worked for PR companies including Shore Fire Media and Sweet Talk PR. Prior to joining the ACM, Uhniat served as creative coordinator at Resin8 Music.

Nearly a month ago, on May 8, the Academy of Country Music celebrated the milestone 60th annual ACM Awards, which aired on Prime Video from the Ford Center at the Star in Frisco, Texas. Ella Langley, Lainey Wilson and Alan Jackson were among the night’s biggest winners, with Wilson taking home her second ACM entertainer of the year trophy. Meanwhile, Langley won five trophies and Jackson was feted with the inaugural ACM lifetime achievement award. The 60th anniversary ACM Awards was hosted by Reba McEntire.

Meanwhile, the ACM also recently announced that the organization and ACM Awards producer Dick Clark Productions (DCP) had cemented a deal with Prime Video for the ACM Awards to continue on Prime Video for the next three years, running through the 63rd annual ACM Awards ceremony in 2028.

No billionaires bickering here — just your regularly scheduled edition of Executive Turntable, Billboard‘s weekly roundup of promotions, hires, exits and everything in between across the music industry. Let’s get to it…
Veteran touring executive Leslie Cohea will join WME’s Nashville office in mid-July as a partner and music touring executive. She comes to the agency after 10 years at Sandbox Entertainment, where she served as global head of touring and played a key role in guiding the careers of artists including Kacey Musgraves, Dan + Shay, Kelsea Ballerini, Midland and Little Big Town. Before playing in the Sandbox, Cohea spent nearly a decade at AEG Live/The Messina Group, focusing on touring and concert promo and producing national tours for biggies like Ed Sheeran, Dave Matthews and Eagles. Named a Billboard executive of the week in 2023, Cohea will report to WME co-heads Becky Gardenhire, Joey Lee and Jay Williams.

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iHeartMedia announced that Scott Hamilton shifted from his role as principal accounting officer to a consulting position, effective June 2. Subsequently, Michael McGuinness, the deputy CFO since 2019, was appointed as the new accounting chief. Hamilton has served in senior accounting roles at iHeartMedia since 2010 and previously held leadership positions at Avaya and PwC. McGuinness joined iHeartMedia in 2019 and brings prior experience from The Hain Celestial Group and Monster Worldwide. In its SEC filing regarding the change, iHeart emphasized that Hamilton’s transition is not due to any dispute with the company, including issues related to accounting practices or financial reporting.

Big Loud Records appointed Lauren “LT” Thomas as senior vp of radio promotion. Thomas joins Big Loud’s fellow svp of radio promo Tyler Waugh, with both execs reporting to evp of radio promotion Stacy Blythe. Thomas previously served as svp of promotion at Sony Music Nashville, where she led promotion efforts for RCA Nashville and Columbia. Prior to her role at Sony, Thomas worked for five years at Phoenix country music station KMLE-FM. –Jessica Nicholson

Melanie Johnson is PPL’s first-ever director of transformation, a role created to lead a company-wide innovation initiative aimed at expanding PPL into the global leader in neighbouring rights royalty collections. Reporting to CEO Peter Leathem, Johnson will leverage her extensive experience across publishing, labels, DSPs and tech — including roles at Audoo, Utopia Music, Facebook and Sony/EMI — to enhance royalty distribution through amped-up technology and data systems. Her appointment comes as PPL reports over $375 million in collections for 2024. Johnson also serves as vice chair of Music Minds Matter and has been a trustee for the Ivors Academy Trust. Leathem said Johnson’s “commercial thinking, paired with deep industry knowledge” will be a great asset to the UK collective management organization.

Oak View Group welcomed Donna Freislinger Huffman as svp of global procurement. Reporting to CFO Ade Patton and president of premium experiences Josh Pell, Huffman will lead initiatives to streamline procurement, boost cost efficiency across OVG’s global footprint. Her responsibilities also include advancing supplier diversity and sustainability. Huffman brings over 20 years of experience from roles at United Airlines, Vanderbilt University and Hillrom, with a “track record for transforming sourcing organizations and driving enterprise-wide value,” said Patton.

Riser House Entertainment expanded its team with three key hires at the Nashville-based label and publisher. Alex Heimerman joins as vp of streaming and strategic partnerships, bringing experience from UMG Nashville, Red Light Management and The Trenches. Hayley Irvine becomes product manager, overseeing project execution after roles at BMG/Broken Bow Records. Eliza Charette steps in as project and label relations coordinator, supporting artist campaigns and operations, with priors at Madison Square Garden and Big Loud. All three report to Riser House president Jennifer Johnson and label manager Megan Schultz. “At Riser House, we don’t just chase trends — we build legacies,” said Johnson. “As our roster grows with some of the most authentic artists in music, it’s only fitting that our team grows too.”

NASHVILLE NOTES: Marketing agency Results Global launched a new four-person digital and social media division, led by Katrina Maddox, formerly head of digital at The HQ. Joining her are Lindsey Parrish, previously a marketing manager at MV2, and Tess Schoonhoven, who served as social media manager at Venture Music. Rounding out the team is Conner McEuen, appointed as paid media manager after his role as a paid social strategist at Zero Gravity Marketing … Bobbii Jacobs launched Wildflower Entertainment Group, a multifaceted company specializing in artist management, development, brand partnerships and talent booking. Alongside it, she introduced a sister venture, Backstage Access Presents, which focuses on curating VIP fan experiences. Jacobs brings extensive experience to the new ventures, having most recently served as partner and president at Forefront Networks.

IMAGINE, a Berlin-based creative studio specializing in music-driven storytelling, opened a new office in Paris as part of its European expansion. Marie Gleiss has been appointed head of expansion, and Maxence Janvrin joins as business development manager, both bringing deep ties to the City of Lights’s cultural scene. The duo will help advance IMAGINE’s mission of building brand connections through music-first strategies. Co-founder Shai Caleb Hirschson emphasized that music has the ability to foster brand recall and drive more than just clicks. “We’re not here to slap a jingle on a logo,” he said. “We create sound-first strategies that move people, inspire loyalty, and generate long-term brand value.”

Betsie Becker is officially the executive director of Berklee NYC, following her interim leadership since September 2023. Over the past two years, she has been instrumental in growing the campus’s leadership team, enhancing academic programs, and deepening community partnerships. Her achievements include appointing Merrily James and Daniel Pembroke to key roles and strengthening collaborations with NYC Public Schools, Carnegie Hall’s B-Side program and the Fashion Institute of Technology. Becker joined Berklee in 2019 as assistant vp for global program development and co-led the institution’s COVID-19 response. Her previous leadership experience includes roles at Juilliard, Decoda and Ensemble Connect.

Top Drawer Merch, a Los Angeles-based full-service merchandise company, appointed Claudia Peña as director of live events. In this role, she will lead the creation of immersive, attendee-focused brand activations at festivals, tours, and pop-ups, merging storytelling with commerce. Peña, founder of festival beauty brand Lunautics, brings experience in luxury retail and experiential marketing. Her hire follows Top Drawer’s success with events like SLANDER and Insomniac’s Starbase Festival.

Music Corporation of America (MCA) has promoted Rob Femia to chief operating officer, adding COO to his duties as executive vp of business and legal affairs. The label group’s imprints include EMI Records Nashville, Lucille Records, Mercury Nashville and MCA Nashville, representing artists including Eric Church, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Chris Stapleton, Dierks Bentley, Alan […]

Sony Music has named Clio Massey and Matt D’Arduini as co-presidents of Arista Records, succeeding David Massey, who announced his retirement as president and CEO in April. The newly appointed leaders, both Arista veterans, are based in New York and will report directly to Rob Stringer, chairman of Sony Music Group.
In a statement, Stringer emphasized the “seamless transition” from Massey to Massey/D’Arduini and praised the duo’s complementary strengths and vision for the iconic label. “Clio and Matt are dynamic and forward-thinking executives who are best placed to build on the artist development they have been involved with in the first phase of the new Arista,” Stringer said. “Their skills complement each other neatly and as a partnership will lead to an exciting future for the label.”

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Massey got her start at Liberal Arts Music in 2013 and later joined Sony/ATV Music Publishing, where she worked in A&R from 2014 to 2018, signing notable songwriters such as Maggie Rogers and Geoff Warburton. She then joined Work of Art Publishing to collaborate with her father, David, and by 2020, was named general manager of WoAP as well as vice president of A&R at Arista. She’ll continue to oversee Work of Art Publishing, the company said.

“I look forward to continuing the work with the great artists and exceptional team at Arista, alongside Matt,” said Massey. “We’re excited to help shape and grow our group into its next chapter.”

D’Arduini has been a big part of Arista since its 2018 relaunch, contributing to the success of artists like Måneskin and Paul Russell, as well as playing a role in the soundtrack for The Idea of You. Prior to joining Arista, he spent 10 years at Robins Entertainment and six at Island Records, where he collaborated with David Massey on projects for artists including Nick Jonas, Demi Lovato and Shawn Mendes.

“We are eager to expand on Arista’s progress and reach over the last few years, cultivating even more talent at our company,” he said. “We’re also grateful for the leadership at Sony Music who believe in this organization and will help us advance our creative core.”

With new co-presidents in place, Arista believes it is positioned to build on its momentum and drive continued growth. The label has recently broadened its global roster, signing and nurturing rising stars such as Damiano David, JP Saxe, Lola Brooke, Jonah Kagen, and Sunday (1994).

Founded by Clive Davis in 1974 and home to icons like Whitney Houston and Carlos Santana, Arista was retired in 2011 and later revived by Stringer and the David Massey in 2018 with Davis’ blessing.