Executive Turntable
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If it’s Friday that means another spin around the Executive Turntable, Billboard’s comprehensive(ish) compendium of promotions, hirings, exits and firings — and all things in between — across the music industry.
Sony Music UK and Ireland‘s stalwart COO, Nicola Tuer, announced she is stepping down at the end of the month for family reasons. Tuer started her groundbreaking 28-year run at Sony in 1995 in the label’s sales division and rose to senior vp of commercial sales before her elevation to executive vp of the entire imprint in 2011. In 2014, Tuer earned the keys to the C-suite as the label’s first female chief operating officer — making her “one of the most senior women in the UK industry,” boasted Jason Iley, longtime CEO of SMUK&I. As COO, she has overseen the running of the U.K. and Ireland businesses, including frontline, catalog and label services, as well as sales, partnerships and other departments. “Nicola lives and breathes Sony Music,” Iley added. “She has, time and again, gone above and beyond to ensure not only that Sony succeeds, but more importantly, that our artists succeed.”
Tuer has been a near–constant presence on Billboard‘s various lists of influential executives, deservedly so, including this year’s roundup of International Power Players. The dynamic duo of Iley/Tuer were lauded for landing the top-selling single and album of 2022, with Harry Styles’ Harry’s House and his hit “As It Was.” And as head of Sony UK’s commercial group, Tuer got a shout-out for helping Wham!’s “Last Christmas” top the charts for the first time in 38 years.
Beatport promoted Charles Morgan to chief marketing officer. Morgan joined the company in early 2022 as senior vp of strategy. As CMO, Morgan will oversee marketing strategy and execution across Beatport’s suite of companies, which includes the Beatport digital download store, the open-format DJ oriented Beatsource, sample pack provider Loopcloud, software platform Plugin Boutique, label management and demo submission platforms ampsuite and LabelRadar, along with Beatport Media Group. He’ll be based out of the company’s London office and report directly to Beatport Group CEO Robb McDaniels. “Since his arrival at Beatport, Charles has been instrumental in the transformation of our brand and creative teams, playing a pivotal role in repositioning the company’s leading products,” says McDaniels. “His work has been integral to the growth we’ve seen across our various products for DJs, producers and labels.” –Katie Bain
Universal Music Taiwan
Universal Music Greater China brought in William Hsieh as general manager of its Universal Music Taiwan unit, as well as senior vp of UMGC. Based in Taipei and starting immediately, Hsieh reports directly to UMGC chairman and CEO Timothy Xu. Hsieh joins UMG from fitness tech firm Fiture, where he served as vp of content. Prior to that, he was group vp for Space Cycle, a boutique wellness studio chain. He has also held senior positions at Electronic Arts Asia, and earlier in his career took on managerial gigs at EMI Music and Sony Music Greater China. The Taiwan-born, SoCal-raised Hsieh got his education in New York — at Columbia and NYU. Xu pegs Hsieh as being “perfectly positioned to spearhead our business expansion, innovation, and growth for the Taiwan market,” adding the island nation’s “pop music culture holds an indispensable value in the wider Chinese music scene.”
HFA/Rumblefish promoted Lauren Apolito to executive vice president of strategy & business development. She was previously senior vp at the synch licensing company, which is part of SESAC. Apolito joined HFA (The Harry Fox Agency) way back in 2001 and stayed on board when the venerable rights management agency was scooped up by SESAC in 2015. The company said that in the last year alone, Apolito’s efforts have “fueled revenue growth, client diversification, licensing opportunities and a new service offering” at Rumblefish. Apolito, a 2019 digital power player, has also focused on simplifying direct licensing deals between publishers and distributors. “She operates at the intersection of music, data and technology and has leveraged seismic industry changes into new revenue opportunities and streamlined administration for both rightsholders and music distributors,” glowed HFA/Rumblefish president Michael Simon. “We’re thrilled to expand her role with this well-deserved promotion.” Reach her at lapolito@rumblefish.com.
Big Machine Music has promoted Michelle Attardi to the role of senior director, publishing. Since joining Big Machine Music (a division of HYBE America) seven years ago, Attardi has been central in the signing of songwriters Daniel Ross, Matt Roy, Troy Cartwright and Geoff Warburton to the BMM roster, and has secured cuts with Jon Pardi, Lady A, Jason Aldean, Jake Owen and Mitchell Tenpenny, among others. –Jessica Nicholson
Oak View Group appointed Kristina Heney as executive vp of marketing, media & conferences. As evp of mmc, Heney will handle all marketing and communications for OVG and oversee its media and conferences division — which includes the Pollstar and VenuesNow media brands. She joins the OVG family following a five-year stint at Cirque du Soleil and before that, a 15-year tenure at MSG. Before that, she worked in merchandising at the NBA. “With her deep understanding of the live events and experiential industry, we are confident Kristina can continue our substantial growth momentum while transforming the OVG brand story and our Media and Conferences Division to support OVG and our growth vision,” said president of biz dev Francesca Bodie, to whom she’ll report along with OVG360 president Chris Granger.
SGPS/ShowRig elevated live industry veteran Ned Collett to president of the Las Vegas-based production company. Collett joined SGPS/ShowRig in 2022 following the passing of founder Eric Pearce. As president, he’ll oversee and direct all activities for the company’s global operations, which now includes its first European office, located in Utrecht, Netherlands. Collett was previously Midwest president of LiveStyle, and has also held roles at Oak View Group, Live Nation Entertainment and Base Entertainment, among others. “I am proud to continue Eric Pearce’s guiding principles of always demonstrating boundless creativity and providing exceptional client service,” Collett said. “I am honored to be the person charged with incorporating that philosophy while simultaneously bringing the company forward with new technologies, partners, European expansion, and domestic growth.”
Feed.fm, the business-to-business music streaming platform, hired Ryan Morris as its new director of engineering. At Feed.fm, Morris will lead expansion efforts as the company works to meet demand for a scalable, effective platform for providing music for businesses. Morris was most recently director of software engineering at Slack, which experienced massive growth during his six-year tenure as more businesses turned to remote work. Prior to Slack, Morris was an engineering manager at Pandora. “Ryan’s part of a new breed of technologist in the B2B music space who has a unique mix of high growth tech platform leadership experience alongside a deep understanding of the music industry,” said Jeff Yasuda, CEO of Feed Media Group. “His addition will strengthen Feed.fm’s position to become the leader in a new category of turnkey music solutions for the world’s top brands.”
Entertainment lawyer Zachary Bohlender officially launched Charta, a new company with a mission to modernize and automate the logjam-prone process of getting clearance agreements done quickly so that, ultimately, artists can release music faster. Bohlender’s platform, cofounded with Arash Rashidi, an engineer with a background in AI, aims to distill producer and side-artist agreements to a few key provisions that can be quickly negotiated and then slotted into standardized contracts. “There’s no single bigger pain point in the industry than clearance agreements,” Bohlender said. Charta investors and advisors include Che Pope, Matt Colon, Aloe Blacc, Boys Noize and Milana Lewis of Stem, who calls it “an incredibly powerful tool towards building a better future where artists can be paid more expediently and accurately.”
ASM Global‘s new vice president of live entertainment is Alex Bowen, a familiar player in Louisiana’s entertainment industry. In his new job, Bowen will oversee content and bookings for ASM venues in New Orleans, including the Caesars Superdome and Smoothie King Center, along with the new Thunder Ridge Nature Arena in Missouri’s Ozark region. He’ll also handle bookings for venues across the Southeast U.S. region. Bowen arrives from Live Nation, where he was a senior talent buyer in multiple markets.
Round, the creative digital agency with a client list that includes the Big Three labels and a slew of festivals and events companies, promoted Simon Friend to chief operating officer and Ray Uscata to managing director of North and South America. “The importance and power of digital marketing is growing exponentially and is now an integral part of the way in which consumer facing brands engage with their audiences; but it is a competitive marketplace that demands specialist expertise and tools to achieve cut through,” said Round CEO Aaron Sayer.
Last Week’s Turntable: Blue Raincoat Founder in Transition
If it’s Friday that means another spin around the Executive Turntable, Billboard’s comprehensive(ish) compendium of promotions, hirings, exits and firings — and all things in between — across the music industry.
Blue Raincoat Music co-founder Robin Millar will step down as the company’s chairman and take on a new role as creative consultant. Founded in 2014 by Millar and former Chrysalis CEO Jeremy Lascelles, Blue Raincoat Music began life as an artist management company before branching out into publishing in 2016 and, then, recorded music when it acquired Chrysalis. Reservoir purchased BRN and the entire Chrysalis catalog in 2019, but kept Millar and Lascelles on board to run day-to-day operations. In his new role, Millar will advise on creative decisions across the company’s roster and continue to oversee mixing and mastering operations across the company. He’ll also remain a director on the board and a significant shareholder across Blue Raincoat. “The simple fact is that Blue Raincoat would not be the company it is today without Robin’s involvement,” said Lascelles. “He has been an unbelievable partner, bringing relentless positivity, focus, and ambition to our plans. He has a brilliant business brain, is a fiercesome negotiator, and has been an inspiration to me and everyone within the company.”
Experienced music lawyer Lynn Gonzalez joined Granderson Des Rochers as a partner in the firm’s music practice group. Gonzalez is fresh off a decade-long tenure at Def Jam, where she rose to executive vp/head of business affairs and business development at the label. Prior to Def Jam, she worked in legal roles at Razor & Tie Entertainment and then Atlantic Records, where she also was a founding member and then president of the Black Women In Entertainment Law Foundation, providing mentorship and scholarships to women of color in entertainment law. At GDR, whose music-related clients have included J.Cole, H.E.R., J Balvin and Bernie Taupin, among many others, Gonzalez will work on matters including music publishing, licensing and intellectual property. “Joining GDR means joining a team that puts artists first – a mantra that resonates with me from my time working with labels,” Gonzalez said. “With this guiding principle in mind, together, we’ll protect their creativity and ensure they thrive in a music industry that celebrates their unique voices.”
Warner Chappell Music hired Rachel Jacobson to the role of svp, creative sync. In the newly created role Jacobson will oversee an also-new team that’s solely focused on sourcing and developing songwriters for creative opportunities in sync. “We’re reimagining our approach to the creative side of sync at Warner Chappell to better align with the rapidly evolving media and streaming landscape,” says Jacobson. –Kristin Robinson
Sound Talent Group added agent Jason Parent and his roster of bands to its ever-expanding New York office. Parent arrives after a decade at APA/IAG, where he developed acts including Meet Me @ the Altar, Cloud Nothings, Oso Oso, Grayscale and Kuckle Puck, among others — all of whom came with him. He joins Jake Zimmerman, Eric Powell and John Lashnits in the agency’s NYC outpost. STG made its debut in 2018 after Dave Shapiro, Tim Borror and Matt Andersen made for the exits — on good terms — at United Talent Agency. “When we had the chance to bring [Parent] to STG, we jumped on that opportunity,” said Anderson. “Jason is an incredible agent with an amazing roster of bands, and we’re excited to have him join the team.” STG’s current roster includes Black Veil Brides, Built to Spill, Calle 13, Dave Navarro, Eve 6, Gwar, Hanson, Ice Nine Kills, Killswitch Engage, Opeth, Saliva, Story of the Year, Vanessa Carlton, Zakk Wylde and hundreds more.
Downtown Music president Pieter van Rijn joined the board of directors of Downtown Music Holdings. Van Rijn, a regular fixture on Billboard‘s annual list of Indie Power Players, joined Downtown Music a year ago from FUGA, where he’d served as CEO since 2014. He joins Downtown’s existing board of directors, including independent directors Alison Moore and Kelli Turner, who joined in January 2022. “When we first set out to transform Downtown Music, our B2B division, into a fully integrated suite of business service offerings, we were fortunate to have such a strong executive in our organization who could help us execute on that vision,” said Andrew Bergman, CEO of Downtown Music Holdings. “The addition of Pieter to our board further demonstrates Downtown’s commitment and mission to empower creators and the businesses that serve them.”
Did someone say FUGA? The Downtown-owned distributor continues its expansion into Germany, Switzerland and Austria with the appointment of Desiree Vach as general manager of the Deutsch-speaking triad. In her new role, Vach will lead FUGA’s business development, service offering and brand presence in the region, as well as oversee the Berlin office. She reports directly to Liz Northeast, the svp of Europe, Middle East, and Africa. Vach joins FUGA following a nine-year tenure at Ingrooves Music Group, where she oversaw operations in the GSA region.
Change is afoot at German indie distributor Zebralution, with company co-founder Kurt Thielen announcing he’ll step down at the end of the year. Two industry veterans will fill Thielen’s considerable shoes: Konrad von Löhneysen, founder of the Embassy of Music label, will join as co-CEO in October 2023, while current Zebralution COO Tina Jürgens will also be promoted to co-CEO, effective in January. The shakeup portends the company’s international growth ambitions, and follows the expansion into North America earlier this year — led by co-founder Sascha Lazimbat as U.S. director and president. Founded in 2004, Zebralution currently has a portfolio of more than 3,500 labels and audio book publishers from all over the world. “I look back on 38 exciting years as CEO,” says Thielen. “I am immensely proud of what we have achieved with Zebralution as pioneers in the industry. I can’t think of a more opportune moment for this change in responsibility.
Kygo‘s Palm Tree Crew hired Karan Ram as president of its festivals and events unit. Ram arrives from touring festival specialists Breakaway, where as president he more than doubled the company’s events held in 2023. Prior to Breakaway, he founded Moment Entertainment, a producer of concerts and events on college campuses that was later acquired by Pollen. “We’re excited to welcome Karan to Palm Tree Crew and to have him bring his expertise and passion to our team,” said Myles Shear, co-founder of Palm Tree Crew. “As the President of Palm Tree Crew Festivals and Events, he will play a pivotal role in scaling our brand to even greater global heights.”
ICYMI: Warner Music hired 30-year Disney veteran Bryan Castellans as the label group’s next executive vice president and chief financial officer, effective Oct. 16 … Monica Damashek has been named head of label partnerships of North America for Spotify. She succeeds Vic Trubowitch, who has moved to the music product strategy … Warner Chappell Music locked down Guy Moot and Carianne Marshall, CEO and COO, respectively, until late March of 2028 … and Jann Wenner was swiftly excised from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation board of directors after making inflammatory remarks about Black and women artists.
Melissa Maskan joined boutique indie publisher OTM as head of North America and svp of creative. Based in L.A. and reporting directly to OTM founder Alex Sheridan, Maskan will manage the org’s U.S. efforts, namely sync and A&R. She joins after six years as evp of A&R at Third Side Music, where she helped to develop all-cappers SOFI TUKKER and ODESZA, among others. Supporting Maskan at OTM will be Rob Hunt (head of A&R) and Emily Keating (svp of sync). “[Maskan] heading up our US business will add immeasurable value to our offering there and now provides OTM with a platform for further growth,” said Sheridan.
Production music company FreshTracks Music added three new executives to its recently launched UK division. Tayo Kazzim joins as head of sales after stints at PRS for Music, Imagem and Extreme Music; Josie Kiely is the new senior client account manager, following roles at Warner Chappell and PPL; and Charley Dunlop serves as client account manager, having previously worked at Sky, KPM/EMI and BAM.
ESMAA, the Gulf-based music rights organization, appointed Saqer Al Qassimi as head of business development and government relations. The Emirati national is tasked with growing membership and supporting the org’s licensing efforts throughout the UAE and Gulf region. ESMAA claims to be the only music organization of its kind in the Gulf — in that it works with international entities whose disciplines focus on either performing, mechanical and/or neighbouring rights in order to find solutions to simplify music licensing in the region.
Last Week’s Turntable: GoodTalk Takes Shape
There’s been an executive shuffle at Spotify. Monica Damashek, who previously served as the company’s North American lead of international music, has been named head of label partnerships North America, according to an internal memo obtained by Billboard. She succeeds Vic Trubowitch, who has moved to the music product strategy team for artist expression at […]
Warner Music has hired Disney veteran Bryan Castellani as the label group’s next executive vice president and chief financial officer, effective Oct. 16. Based in New York, Castellani will report to WMG’s CEO, Robert Kyncl.
Castellani has nearly 30 years at The Walt Disney Company under his belt, most recently serving as CFO for Disney Entertainment & ESPN. Prior to that, he held such roles as evp of finance for Disney Media, where he oversaw its distribution, ad sales and networks businesses, and previously he was evp and CFO of ESPN proper and he also spent time in the C-suite at Disney Japan. He started at the company in 1995 as a financial analyst, following a stint at the Federal Reserve Board in Washington, D.C.
“Bryan has wide-ranging experience helping one of the world’s most impactful creative enterprises build long-term value and unlock new global possibilities,” said Kyncl. “A dynamic, operational CFO, he’ll be an excellent addition to our executive leadership team, as we grow the WMG of the future for the benefit of our artists, songwriters, investors, employees, and partners.”
Castellani will succeed longtime CFO Eric Levin, who announced his retirement in mid-March after nearly a decade at the company. He’ll officially retire in January. Levin joined WMG in 2014, overseeing the company’s global financial operations at a time when piracy and streaming were overhauling the fortunes of companies across the music industry. Notably, he saw WMG through its 2020 initial public offering and managed through the leadership transition from Stephen Cooper to Kyncl.
Kyncl noted that Levin departs “with our deepest respect for his many contributions during an extraordinary period of growth that included WMG’s global expansion, numerous major acquisitions, and a successful IPO.”
Castellani said: “I’m delighted to be joining WMG at such an exciting and pivotal time for the company and the music industry. Music is a powerful global force, unconstrained by any specific model or format, and has significant business upside. Robert’s vision for differentiating WMG is inspiring, and I’m looking forward to working with the leadership and finance teams to take the company to the next level in a rapidly evolving landscape.”
As Big Loud Records experiences global successes with its artists, the Nashville-based label is expanding its footprint by opening offices in Australia and the United Kingdom and bolstering its presence in its Toronto office, which opened in 2015.
Big Loud senior vp of global marketing and strategy Brianne Deslippe will oversee the effort. Reporting to her will be newly named label managers Cayleigh Shepherd in London, who joins from U.K.-based imprint Snakefarm Records; and Johnno Keetels in Brisbane, Australia, where he most recently worked in Universal Music Australia’s media and editorial department. Meanwhile, Toronto-based employee Justin Clark rises from international coordinator to manager of national promotion/associate label manager.
“We started in year one with our Canadian office, and it has been a long-term goal of ours to have direct Big Loud representation in both Australia and the U.K.,” Big Loud CEO Seth England tells Billboard. “We waited for the best strategic time, but now makes the most sense with how we’ve grown as a company. We continue to keep an eye on other emerging markets as well.”
Deslippe adds, “With 25-plus artists now across multiple imprints and genres, it was important for us to have strong voices on the front lines, finding opportunities and making connections for them around the world. Having key experts in the field will be a valuable resource for our wider teams, staff and managers as well.”
Over the last few years, Big Loud has ramped up its global presence with artists including Morgan Wallen, HARDY, ERNEST, Hailey Whitters, MacKenzie Porter, Stephen Wilson Jr., Lauren Alaina and Griffen Palmer all playing dates outside the United States.
Cayleigh Shepherd
Courtesy Photo
A number of Big Loud artists are experiencing faster gains globally as they build domestically, including a handful of Canadian artists that label has signed.
“[MacKenzie] had multiple No. 1s in Canada and Australia before breaking through in the U.S.,” notes Deslippe of the Medicine Hat, Canada native. “Ashley Cooke, Hailey Whitters, and MacKenzie have also made inroads in the U.K. over the past 18 months, playing C2C Festival and receiving mainstream radio, press, and DSP support. Stephen Wilson Jr. has done four U.K. visits in the past year. Morgan, HARDY and ERNEST did a sold-out run this spring in Australia/New Zealand, and Morgan celebrated his first #1 ARIA album and single while we were in market. [Canadian artist] Dallas Smith continues to break every country record in Canada and will also spend more time in the U.S. during this next album cycle.”
Big Loud may sign artists specifically for release in Australia and the United Kingdom, but England adds, “It needs to be fantastic, something we love and where we see growth.”
Johnno Keetels
Courtesy Photo
While Big Loud has a global partnership with Republic/UMG for Wallen and Lily Rose, the rest of its releases are distributed internationally by Stem. This move will enhance the label’s strength in Australia and England, where they have also relied on third parties to help promote their artists.
With leaders in place in the three territories, Deslippe says Big Loud will continue to scale up as needed. “There is so much growth potential in these markets, I feel like we’ve just scratched the surface,” she says. “For a long time, I was the only international team member having moved to Nashville from Canada, but I’ve always been made to feel like a valued member of the core team. I’m excited to pay this sentiment forward and invite some more unique and different voices to the table.”
England says he’s taking a page from music executive Clive Calder, who in the ‘80s and ‘90s built Jive Records into an independent powerhouse before selling it to Bertelsmann Music Group in 2002.
Justin Clark
James Ramsay / skytography
“[Calder] expanded internationally and made it to where all their records were being worked globally by them,” England says. “And Jive, to my understanding, was the last great label who did this level of international expansion as an independent. And you know it’s no secret we’ve been a fan of studying those who have come before us.”
He also hints that there’s more to come with more partnerships down the road. “That’s why getting these international pipes, if you will, set up now, has never been more important or timelier for us,” England says. “This is the next logical step; be ready for the ones to come and stay prepared for the ones we have.”
Bob Boilen is leaving NPR.
On Wednesday (Sept. 13), Boilen announced his departure from the media organization after a 35-year tenure. Boilen is the co-creator of NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts, the creator and host of All Songs Considered and has directed All Things Considered for the last 18 years.
On social media, Boilen wrote, “After 35 years, I am leaving NPR. I’ve had the thrill of creating Tiny Desk Concerts, All Songs Considered, directing All Things Considered for 18 years and so much more. I love the people I’ve worked with, but it’s time to find new challenges. thank you for listening/watching.”
Boilen’s last day on the job is Oct. 2.
An internal memo obtained by Billboard also announced Boilen’s departure to staff.
“For over 35 years Bob has been a fixture here, whether as a long-time producer and director on All Things Considered or as a digital pioneer with NPR Music, Bob’s impact has achieved what few can; he has, through his work, changed NPR and changed the world around us,” reads the memo, written by NPR vp of visuals & music strategy Keith Jenkins and outgoing senior vp of programming and audience development Anya Grundmann.
In the memo, Jenkins and Grundmann add that the Tiny Desk series, which Boilen co-created in 2008, “has set the music industry agenda for the last 15 years” and succeeded in “bringing new audiences to NPR.”
The memo includes a note from Boilen, who states, “I leave at a time when new creative folks will hopefully envision exciting new futures for NPR Music.”
In addition to his work at NPR, Boilen is an accomplished musician and writer. His debut book, Your Song Changed My Life, was published in 2016.
The news of Boilen’s exit follows two other high-level departures at the public radio broadcaster as of late. In August, Grundmann — who worked with Boilen on Tiny Desk in her role overseeing music, podcasts, entertainment and talk shows at the broadcaster — also announced that she’s leaving the public radio giant at the end of the year following nearly 30 years at the organization.
That was followed earlier this month by an announcement from NPR president/CEO John Lansing that he’ll retire at the end of the year following a four-year tenure. Lansing’s time at NPR involved navigating the COVID-19 pandemic and a recent budget crunch. He’ll remain in place until NPR’s board of directors identifies his replacement.
Read the full staff memo on Boilen’s departure below.
All;Today, we’re sharing the news that one of our longest tenured colleagues, Bob Boilen, is retiring from NPR. For over 35 years Bob has been a fixture here, whether as a long-time producer and director on All Things Considered or as a digital pioneer with NPR Music. Bob’s impact has achieved what few can; he has, through his work, changed NPR and changed the world around us.Bob’s work on the broadcast side of NPR was extensive, and he later was instrumental in pushing NPR into the digital world at a critical moment of change in media. All Songs Considered, which began as a multimedia online show in 2000 and became one of NPR’s first podcasts in 2005, was a foundational element of NPR Music which Bob helped create in 2007. Bob has continued to produce the podcast weekly, and it’s also heard on more than a hundred NPR Member stations.While web video was still in its infancy, Bob created Project Song which placed a musician in a Big Brother type environment at NPR for 24 hours, allowing us to observe the song writing process, unfiltered. While its run was short, its impact was great; Project Song’s influence can be found in podcasts like Song Exploder. Project Song also has the honor of earning NPR its first Emmy in 2012.Finally, there is little left to say that hasn’t already been shared about the Tiny Desk series, which Bob co-founded in 2008. The series has set the music industry agenda for the last 15 years, and it continues to break new ground with its concerts and the Tiny Desk Contest; bringing new audiences to NPR. It is very difficult indeed to go anywhere in the world — whether it’s a battlefield in Ukraine, an embassy in Washington, a farm in the Midwest or a restaurant in Asia — where people haven’t heard about and watched Tiny Desk Concerts. This is the very definition of a global phenomenon.Bob is leaving NPR with a legacy of creativity and innovation. Knowing of his love for photography and the Eastern Shore, we hope his days continue to be filled with beautiful birds and sunsets — that is, when he can tear himself away from continuing to discover new music in clubs across America. We wish you all the best.Keith and AnyaA few words from Bob:I’m retiring from NPR after 35 incredible years. It’s time to find new challenges in life, and I’m excited about some of the possibilities. I leave at a time when new creative folks will hopefully envision exciting new futures for NPR Music. My last day is October 2.I lived the dream when I came to NPR’s All Things Considered without a day of journalism or radio in my background. I was a musician and a video producer in 1988, but the folks at NPR saw something in me and gave me opportunities to take chances and grow. Within a year, I was directing All Things Considered. I did that for 18 years. I produced hundreds of music stories, brought in music writers, and edited and produced their reviews.In 1999, I imagined a music show for the internet, and in 2000 All Songs Considered was born. Back then, it was a multimedia show with music. In the summer of 2005 All Songs Considered became what I believe was the first original content podcast for NPR.With the launch of NPR music in 2007, NPR covered music festivals, including Newport Folk, and, of course, SXSW, where Stephen Thompson’s comment to Laura Gibson became the spark that started the Tiny Desk series. The staff includes such great talent and now the videos look and sound better than ever.All the while, I got to be in an office with some truly amazing, talented, and fun people. Most of all I just want to thank all of you for making magic happen.
Gary Gersh, president of global touring at AEG Presents, is leaving the concert promotion giant after eight years at the company, chairman Jay Marciano announced in a staff letter on Wednesday (Sept. 13). Rich Schaefer, currently the company’s senior vp of global touring, will step into Gersh’s role as president. “Gary played a vital role […]
Diddy is gearing up to release his first album in 13 years, The Love Album: Off the Grid, on Sept. 15.
While the music and business mogul is in album mode, his multiple interests continue to be overseen by a seasoned group of executives, including his management team at SALXCO. Read on to learn about the executives working behind-the-scenes at Combs Global, REVOLT TV & Media and more.
Nathalie Moar – Longtime Advisor and Communications Lead
Moar is a. global communication strategist who manages Diddy’s narrative and brand image across his multi-brand empire, as well as all of his various activations.
Che Pope – Head of Love Records
Pope’s experience in the music industry spans 25 years in both the creative and executive arenas of the music business. The Grammy-winning producer has collaborated with artists such as Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Carlos Santana, Destiny’s Child, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Dr. Dre, The Weeknd, Diddy and Kanye West.
Frankie Santella – Vice President of Music Management & Strategic Partnerships
Santella was first hired by Diddy as part of Bad Boy Management in New York City, where he was involved in cultural events such as Diddy’s 50th birthday celebration, 2013 attendance at Burning Man and collaborations with such companies as Nike, Ciroc, WWE and Live Nation. In 2020, Santella moved to Los Angeles to work at Combs Global.
Kristina Khorram – Chief of Staff to Sean “Diddy” Combs
Khorram works side by side daily with Diddy and spearheads many of his projects and events.
Deon Graham – Chief Brand Officer
Graham oversees brand presence, strategic marketing, growth and development for Diddy’s portfolio of companies.
Tarik A. Brooks – President
The seasoned executive, with over 22 years of experience, oversees all business operations and investments owned by Diddy.
Detavio Samuels – CEO of REVOLT TV & Media
Samuels leads all business efforts with a bicoastal team of young executives and creators, working to build the world’s largest Black-owned media company.
Jay Lundy – Senior VP of Investing & New Ventures
In his role, Lundy leads new ventures, investment diligence and business development strategy.
Dr. Steve Perry – Founder & Head of Capital Preparatory
Perry is an educator, bestselling author, and founder and head of schools at Capital Preparatory Schools. Since 2006, he has sent 100% of their predominantly low-income, minority and first-generation high school graduates to four-year colleges.
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WATCH: Diddy Talks About His New Album ‘The Love Album,’ New Record Label & More
Range Media Partners has launched a music publishing division and tapped Casey Robinson to lead it, the company announced Tuesday (Sept. 12).
Robinson arrives at Range Media from Hipgnosis Songs Group, where he served as executive vp of A&R and led the company’s pop division, working with artists and songwriters including Monsters & Strangerz, John Ryan, Julian Bunetta, Normani, Teddy Geiger, Imad Royal, Dan Wilson, Joe London and Steph Jones. He joined Hipgnosis following the company’s 2020 acquisition of Big Deal Music Group, where he served as co-president/partner. Robinson also previously worked as senior director at BMI, where he signed Imagine Dragons.
Other employees of Range’s new publishing division include director of A&R and publishing Sam Drake, director of A&R Federico Morris and manager and vp of A&R Jared Cotter. The division has already signed songwriter Geoff Warburton, known for his work with artists including Shawn Mendes, Demi Lovato, Keith Urban and Elle King.
“Casey and the team believe there is a tremendous opportunity to launch a boutique publishing company inside of the Range ecosystem,” said Range Music founding partner/Range Media Partners co-founder Matt Graham in a statement. “The connectivity to our management roster, label, film/TV relationships and music supervisors provide a fertile ground for developing writers and producers … His experience as a builder at Big Deal and Hipgnosis is essential to getting our strategy and culture honed to ensure maximum opportunity for our talent. We couldn’t be more excited about what we can create together.”
Added Robinson, “I’m thrilled to be joining the creative team at Range. Since the company’s creation just a few years ago, I’ve admired its spirit, culture and dynamic growth. Range’s curated approach to identifying and fostering talent across genres will serve as a blueprint for how we build the publishing company, which will be dedicated to long-term career growth for both artists and writers.”
Launched in September 2020, Range Media is led by managing partners Graham, Jack Minihan, Tyler Henry, Melissa Ruderman, Chris Thomas, Evan Winiker, Cory Litwin and Shawn McSpadden, as well as partners Michele Harrison, Greg Johnson, Rachel Douglas, Ace Christian and Joel Zimmerman.
The Digital Media Association (DiMA), the trade group representing digital music streaming services, has tapped Graham Davies, CEO of U.K. songwriters advocacy group The Ivors Academy, to become its next president and CEO beginning this fall. “Graham has long championed initiatives that bring the music industry together through collaborative discussion and action,” DiMA’s board of directors said […]