Executive Turntable
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Southern California concert promoter Goldenvoice, a subsidiary of AEG Presents, announced a new round of promotions for its talent-buying group on Tuesday (Oct. 29).
Talent buyer Becky Rosen-Checa will segue from booking shows at the historic 500-capacity Roxy Theatre in West Hollywood and the 770-capacity El Rey Theatre in L.A.’s mid-city to the 2,000-capacity Fox Theater in Pomona, as well as one-off L.A.-area shows for Goldenvoice. She will also help book gigs at Goldenvoice shows at Los Angeles State Historic Park and Brookside at the Rose Bowl, as well as festival properties Palm Springs Surf Club and Desert Air.
“After two very fulfilling years at the Roxy and El Rey, I’m excited to transition into my new role booking the Fox Theater in Pomona, festivals such as Desert Air & GV Surf Club, and other fun stuff around LA,” said Rosen-Checa in a statement. “Having started out at this company as the receptionist, I am grateful to those at Goldenvoice who believed in me and helped me get where I am today. I look forward to booking many cool shows and festivals for many years to come!”
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Henry Huerta, Rosen-Checa’s booking partner, will continue to handle booking duties at the Roxy and El Rey alongside newly-promoted talent buyer Montreh Nariman-Hassanabadi, who noted in a statement, “I aim to break barriers in live music by amplifying the voices of international acts, particularly Middle Eastern artists,” with plans to “create a vibrant cultural experience that resonates with all.”
Elsewhere, Chavanté Flakes, who joined AEG Presents in 2022, has been promoted to talent buyer at The Novo, where he joins current Novo talent buyer Gaston Leone. And in San Diego, Candace Mandracia has joined the company to help book shows in the area after most recently working at AEG Presents’ Las Vegas office. At AEG, Flakes will now book shows at San Diego’s Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, Humphreys and the venues at Pechanga Casino.
Said Mandracia in a statement, “I’m so excited to be back in San Diego, promoting concerts with John Wojas again. We have years of experience in the market together, and I look forward to being a part of the local Goldenvoice team!”
“It’s really gratifying to see someone grow and develop and to be able to recognize and reward that hard work,” added Melissa Ormond, COO at Goldenvoice. “To be able to do that with four individuals at one time is truly extraordinary. Becky, Montreh, Chevanté, and Candace all are great examples of the spirit we try to foster across Goldenvoice, and I’m thrilled to see them take these next steps on their collective career paths.”
Dick Clark Productions (DCP) has announced the appointment of Diana Miller as executive vice president of talent, effective Jan. 15, 2025.
In her new role, Miller will lead the talent team and oversee talent booking and management for DCP’s iconic lineup of live events and shows, including the Golden Globes, American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, Academy of Country Music Awards, and Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest. Miller will report directly to DCP CEO Jay Penske and be based in Los Angeles.
“Diana’s exceptional background, deep relationships and passion for entertainment make her an ideal fit for our team,” said Penske. “Her innovative and outside-of-the-box approach will be key as we continue to expand and enhance our programming and global reach.”
Miller, a six-time Emmy Award-winning producer and two-time Billboard Women in Music Award honoree, brings over 20 years of experience in booking celebrity interviews and musical performances, with a career spanning major networks like CBS, NBC, Apple TV, and TBS.
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“I’m thrilled to join DCP, a company I’ve long admired for its rich history and slate of incredible shows”, said Miller. “I’m also excited to be part of DCP’s bright future and vision with Jay at the helm and look forward to shaping compelling, unique and memorable opportunities for talent for years to come.”
She has worked with high-profile figures, including Michelle Obama, Paul McCartney, Ariana Grande and Jay-Z, establishing a reputation for strong industry relationships and creative talent engagement.
Miller’s background includes eight years as supervising producer of The Late Late Show with James Corden, where she played a key role in launching Carpool Karaoke, as well as seven years as producer for Carpool Karaoke: The Series on Apple TV. She also spent seven years as senior talent executive on Last Call with Carson Daly and NBC’s New Year’s Eve special and is currently the senior supervising producer for The Talk.
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 (mostly) good news and also check out Billboard‘s annual list of top executives leading the live sector, 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.
Gayle Troberman, iHeartMedia’s chief marketing officer for the past decade, is transitioning to a senior advisory role. In a joint memo to staff, chief executive Bob Pittman and president and COO Richard Bressler praised Troberman’s “major impact” on innovation and brand development efforts at the radio giant, adding, “we fully expect her influence to continue in her new role. We’re grateful for her innovative thinking and insights, and we’re pleased she will continue to contribute to the company.” In her advisory role, Troberman will continue leading thought leadership initiatives, including the “New American Consumer” studies, and remain active at key industry events like CES and Cannes Lions. Prior to iHeart, Troberman was CMO at IPG Mediabrands and spent a high-impact 16 years at Microsoft, where she was chief creative officer during rollouts for the Xbox, Bing and other major brands. A successor has not been announced.
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RADIO, RADIO: Lauren Burrows Coleman is joining Beasley as chief financial officer, effective Nov. 1, succeedinmg retiring CFO Marie Tedesco, who served for 33 years. Burrows Coleman previously led global financial operations at Wayfair and has held leadership roles at WindSail Capital Group, Wind Point Partners, GE Capital and Lehman Brothers … Jim Malito joined Black River Entertainment as director of radio promotion west coast. He continues to be based in Phoenix. Malito’s career includes time at Warner Music Nashville, BBR Music Group, and most recently Stone Country Records, where he served as vp of radio promotion and marketing … and Big Loud senior director of media Jess Anderson wrapped a three-and-a-half-year run with the label on Oct. 17, with plans to take a new position next month. She had just been promoted in August.
Triller Group unveiled Kevin McGurn as its next CEO, effective in November, when “further enhancements” to the TikTok rival’s leadership will be announced. McGurn, with experience at T-Mobile, Vevo and Hulu, has a strong track record in driving innovation and fostering growth, with achievements including leading Vevo’s global expansion and building Hulu’s sales team. Meanwhile, 1-800-Flowers.com founder James McCann joins Triller’s board as chairman of the nominations committee. McCann brings over 40 years of leadership experience, having served in governance roles at Willis Towers Watson and International Game Technology. Finally, former Triller CEO Bobby Sarnevesht will remain on the board, providing strategic guidance to McGurn and other leaders. “Our renewed focus means Triller Group is well positioned to deliver best in class entertainment, when, where and how our fans watch it,” said McGurn. “We will continue to build from our strong roots in vertical video, music and sports, and optimise our expertise in mobile and connected television.”
Isabel Quinteros
Jen, an ethically-trained AI music creation platform, appointed TikTok’s former global head of music partnerships Isabel Quinteros as senior vice president of marketing and industry relations. In her new role, Quinteros will develop a scalable framework to help artists monetize their contributions, fostering a sustainable model for AI-driven music creation. She’ll work closely with cofounder Shara Senderoff. Quinteros, a public relations expert, joined TikTok in 2019 and helped transform it into a key platform for artists, supporting artists in every phase of their careers. She also co-launched TikTok’s first IRL concert and led DEI initiatives, earning industry recognition. Senderoff praised Quinteros as a game-changer who can “bridge the worlds of music and tech, while keeping talent at the center,” while co-founder Mike Caren highlighted her skills in partnership-building and innovation, adding, “I’m confident that under her leadership, Jen will set a new standard for how AI can elevate creativity while ensuring artists remain at the heart of the process.”
Frontiers Label Group, the Italian metal label, appointed Amy Pugh as global digital marketing & social media manager. With over 15 years of industry experience, Pugh is the founder of digital marketing agency 10/13 Media and has held key roles at Sony Music Publishing, EMI, Universal Music Group and Stingray Music. She has managed or worked on global campaigns for a slew of major artists, including Taylor Swift, Metallica, Wu-Tang Clan and Foo Fighters, among others. FLP president Serafino Perugino expressed enthusiasm for Pugh’s “massive expertise and fresh approach,” adding he’s “thrilled at the prospect of the added value that she will bring to the label and our artists.” Pugh, already a fan of several Frontiers acts — the label’s roster includes Blue Öyster Cult, Stryper, Winger and more — looks forward to contributing to the label’s success through innovative campaigns and projects.
The Academy of Country Music revealed its newly-elected board of directors for the 2024-2025 term. Previously announced officers for the ACM’s 2024-2025 term are Randy Bernard (chair), Cris Lacy (vice-chair), Jeff Krones (vice president), Carmen Romano (treasurer), Gayle Holcomb (sergeant-at-arms), Duane Clark (parliamentarian) and Tommy Moore (secretary). Newly elected board of directors members are Adam Weiser, Becky Gardenhire, BJ Hill, Cameo Carlson, Chandra LaPlume, Cyndi Forman, Deana Ivey, George Couri, Jon Loba, Kristie Sloan, Lee Thomas Miller, Marcel Pariseau, Margaret Hart, Martha Earls, Meredith Jones, Scot Calonge, Scott Scovill, Tim Roberts and Ward Guenther. Newly appointed director-at-large members of the board of directors are Aaron Spalding, Andy Moats, Benson Curb, Candice Watkins, Chris Lisle, Cindy Mabe, Curt Motley, Emily Falvey, Howie Edelman, Jeremy Holley, Matt Cottingham, Rod Phillips, Sally Seitz, Shawn McSpadden, Storme Warren and Tim Foisset. –Jessica Nicholson
The Orchard appointed Jeeyoung Lee as head of South Korea, overseeing operations from Seoul and reporting to evp and head of strategy, Prashant Bahadur. Lee, with nearly 20 years of experience at companies like Warner Bros. Discovery and CJ E&M, will manage label relations, release strategies, global distribution and regional support. Additionally, Sungho “Jake” Bae has been named director, Asia Pacific Region, Artist and Label Services. Bae, also based in Seoul, focuses on release strategies and cross-country marketing, drawing on previous experience at Spotify and Big Hit Music, where he played a key role in BTS’s global success. John Park, svp of strategy and corporate development, will now focus on business opportunities in Korea, working closely with Lee on new signings and partnerships. The Orchard’s Korean roster features artists from Starship Entertainment, ABYSS, Eric Nam and more.
OpenPlay Inc. hired Chris McMurtry as senior solutions architect to enhance the platform’s features for label and publisher clients. McMurtry brings over 20 years of music tech expertise, having led product development at companies like Artist Growth, PEX and Exactuals, where he launched RAI, a machine learning tool designed to enhance song metadata. Earlier in his career, McMurtry founded Dart Music, an automated digital distribution platform specializing in complex metadata. His industry impact earned him recognition on Billboard’s 2019 Digital Power Players list.
Berklee made it official with Michael Shinn as executive director of Boston Conservatory at Berklee, effective Oct. 28. Shinn, who has served as interim executive director since August 2023, will lead new initiatives, programs and collaborations while contributing to Berklee’s strategic planning. During his interim tenure, he expanded the dance division, raised over $4.2 million, hired more than 30 faculty members and recruited a new dean of theater. Previously, Shinn was the Conservatory’s dean of music for six years. Before Berklee, he chaired keyboard studies at Juilliard, his alma mater, and also co-founded the pianoSonoma Music Festival. “Michael brings a wealth of leadership experience to the executive director role, as well as a passion for the development of the arts, arts education, and performing artists in a contemporary context,” said David Bogen, Berklee’s interim president. “He is incredibly collaborative and supportive of faculty, staff, and students.”
mtheory appointed Jared Losow as senior director of tour marketing and Dirk Lemmenes as vp of client relations. Losow, co-founder of Barley MGMT, will be based in NYC, while Lemmenes, former COO and management lead for Zac Brown Band, will work from Atlanta. Losow brings nearly 15 years of industry expertise, having worked at various indie labels and venues, plus he held leadership roles at In de Goot Entertainment, Relapse Records and the San Francisco Symphony. Lemmenes clocked over 20 years in artist management and operations. He has managed teams across marketing, finance and touring for Zac Brown Band and previously worked as a MTV music supervisor, a booking agent, record store owner and touring musician.
EastCoast Entertainment appointed Erin Collums as director of marketing. With over 12 years of experience in marketing and entertainment, Collums has managed campaigns for major sports organizations like the Carolina Panthers (NFL) and Charlotte FC (MLS). At ECE, Collums will focus on enhancing the brand’s national presence through developing digital strategies to engage audiences and foster growth across corporate events, performing arts, comedy tours and various private entertainment programming. ECE president John Wolfslayer called it a “significant milestone in the company’s evolution” that Collums is joining the team, seeing her appointment as a key step as the company approaches its 50th anniversary. Passionate about live events, Collums believes in the transformative power of music and performance and looks forward to helping ECE create memorable experiences for clients.
ICYMI:
Michael Rapino
New York City nightclub complex Avant Gardner hired Josh Wyatt as its new CEO … Jeff Jones is stepping down as the CEO of The Beatles’ Apple Corps Ltd after 17 years in the role … and Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino has been deposed in the ongoing litigation over the 2021 disaster at the Astroworld music festival. [KEEP READING]
Last Week’s Turntable: Capitol Hires Breaker of Artists
After opening its doors in early 2018, It didn’t take long for multi-venue dance destination Avant Garder to dominate New York’s nightlife scene. Each year, the indoor/outdoor complex that includes Brooklyn Mirage, the Kings Hall and Great Hall has attracted some of the biggest names in dance, including a busy 2024 season that saw sellouts by Black Coffee, Swedish House Mafia, DavidGuetta, Gesaffelstein, Diplo, Anderson. Paak, Carl Cox, Deadmau5 and Three 6 Mafia.
That success comes in spite of the high-profile September 2023 collapse of the Electric Zoo festival — the Randall’s Island EDM festival purchased by Avant Gardner co-founder Billy Bildstein and the company’s former chief creative officer Philipp Wiederkehr the year before. Once a staple of the New York festival scene, the 2023 version of Electric Zoo was marred by missed permit deadlines, rampant overcrowding and safety violations later cited by former ally turned critic, Mayor Eric Adams.
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“It’s something I wanted to address head-on,” says Josh Wyatt, Avant Gardner’s new CEO, who officially begins his new role on Wednesday (Oct. 23) but has spent the last several months working behind the scenes to settle any lingering issues in the aftermath of the Electric Zoo debacle. “If I were to make a constructive criticism of the company in the past, it’s that they have not always done a good job of communicating with the various [Electric Zoo] stakeholders.”
“Over the last eight weeks, I have reached out to every key stakeholder in Electric Zoo and I’ve made them whole,” Wyatt added of refunding ticket holders, settling with vendors and managing small litigation issues. “I’m proud of that.”
Wyatt counts two decades of experience in the hospitality and nightlife sectors, including his most recent tenure as CEO of the members-only social club NeueHouse and its sister company, the photography museum Fotografiska. He also served as president of Equinox Hotels and as co-founder/managing partner of Generator Hostels.
Wyatt joins Avant Gardner after the company brought on a new unnamed investor, which has “inject(ed) the company with growth capital to allow myself as the new CEO to really operate the company,” he says, adding that Bildstein will serve as “my partner in this journey” as founder/creative director. Together, the two will explore the first phase of experiential evolution inside Avant Gardner with a handful of new initiatives including the launch of a music venue/mocktail bar, as well as new community spaces like a hi-fi listening room for audiophiles and immersive art and visual studios for guests.
“That’s the trend that’s happening right now and It’s something that we see a lot of our guests asking for — places to chill out and refresh,” Wyatt says.
LONDON — Jeff Jones will step down as the CEO of The Beatles’ Apple Corps Ltd after 17 years in the role, the company has announced (Oct. 21). Apple Corps Ltd was founded in 1968 by the Fab Four to control the band’s interests across music, film, publishing and more. The role of CEO was […]
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
David Gray has been 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. In addition to taking the reins at the company’s U.K. arm, Gray will also take up the newly created post of head of global A&R at UMPG.
Gray’s promotion was announced Tuesday (Oct. 15) by UMPG chairman and CEO Jody Gerson, who called him “one of the best creative A&R executives I have ever known.”
Gray was most recently UMPG’s executive vice president and co-head of U.S. A&R, as well as head of the company’s Global Creative Group – a division which he and Gerson formed in 2022 to amplify opportunities for songwriters, producers, artists and executives on a worldwide scale.
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Successful projects that have spun out of the Global Creative Group include Colombian artist Feid and American hip-hop producer ATL Jacob‘s “Luna,” which topped the charts in multiple countries and Brazilian artist Luísa Sonza‘s album Escandalo Intimo, which became the third biggest debut of a female Latin album in the history of Spotify following its release last year.
Artists Gray has signed to UMPG include Sabrina Carpenter, Stephen Sanchez, Julia Michaels, Shawn Mendes, Nick Jonas, Joe Jonas and Demi Lovato.
In his new expanded role, Gray will be responsible for leading the management and creative direction of UMPG’s London office, overseeing the signing and development of songwriters, artists and producers, as well as supporting the company’s current roster. Gray will relocate to London from New York in January, said Universal Music Publishing Group.
Announcing the appointment, Gerson praised Gray’s “talent for identifying and building careers for songwriters, artists and producers,” as well as his “leadership and mentorship of the next generation of publishers.”
“I want to thank Jody for her constant belief in me and for shaping a company built upon A&R, creativity, and a belief in songwriters and artists that is at the heart of our ethos,” said Gray, who joined the company in 2013 having previously held A&R posts at Zomba, Sony Music International and Simon Cowell‘s Syco Music, where he developed artists signed to the label via TV shows X Factor and the Got Talent franchise.
Prior to becoming a music executive, Gray was signed to UMPG as lead singer of the band Idle Wilds.
Gerson also thanked McCormack for “his many contributions” to UMPG over his almost nine years as managing director of the U.K. division. “I value him greatly as a friend and colleague,” said Gerson in a statement. “I am delighted he will continue to be part of the UMPG family.”
In a memo sent to staff, which has been viewed by Billboard, McCormack said he would be stepping down from his role on Nov. 4 but would remain a partner of UMPG for the next few years via a new joint venture that is being set up. McCormack, who first joined UMPG’s U.K. business in 1999, said he would also continue to help manage some of the long-term relationships he has built over the years with the firm’s writers and catalogues.
“It’s been a real honour to lead the U.K. company for the past nine years,” said McCormack, paying tribute to what he described as an “exceptionally talented and wonderful” team of colleagues. “I’m very proud of our accomplishments, and the many awards we have won together, but my real fulfillment during the past 25 years at UMPG (as Deputy MD then MD) has come from working closely with artists, songwriters and producers when incredible music is being created,” he said.
Warner Music Japan has appointed longtime Universal executive Takeshi Okada as the label’s new president and CEO, with a start date of Dec. 2. He’ll report to Simon Robson, president of international recorded music, who is temporarily overseeing WMG’s recorded business in the APAC region until a permanent appointee is announced. Okada transitions from EMI […]
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 mostly 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.
Sphere Entertainment announced the departure of David Byrnes, the company’s executive vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer. Byrnes will remain in his role during a transition period while the company searches for a new CFO. The NYC-based media executive has been Sphere’s finance lead since January of this year and held that same position at MSG Entertainment before that. During his tenure at Sphere and MSG, he has played a key role in major transactions including the spin-off of MSG Entertainment, the sale of a majority interest in Tao Group Hospitality, and two stock offerings. Byrnes joined MSG following a nearly 14-year run in senior roles at CBS (and later ViacomCBS), rising to executive vp of corporate finance and then exiting prior to the company’s name change to Paramount Global in early 2022. Byrnes has not announced his next move.
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Sphere Entertainment, which opened its spectacle-invoking Las Vegas venue in September 2023 with U2’s residency, has since hosted live-wired artists including Phish, Dead & Company and current residents Eagles (they play tonight and tomorrow), and multimedia shows like Darren Aronofsky’s Postcard from Earth. During its fiscal year ending June 30, Sphere reported $273.4 million in revenue and full-year revenue of $1.03 billion, nearly double the prior year’s $573.8 million.
Meanwhile…
BMG appointed Melanie McAllister as its global chief human resources officer (CHRO), effective Nov. 1. Reporting to CEO Thomas Coesfeld, she will join the executive board and oversee key HR functions across 20 offices, including hiring, performance, development, DE&I and aligning HR strategies with overarching business goals. McAllister brings extensive experience from her previous roles as Chief People Officer at EasyPark Group and Megaport, and nearly a decade as Chief HR Officer at Arvato. She has also held senior HR positions at Oracle and other global tech firms and holds a Master’s in Strategic HR from Liverpool JM University and serves on the board of ENABLE Trust. Coesfeld expressed enthusiasm for McAllister’s role in shaping BMG’s future, adding “Her expertise, vision, and proven track record of combining innovative thinking with people excellence will have a transformative impact on our company.”
Johnny Pinchard was promoted to head of A&R at Believe UK, advancing from his role as senior A&R Manager. Reporting to Malena Wolfer and Panos Polymatidis, he’ll continue working from the London office. Since joining Believe from RCA Records in 2021, Pinchard has signed notable artists like Sea Girls, who reached No. 4 on the UK Albums Chart, and rapper Blanco, who has earned over 140 million streams in less than a year. He also signed Grammy-nominated electronic artist HAYLA, who won Vocalist of the Year at the 2024 EDMA’s. Pinchard is committed to developing new talent, including Sainte, Leon Vynehall, Grace Davies, and Sevdaliza. Believe UK Managing Director Alex Kennedy praised Pinchard as being “absolutely vital in identifying, signing and developing a wide range of artists that have formed the cornerstone of our success and that fit the Believe ethos perfectly.”
Jessica Vaughn
Raedio appointed Jessica Vaughn as vp of creative synch sales, a new role at the audio company. Vaughn will lead efforts to expand Raedio’s music library and sync services, aiming to deliver “Audio Everywhere.” Her responsibilities also include developing growth strategies for Raedio’s one-stop music library and collaborating with industry partners to secure music placements across film, television, advertising and gaming. Outside of her day job, Vaughn is a veteran singer-songwriter who gained attention in the late aughts as Charlotte Sometimes, releasing her debut album on Geffen and appearing on the sophomore season of The Voice. She now performs and records under the name LACES. In 2023, Vaughn penned a guest column for Billboard advocating for more creatives joining executive ranks across the industry.
Canvas Music onboarded former Spotify UK & Ireland managing director Tom Connaughton as partner and senior advisor of the independent boutique distributor. Connaughton joins to support Canvas Music’s mission of offering artist-centered, indie label-like distribution services. Canvas was launched in 2020 by Richard Lyne, who said the company’s goal is to “provide a great service with a great product but with more focus and less volume.” Connaughton expressed excitement about joining and highlighted the potential of Canvas to bride the gap between artists, tech and audiences in a “fair, artist-centered way.” Connaughton hit the exits at Spotify in late 2023 after five years in leadership roles at the streaming giant. Prior to Spotify, he served in various roles at Vevo.
Ineffable Records appointed Sage Ressler as head of synch, effective immediately. Ressler previously worked at Spirit Music Group, where she negotiated licensing deals and secured placements across a plethora of media formats. At Ineffable, she will work with marquee artists across the reggae, indie and Caribbean music spaces, including Sean Paul, Sublime, Govana, Protoje and Bob Marley: One Love star Hector “Roots” Lewis. Ressler will lead the label’s first formal synchronization department, which will focus on securing high-profile placements for the label’s catalog across film, TV, advertising, gaming and more. “The opportunity to help shape and lead the synch department feels like a natural next step for both myself and the company,” said Ressler. “Synch has become a uniquely powerful tool for storytelling, and it’s opening doors for artists in ways we’ve never seen before.” –Kyle Denis
NASHVILLE NOTES: Opry Entertainment Group promoted Jordan Pettit to vp of artist relations and Jenn Tressler to director of artist and industry relations. Pettit, who joined OEG in 2018 and has been instrumental in initiatives like Opry NextStage, will now lead OEG’s artist relations team, developing programs to strengthen artist and fan connections. Tressler has built strong industry relationships since joining OEG in 2020 and will continue to focus on creative artist engagement strategies, especially for the Grand Ole Opry … Rachel Derosia has been promoted to senior vp of comedy at Outback Presents. She’ll work with co-CEO Brian Dorfman and co-svp Joel Bachkoff to expand the division. The Rochester, NY native started her professional career in music, working at Sony Music before shifting to comedy at Zanies Comedy Club, later joining Outback Presents as a coordinator. She has managed and produced numerous tours, helping comedians transition from club to theater-level performances … Chandler Thurston joined Position Music’s A&R team as the first hire for their new Nashville office. Previously, he was senior creative director at Anthem Entertainment, managing talents like Jamie Paulin and Meghan Patrick, and overseeing hits such as Florida Georgia Line’s “Talk You Out of It.” Before Anthem, Thurston worked at Major Bob Music, where he helped sign and develop writers like Alysa Vanderheym. He’ll be based at Position Music’s Nashville office, set to open in Q3 of 2025.
Jaime Kelsall joined Paladin Artists, effective immediately, reuniting with former colleagues from APA and The Agency Group. Based in Los Angeles, Kelsall brings over 20 years of experience, having represented clients like Dionne Warwick, Fitz and the Tantrums, ZZ Ward, and Michelle Branch. She began her career as an intern at the House of Blues in New Orleans, later working at Absolute Artists Agency in San Francisco, where she met Paladin partner Bruce Solar. Kelsall then joined The Agency Group in Los Angeles before spending over 20 years at APA. “We are all thrilled have the talented Jaime Kelsall join our team at Paladin,” said Solar. “We are excited to have her continue her journey with us that started so long ago and bringing her expertise and professionalism to our company.”
ALL IN THE FAMILY: Fairchild Media Group, a division of Billboard parent Penske Media Corporation, promoted Jim Fallon to chief content officer for WWD and FMG. Fallon, with 45 years of industry experience, will oversee editorial and content creation for FMG’s brands, including WWD, Beauty Inc, Sourcing Journal, and Footwear News. Reporting to CEO Amanda Smith, Fallon will focus on enhancing brand positioning, expanding audiences, fostering collaboration, and developing new editorial products. Fallon previously served as editorial director of Fairchild Fashion Media and held leadership roles at Fairchild Publications, including editor of WWD.
ICYMI:
Eric Wong
Warner Music said Eric Wong will shift from chief marketing officer to the role of global head of A&R, recorded music. He’ll also assume the presidency of East West Records. As part of that transition, WMG’s evp of global marketing Jessica Keeley-Carter has been promoted to chief marketing officer, recorded music … Chris Moncada is promoted to COO at MNRK Music Group … and former C3 Presents promoter Sophie Lobl was named vp of Rolling Stone Live. [KEEP READING]
Last Week’s Turntable: Sweet Relief Makes It Official With Executive Director
Chhris Moncada has been promoted to COO at MNRK Music Group, effective immediately. Based in Toronto, Moncada will oversee all day-to-day operations at MNRK, develop and implement business strategies, and drive strategic growth initiatives with a focus on A&R, artist development and catalog growth. He will work across MNRK offices in New York, Nashville, Toronto […]