Executive Turntable
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LONDON — Universal Music U.K. chairman and CEO David Joseph has announced he is stepping down after almost 17 years at the helm of the company.
The widely respected executive and longstanding label boss joined the U.K. arm of Universal in 1998 as general manager of Polydor and was promoted to chairman and CEO of Universal Music U.K. and Ireland in 2008. His departure was announced in a memo to staff on Monday (Sept. 23) in which Joseph said he was leaving the music business to study for a master’s degree in religion and theology at King’s College London, commencing next week.
“It has been an honour to work alongside you, creating something truly exceptional, a company that wasn’t only number one but also led with heart and creativity. We’ve done that together,” said Joseph in the memo, which has been viewed by Billboard.
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Joseph went on to say that his career in the record business, “once impossible to imagine, has been a gift for which I’m deeply grateful. Now, after 17 years in this role, it’s time to step into something new.”
The outgoing exec — who oversaw the EMI, Decca, Island, Polydor and 0207 Def Jam labels, as well as Abbey Road Studios — praised his former colleagues at Universal Music U.K. who “will undoubtedly continue to inspire, innovate, and lead the way.”
Joseph also issued a “special thank you” to Universal Music chairman/CEO Lucian Grainge “without whom none of this would have been possible. First, he hired me, and then he let me be myself.”
“This place, the people, the building, the conversations, the inspiration, and the music that somehow makes the rest of life blur into the background – these will all be missed immeasurably,” said Joseph, who described his 26 year career at Universal Music as “an absolute pleasure.”
In a separate staff memo, also seen by Billboard, Grainge described his two decades-plus working with Joseph, beginning with the turnaround of Polydor in the late 1990s, as a “remarkable journey.”
“One of the many things I respect about David is that he never tried to be anyone but himself and he guided the U.K. company to heights in a way that was completely authentic to him. In addition, I have enormous respect for his decision to take an entirely different path after so many outstanding years at UMG,” said Grainge.
The Universal Music chairman/CEO went on to say that he would be informing staff “what comes next” for the U.K. arm of the company “shortly, but today is about David.”
“His contributions—as an executive, as a leader and as a friend—have always been focused on making our company a better place for our employees and our artists. I know you will join me in wishing David our very best,” concluded Grainge.
As U.K. boss of the world’s biggest music company, Joseph was one of the most powerful record executives in the United Kingdom and was a regular fixture in Billboard’s annual International Power Players lists. In 2016, he was awarded a CBE for services to the music industry, while Amy Winehouse, Florence and the Machine, Sam Smith, Lewis Capaldi, Ellie Goulding are just a few of the U.K. acts that achieved global fame under Joseph’s watch.
Earlier this year, Joseph told Billboard that the international sales success of the Rolling Stones’ Hackney Diamonds, which topped the charts in 20 countries; followed several weeks later by The Beatles’ final song, “Now And Then,” reaching No. 1 in the U.K. and No. 7 on the Hot 100, were two of his recent highlights in the post, calling the campaigns “best-in-class examples of U.K. creativity exporting to the world.”
The London-based executive’s exit from Universal Music Group comes just a few months after the company announced it was merging its historic Island and EMI label divisions as part of a widespread restructuring of the firm’s U.K. business.
As part of that reorganization, two new frontline label groups — Island EMI Label Group, headed by Louis Bloom as president, and Polydor Label Group, led by Ben Mortimer – have been created, mirroring changes UMG made to its U.S. teams earlier this year with the formation of Interscope Capitol Labels Group and Republic Corps. The U.K. arm of Universal Music is additionally launching a new Audience and Media Division to support artists and labels, headed by Rebecca Allen.
Welcome to a teeming edition of Executive Turntable, Billboard’s comprehensive(ish) compendium of promotions, hirings, exits and firings — and all things in between — across music. And what a depressing late-week it’s been, with Warner Music making deep cuts across its Atlantic Music Group that sources say will affect between 150-175 people. If you need a palette cleanser, read on for mostly good news but also check out Billboard’s weekly interview series spotlighting a single executive, our helpful calendar of notable events across the biz, and a regularly updated gallery honoring many of the industry figures we’ve lost throughout the year.
Believe appointed industry veteran Henri Jamet to lead its France operations as managing director, reinforcing its leadership team in its all-important home market. With over 20 years of experience, including the last decade at Believe, Henri has played a key role in the company’s artistic wins. He replaces Romain Vivien, who is now president of Europe and global head of music, and will report directly to him. This move aligns with Believe’s focus on A&R and artist development to boost market share across the 50 countries it now operates in. Henri’s career began at Universal Music and NRJ, followed by Wagram, where he became a marketing manager. In 2013, he joined Believe, leading labels such as AllPoints, naïve, and launching Animal63. Under his leadership, AllPoints became a leader in French rap — its artists dominated last year with 47 of the top 200 albums — while naïve emerged as a major pop label. “Henri is as close as possible to the ground, he is respected in the industry, he has a creative vision and knows the company culture,” said Believe founder and CEO Denis Ladegaillerie. “He is the ideal candidate to succeed Romain, one of the Group’s best ambassadors and a great example of career development with us.”
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Maximilian Paproth is coming back to Budde Music, where he worked for a decade earlier in his career, as global president A&R. In that role, Paproth will manage the company’s German operations, as well as its international A&R, starting in January 2025. He will report directly to company owner and CEO Benjamin Budde, who has been building the family-owned publishing company into an increasingly global operation that is active in the agency and concert promotion businesses, as well as its publishing business. Paproth worked at Budde in various roles from 2003 to 2023, then worked for Sony Music Publishing and then Universal Music, where he is currently vp of A&R for central Europe & international marketing Germany. “Max is now supporting our efforts to be the best partners for authors and artists at the perfect time,” Benjamin Budde said in a statement. Budde Music includes the Budde Talent Agency and the management company BuddeMgmt, as well as publishing and some recording operations. –Robert Levine
Downtown Music promoted Gareth Mellor to senior vp of global marketing & communications. Based in the UK, Mellor will lead M&C efforts across Downtown’s four divisions: publishing, distribution, artist & label services and royalties & financial services, which serve over 5,000 clients and 4 million creators in 145 countries. A Downtowner since mid-2021, Mellor was previously vp of global marketing and communications and earlier served as global head of B2B marketing for its distribution tech company FUGA. He has also held senior roles at TuneCore, AWAL and Kobalt. He reports to CEO Pieter van Rijn and chief commercial officer David Driessen, who commended Mellor’s global marketing expertise and contributions to FUGA, expressing confidence in his ability to strengthen Downtown’s brand globally. “With a strong understanding of global marketing, he has continued to deliver exceptional results-driven work at Downtown and I look forward to working alongside him in his new role as he continues to elevate and position Downtown’s brand in the global marketplace,” said the recently promoted Driessen.
Back to Believe, which is also reinforcing its commitment to Mexican music with two leadership appointments. Marco Cataño — who has a 25-year career and has worked at Sony Music and Warner Music — is named head of artist services LATAM, overseeing the Paris-based company’s premium offerings. As head of label & artist solutions México, José Pablo Molina’s division will offer solutions to independent artists and labels through the marketing and content distribution platform. Molina has 10 years of experience, previously working at ROC Nation and OCESA. “Both Marco and José Pablo have an outstanding track record in the music industry,” said Alejandra Olea, Believe America’s managing director. “Their experience allows them to identify areas of opportunity in the market to strengthen and develop Spanish-speaking talent. Their ability to attract and grow artists in a lasting way aligns with Believe’s priorities for Mexico and Latin America.” –Jessica Roiz
Merlin, the digital licensing partner for the indie music sector, welcomed back Kaoruko Hill as the music rights organization’s general manager of Asia-Pacific. Kaoruko’s career spans over a decade, including her most recent role at ByteDance, where she managed global music rights. From 2016 to 2020, she was instrumental in Merlin’s successful entry into the Japanese market, increasing membership and building strong partnerships as head of member relations and operations. She previously worked at Japan’s music copyright collective NexTone Inc., focusing on new media licensing and global partnerships. Merlin’s CEO, Jeremy Sirota, praised Kaoruko’s strategic vision and said her “deep commitment to the music industry make her the ideal leader to drive our efforts in the Asia-Pacific market forward.”
Hipgnosis Song Management named Sara Lord as its new chief creative officer, tasked with managing synch, audience development and leading Hipgnosis’ overall strategy and creative industry collaborations for its portfolio of some 40,000 iconic songs. A veteran of Concord Music, where Lord built an international team and launched the Concord art prize, Lord joined Hipgnosis in 2023 as executive vp of content. Lord will work alongside Katovsky under the new Blackstone ownership. “Sara has an outstanding track record and incredible knowledge of the creative industries,” Hipgnosis CEO Ben Katovsky said in a statement. “Hipgnosis owns many of the world’s most iconic songs and, as we seek to bring them to even wider audiences, building partnerships across these creative industries is a key part of our strategy. Sara is uniquely qualified to build these partnerships, while working closely with our songwriters and artists.” –Elizabeth Dilts Marshall
Sony Music Publishing promoted Antoine Dathanat to managing director of France, starting Oct. 1. He will succeed the SMP’s longtime French MD Nicolas Galibert, who is retiring at the end of the month. As MD of SMP France, Dathanat will be responsible for overseeing creative and business operations across France and supporting SMP songwriters around the globe. He will continue to be based out of Paris and will report directly to Sony Music Publishing president of international Guy Henderson. –Kristin Robinson
PUB FARE: Third Side Music has expanded into the UK and Europe by appointing Stephen Christian as executive vp of creative/A&R: International. Based in London, Christian will report to TSM’s COO, Jeff Waye, and work with LA-based Creative/A&R heads Brontë Jane and Alex Kelman to sign new talent and foster global opportunities for artists like SOFI TUKKER and Sky Ferreira. Christian is the former creative director and head of A&R at Warp Records, where he was instrumental in signing and developing acts like Danny Brown, Mount Kimbie and Kelela … peermusic appointed Samantha Schilling Robinson as vice president of peermusic Neighboring Rights. Schilling Robinson was previously vp of neighbouring rights at Songtradr, Inc. Schilling Robinson will be based in peermusic’s offices in Los Angeles.
Music funding platform beatBread appointed Andrew Maddox as head of finance to support its growth. Maddox previously held finance leadership roles at TikTok, including head of finance and payment services for US Data Security, and he’s the former chief of staff to TikTok’s COO. He also led finance for content, marketing, product, and operations. Prior to TikTok, Maddox worked at Amazon Prime Video, contributing to its expansion into live sports and international markets. beatBread CEO Peter Sinclair praised Maddox’s finance and strategic marketing skills, highlighting their importance as the company uses data science and automation to empower artists, labels, and publishers with flexible funding options. Maddox expressed excitement about joining beatBread, emphasizing “beatBread is at the forefront of enabling artists to pursue their passions without sacrificing control over their careers. The flexibility and choice the company is bringing to music funding is a true game-changer for independent artists and labels. I couldn’t be more excited to join the beatBread team.”
Music licensing platform Soundstripe named Angela Abbott as global head of music partnerships, overseeing strategic relationships for content creators, enterprises, and rights holders. With over a decade of experience in business development and strategic partnerships, Abbott brings expertise from her roles at TIDAL and Pandora, where she secured over $200 million in licensing deals with the big three major labels, among others. Abbott also stays involved with the Recording Academy and Women in Music, where she serves as global co-chair of partnerships & development. “We founded Soundstripe to address a critical gap in the music licensing space for content creators, but our vision extends far beyond that,” said Travis Terrell, Soundstripe’s co-founder and CEO. “With Angela’s proven track record and expertise in negotiating complex licensing deals with the world’s leading music companies, we are excited to accelerate our trajectory and provide top-tier music solutions for both creators and global brands.”
Andrew Leib, after 11 years at Red Light Management, launched Deep Feel Talent Co., a boutique artist management company. The firm’s inaugural roster includes Victoria Canal, Maris Jones, Nu Deco Ensemble, Andy Arthur Smith and Dana Nielsen. Deep Feel said it will emphasize creating long-term relationships with artists and aims to create a supportive community for musicians, content creators and producers. Leib began his career in artist relations at festivals like Lollapalooza and Riot Fest, co-created the immersive concert experience Brassroots District, and co-founded The UnCancelled Music Festival, raising over $100K for artists and venues during the pandemic. He also booked talent for the Miles Davis Estate showcase at SXSW. Leib says Deep Feel reflects his values of “building strong, authentic relationships with my clients and community, and creating space for creative voices to grow.”
Breakaway Music Festival, the annual multi-city event featuring a healthy dose of dance music, hired former Sony vp of corporate development Adam Wright as CFO and managing partner. In his new role, Wright will lead strategic initiatives, corporate development, brand growth and financial operations for Breakaway. The festival also elevated Jarrod Fucci from GM to festival president. This year’s BMF tour has three more dates left: Sept. 27-28 in Charlotte, Oct. 11-12 in Nashville and Oct. 25-26 in San Francisco.
Nettwerk made two significant hires to bolster its UK label team. Katie Graham has been appointed head of catalogue marketing and developments globally, moving from Warner Music Group, where she directed marketing strategies for renowned artists like Phil Collins, Enya, Ed Sheeran and Dua Lipa. She aims to enhance Nettwerk’s extensive catalogue with innovative strategies for both established and emerging talents. Additionally, Ruth Wyatt joins as director of sync for UK and Europe, bringing her experience from Warner Music UK, where she successfully placed artists in various sync opportunities. Her notable achievements include Sam Ryder’s “Christmas To Me.” Both hires were welcomed by Nettwerk co-founder Mark Jowett, who commended their expertise in catalogue development and sync, highlighting their commitment to supporting artists.
Spotify‘s head of podcast business, Sahar Elhabashi, is leaving the company at the end of 2024. Roman Wasenmüller, who currently oversees international podcast operations, will lead the division during the search for Elhabashi’s successor. Elhabashi’s six-year tenure included a strategic shift from exclusive creator deals to broader distribution, enhancing audience reach and ad sales. She joined Spotify in December 2018 as vp of content and took over the podcast division after Dawn Ostroff left in January 2023. Prior to Spotify, Elhabashi held c-suite level roles at Conde Nast and Discovery Communications, while earlier in her career she spent 15 years in senior leadership at MTV Networks.
The Circuit Group, a management collective empowering artists to have greater creative control over their IP, announced its expansion into the UK with the launch of Circuit Management, a joint venture with CTRLFRK. The initiative will be led by TCG chief strategy officer James Sutcliffe, who has been appointed CEO and president of The Circuit Group UK. Sutcliffe, an industry veteran with leadership experience at Ministry of Sound, LIVENow, PIXELYNX, and Monster Energy, will work under global CEO Dean Wilson. “Circuit Management is the culmination of our vision to create an environment where artists can truly succeed,” said Michael Boyce, founder of CTRLFRK and co-president of Circuit Management. “Partnering with Circuit enables us to offer a comprehensive approach to management, focusing on both artistic integrity and commercial success. We’re ready to make a lasting impact on the UK music landscape.”
ATC Group has launched Circa, a music promotions company led by Matt Black, former managing director of Your Army’s U.S. office. Circa, with offices in Los Angeles, New York, and London, will take over operations from Your Army America, offering integrated marketing and promotional campaigns globally. The London office will be led by Charlie Reid, who joins as general manager, following experience leading UK radio campaigns for artists like London Grammar, Jon Batiste, Marlon Hoffstadt and Jade Bird. In the U.S., Black’s team has managed campaigns for labels such as Atlantic, Warner, and RCA, achieving top chart placements for artists like RÜFÜS DU SOL and The Hives. Circa will continue campaigns for high-profile artists including Justice, Disclosure, SOFI TUKKER, and deadmau5. It operates within ATC Group’s Services division, alongside Familiar Music Group, companyX, Simpatico, [namethemachine] and Sandbag. “As a key component of ATC’s full service offering across our network of Group businesses, Circa will enable us to deliver an ever more integrated strategy to assist artists in achieving their creative and commercial goals,” said Adam Driscoll, CEO of ATC Group.
BOARD SHORTS: Marit Berning, Paul Smernicki, Shaurav D’Silva, and Tania Lee have been newly elected to the Music Managers Forum board, with Sandy Dworniak re-elected. Paul Craig and Kwame Kwaten have stepped down as chair and vice-chair, with successors to be announced in early October. The MMF aims to enhance its partnership with Music Minds Matter to provide more mental health support for managers. Additionally, the MMF will host a retreat for advanced managers in January 2025.
RoEx, a startup in intelligent audio production, partnered with UnitedMasters to offer AI-powered mastering services via UnitedMasters’ web platform and iOS app. To support its growth, RoEx appointed Tom Nield as head of partnerships, leveraging his 15-plus years of experience in music and technology, including roles at [PIAS] and startups like LANDR. In his new role, Nield will focus on expanding RoEx’s partnerships with music distribution companies and creator platforms. The partnership aims to enhance audio quality services and provide educational content through UnitedMasters’ Blueprint tool. Additionally, UnitedMasters and RoEx are launching an in-app challenge, awarding 50 artists with free mastering credits worth up to $150 each.
ASM Global elevated Gemma Vaughan to acting general manager of AO Arena in Manchester, effective immediately. Gemma, who joined ASM Global in 2023 as sales and marketing director, brings 14 years of experience in the live entertainment industry, having worked with Live Nation Entertainment, Cuffe & Taylor, and Escape to Freight Island. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with artists like Faithless, Mariah Carey, and Britney Spears, gaining a deep understanding of the industry. Vaughan’s predecessor as GM, Jen Mitchell, has left the company.
ICYMI:
Kevin Liles
The painful cuts this week at Atlantic Music Group have impacted between 150 and 175 people, according to sources, including key execs at Elektra (Chris Brown, Katie Robinson, Adam Abramson) and Atlantic (Michael Kyser, Paul Sinclair, Grace James). Follow developments here … Earlier this week, 300 Entertainment CEO Kevin Liles telegraphed his exit … Warner Music Japan chief Kaz Kobayashi announced his departure … TelevisaUnivision named a new CEO … and Sony Music Nashville chairman and CEO Randy Goodman is retiring.
Last Week’s Turntable: The MLC-Suite Gets an Upgrade
Kaz Kobayashi is stepping down as president and CEO of Warner Music Japan after a decade in the role, the company announced on Wednesday (Sept. 18). His successor will be announced soon, and he is currently working with Dr. Kenji Kitatani, the newly appointed chairman of Warner Music Japan, on a transition plan. Kobayashi, who […]
Welcome to a jacked edition of Executive Turntable, Billboard’s comprehensive(ish) compendium of promotions, hirings, exits and firings — and all things in between — across music. While you’re catching up on a busy week of moves-and-shakes, check out Billboard’s fresh list of top R&B and Hip-Hop executives leading the genres forward, plus our weekly interview series spotlighting a single executive, our helpful calendar of notable events across the biz, and a regularly updated gallery honoring many of the industry figures we’ve lost throughout the year.
Industry veteran Jamie Younger joined The Core Records as the Nashville-based label’s new vp of artist development, effective immediately. Younger is coming off a 12-year tenure at Warner Music Nashville, where she created marketing strategies to help boost the careers of Bailey Zimmerman, Gabby Barrett, Zac Brown Band and Ashley McBryde, among others. “Younger’s ability to navigate the evolving music landscape has consistently resulted in history-making projects,” said Core co-founders Chief Zaruk and Simon Tikhman. “We are excited to have such a visionary joining our team.” Prior to WMN, Younger held roles at Thirty Tigers and American Songwriter. Younger has also served on the Recording Academy Nashville Chapter’s MusiCares Fundraising Committee and has mentored through GrammyU.
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Warner Chappell Music made key updates to its European A&R team with two promotions in the Nordics and a major appointment in Germany. In the Nordics, Marion Skogseth has been promoted to A&R manager, while Leslie Tay steps into the role of senior A&R manager. Meanwhile, in Germany, Jost Kaiser has rejoined the company as head of A&R dance. Skogseth will report to Petter Walther Walthinsen, the head of A&R in Norway, and Tay will beeline to Lars Karlsson, managing director of WCM Scandinavia. Kaiser will report to Natascha Augustin, the MD of WCM Germany, and Shani Gonzales, head of international A&R. Tay, based in Sweden, joined WCM in 2022 and has played a crucial role in signing top talent like Bolaget and MONZA. Skogseth, based in Norway, has been with the WCM A&R team since 2021 (after interning a year), helping to secure deals with artists like Moyka and SKAAR. Berliner Kaiser previously worked with WCM from 2020 to 2022 and now returns — following a sojourn at Stefan Dabruck Management as senior creative & repertoire manager — to strengthen the dance music division. WCM’s co-chairs, Guy Moot and Carianne Marshall, had nothing but good things to say: “Marion and Leslie are brilliant members of the team, and we are really happy to have Jost returning to us. We’re delighted to be strengthening our A&R teams in such an exciting time for music across Europe and for us as a company at Warner Chappell Music.”
The Mechanical Licensing Collective unveiled significant leadership changes to bolster its outreach, education, member services and internal operations. Ellen Truley was elevated to chief marketing and external affairs officer, overseeing the org’s advertising, marketing and communications efforts, while also coordinating its educational activities, industry partnerships, government relations and all other external affairs. Lindsey Major is now chief member experience officer, responsible for designing, implementing and coordinating the MLC’s suite of tools that help members to register works, claim their shares of previously registered works, submit proposed matches of their works to unmatched usage and more. Andrew Mitchell‘s new title at the MLC is chief analytics and automation officer, a role that will see him continue leading the org’s matching efforts as well as designing strategies to harness MLC’s data and bolster fraud prevention. Joya Carmichael, who has led every royalty distribution since the first one in April 2021, has been elevated to chief administration officer. She’ll continue leading the team while also managing other key internal processes. Finally, Rick Marshall can add general counsel to his business cards. In this new role, Marshall will lead The MLC’s in-house legal team and coordinate all of the organization’s legal matters, including its interactions with the U.S. Copyright Office. Since its inception, the MLC has distributed over $2 billion in royalties to its 45,000 members, achieving a 90% match rate for royalties processed.
High Rise PR welcomed Lily Golightly to the crew. Golightly was most recently senior vp of publicity at Universal’s Verve Label Group, where she crafted press campaigns and worked closely with Jon Batiste, Samara Joy and other artists across VLG’s storied labels (including Decca, Impulse! And Deutsche Grammophon). Prior to Verve, she spent seven years at 300 Entertainment, handling campaigns for Megan Thee Stallion, Young Thug and Gunna. She also founded No Big Deal PR, where she developed emerging talent, and earlier in her career was head of press at Wind-up Records. High Rise PR’s roster includes major acts like Billie Eilish, Finneas, Cage The Elephant, Duran Duran, Travis Scott, Bryan Ferry, Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, Tove Lo and Yungblud. “I have admired Lily’s work for close to a decade now,” remarked High Rise founder Alexandra Baker. “She’s thoughtful, strategic, and is highly respected in our field. Her experience in, knowledge of, and relationships in pop, rock, indie and rap are next to none, as is her understanding and passion within the business and corporate world.”
The Recording Academy appointed Taymoor Marmarchi as executive director for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Marmarchi will spearhead efforts to broaden the Academy’s presence and its support of music creators across the region. He will work to forge strategic partnerships and oversee event and content production and talent relations, and implement long-term strategies to advance the Academy’s global mission expansion. In June, the Academy announced its plans to extend its efforts to support music creators on an international scale. Prior to joining the Academy, Marmarchi amassed more than 25 years of experience across music, film, television, live events, content production, communications, marketing, government relations and national projects. He launched his career as executive director of Quincy Jones’ Global Gumbo Group in Dubai. –Paul Grein
Universal Music Sweden selected Mattias Caliste to lead the newly launched Def Jam Recordings Sweden. The label’s opening roster includes Asme x Sarettii, Sebastian Stakset and Zikai. His team will include Hamid Jamshidi and Hermon Alemseghed, plus UMG’s regional and global network. Caliste is a former member of Swedish hip-hop group Fjärde Världen (Fourth World) and was most recently in charge of Virgin Music Sweden, where he worked with artists including 23 and Asme. “Def Jam raised me!” Caliste said. “I grew up on artists like Public Enemy, EPMD, LL Cool J, Redman & Method Man, Warren G and many others who all released some of their most outstanding albums under Def Jam. The label has a legacy that is incredibly important for hip hop as both a genre and a subculture.” The label said to stay tuned for announcements on new signings and other projects.
Josh Deane, Shannon Corsi and Josh Tangney are the newest members of the Position Music A&R team. They’ll support Position Music’s existing roster while expanding it with new talent. Deane boasts a decade of label A&R experience, dating back to his A&R coordinator days at Atlantic before putting in four years as director — and then senior director — at Interscope. Prior to joining Position earlier this year he served as vp of A&R at Live Nation. Corsi, meanwhile, spent the past five years building up Facet, the Warner Chappell-backed publishing company of hit songwriter Justin Tranter, where she oversaw a roster including Skyler Stonestreet and Russ Chell. Tangney’s bonafides include a lengthy stretch as day-to-day manager of Andy Grammar while at Small Giant Management + Records. He is also credited with helping grow Rachel Platten’s career and is a CMT and CCMA-nominated songwriter who has collaborated with numerous Grammy Award-winning artists. Deane, Corsi and Tangney will all report to Position Music’s partner and head of A&R Mark Chipello, who described the trio as “talented and dynamic creative executives who will play significant roles in our next phase of growth.”
Audoo, a music tech company that provides data allowing artists, songwriters and PROs to see in real-time where their music is played, appointed three senior music executives as board advisors: Steve Clark, COO of Round Hill Music; Isabel Garvey, COO of Warner Music UK; and Sean O’Malley, CEO and founder of Regard Music. They join existing advisors Cliff Fluet and Alistair Macdonald to provide strategic guidance alongside music executives Chris Herbert and chair Nigel Elderton. Clark’s experience at Round Hill Music brings valuable expertise in copyright and royalties. Garvey, known for her leadership in digital transformation, previously launched Europe’s first music tech incubator, Abbey Road Red. O’Malley, a co-founder of Global Music Rights alongside Irving Azoff and Randy Grimmett, has deep experience in royalty collection, distribution and publishing. “The combined experience of Steve, Isabel and Sean brings a powerful wealth of knowledge across labels, publishers, rightsholders and creators – to have such revered executives join our existing world-class group of board members and advisors demonstrates the strength of belief in the business as we continue to build and refine the Audoo offering,” said Audio founder and CEO Ryan Edwards.
The Royalty Network appointed Daniel Abowd as its new president and general counsel. In his role, Abowd will collaborate closely with chief executive Frank Liwall to uphold the company’s ethos of being an independent, culturally-focused publishing firm. He will also provide in-house legal counsel, ensuring the company navigates the complexities of today’s music publishing landscape. This is Abowd’s second go-round at The Royalty Network following an eight-year run beginning in 2013 that saw him rise to vp before leaving in 2021. In the ensuing years he clerked in federal courts and most recently practiced law as litigator at Quinn Emanuel. “Danny understands our company’s mission and the importance that plays in the protection, collection, and further utilization of our catalog, with the quality and care that we strive to achieve,” said Liwall. “He personifies the exact balance required to be President.”
Shane Tarleton, former Sony and Warner Music Nashville executive vp of artist development, joined Morris Higham Management, management home to artists including WMN artist Kenny Chesney and Sony Music’s Old Dominion. Though no title has yet been revealed, Tarleton’s role will include creative and content as management firms oversee more of these needs for their rosters. “It’s the Wild West out there and having Shane’s expertise both in management and label services is invaluable,” said Clint Higham, president of MHM. –Jessica Nicholson
BOARD SHORTS: The National Independent Talent Organization, which represents more than 150 independent U.S. management companies and booking agencies, announced its new board of directors. Former member Stormy Shepherd (Leave Home Booking) is back on the board and is joined by newly elected members Amy Butterer (outer/most), David Gottlieb (Death Or Glory) and Maria Matias (Maria Matias Music). Returning for another two-year term are Tom Chauncey (Partisan Arts), Wayne Forte (Entourage Talent Associates), Jon Grau (This Is Management), Fielding Logan (Q Prime), Paul Lohr (New Frontier Touring) and Jack Randall (The Kurland Agency) … NPR elected four new member directors: Debbie Hiott (KUT News, Austin), Maria O’Mara (KUER, Salt Lake City), Tina Pamintuan (St. Louis Public Radio) and Shawn Turner (WKAR, East Lansing) will serve three-year terms.
Brilliant Corners Artist Management, the San Francisco-based agency representing acts like Death Cab for Cutie, The Postal Service, Perfume Genius and more, is launching a new producer management division led by manager Nicole Ficenec. Ficenec, who previously worked at Chrysalis Music and THREEE before launching her own producer management business at NYC’s Electric Lady Studios, will head the division from Brilliant Corners’ newly opened Los Angeles office. Ficenec’s client roster includes Jonathan Rado (Foxygen, The Killers, Weyes Blood), Paul Butler (The Teskey Brothers, The Bees), Noah Georgeson (Devendra Banhart, Johanna Newsom) and Dave Cerminara (Father John Misty, Phosphorescent). Her division will also absorb existing BCAM creatives including Dan “The Automator” Nakamura (Gorillaz, Deltron 3030), Chaz Bear (Toro Y Moi) and Benjamin Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service).
The International Music Publishers Forum appointed Nicole Schulze as its first secretary general. This newly created role responds to the significant growth IMPF has experienced in recent years. Schulze, a seasoned public policy professional with nearly 20 years of experience, previously served as IP policy lead for Europe at Meta and has worked extensively within the creative industries. In her new position, Schulze will report directly to the president of IMPF’s board of directors, Annette Barrett, who emphasized the importance of this role in supporting IMPF’s expanding membership. Former IMPF advisor Ger Hatton will also join the Board as a Senior Advisor.
Apple Music‘s director of editorial operations & audio production Michael Bryan was promoted to global head of country music, where he will also be supporting Apple Music’s Christian and Gospel teams. Bryan joined Apple Music in 2020. He previously worked as a talent agent/artist development lead at CAA, and was iHeartMedia’s senior vp of programming from 2012-2016. –J.N.
The Oriel Company welcomed Grace Jones as vp and Kaeleah Isaac as manager to the PR agency’s growing team. Both will be based in the Los Angeles office. Since its founding three years ago by veteran music publicists Carleen Donovan, Chloë Walsh and Jen Appel, The Oriel has expanded with offices in New York, LA and Nashville, representing a wide range of clients across music, film, television, fashion, and more. Jones, originally from Australia, has two decades of experience in the music industry, most recently at Grandstand Media, handling PR for artists like Courtney Barnett, MUNA and others. Isaac joins from JONESWORKS, having worked on press campaigns for artists like Lainey Wilson and The Chainsmokers. The Oriel’s co-founders praised both new hires, noting Jones’ leadership and Isaac’s rising star status in the PR world.
Breakaway Music Festival, the annual multi-city event featuring a healthy dose of EDM, hip-hop and pop, hired former Sony vp of corporate development Adam Wright as CFO/managing partner and Gap alum Kay Brown as head of content. The festival also elevated Jarrod Fucci from GM to festival president. This year’s BMF tour has three more dates left: Sept. 27-28 in Charlotte, Oct. 11-12 in Nashville and Oct. 25-26 in San Francisco.
Amuse expanded its suite of services to include in-house sync for self-releasing and independent artists, appointing Daniel Copleston as head of synchronisation. The London-based exec was most recently head of synchronization at [PIAS], where he managed placements across TV, films, video games and ads. Prior to that, he held senior roles at Cooking Vinyl Records and Wipe Out Music Publishing. “The growth of our licensed catalog shows that people are resonating with these tracks, and our vast access to demographics and streaming data creates great synergies for sync opportunities,” said Sean Staranka, head of artist marketing. “Daniel’s experience and eagerness to spearhead our move into sync services will bring great value to Amuse’s roster.”
Outback Presents promoted Emily Scerri from director of touring to vp of entertainment strategy, where she will continue to expand the company’s special events and music initiatives. The Australia native began her career working in the box office for music festivals including CMC Rocks, and later assisted with operations/artist liaison for Bondi Beachfest and The Big Pineapple Music Festival, before relocating to Los Angeles and working roles at Dick Clark Productions and AEG Presents before joining Outback Presents. –J.N.
Select Management Group, a top management firm for next-gen digital creators, promoted Caroline Nardilla to partner. Nardilla joined the company in 2015 and has led its New York office since 2022, and will now expand her leadership across the firm while continuing to drive growth on the East Coast.
ICYMI:
Maximilian Kolb
BMG expats Dominique Casimir, Maximilian Kolb and Justus Haerder formed a new rights company called umn (pronounced “human”) … A newly combined Concord Records and Fantasy Records will be headed by co-presidents Margi Cheske and Mark Williams … and go on, meet the four women leading behind the scenes across the male artist-dominated world of regional Mexican music.
Last Week’s Turntable: Erika Savage Joins King, Holmes, Paterno & Soriano
Concord Records and Fantasy Records have merged, their parent company Concord Label Group announced Tuesday (Sept. 10). The combined label will be called Concord Records.
The label will be headed up by co-presidents Margi Cheske, who was formerly president of Fantasy Records, and Mark Williams, who previously served as interim president of both Concord Records and Rounder Records (now led by Stephanie Hudacek). Both are based in L.A. and report to Concord Label Group CEO Tom Becci.
While leading Fantasy Records, Cheske built a roster that includes Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Allison Russell, James Taylor, Seether, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Lake Street Dive, Valerie June, Diiv, Lucius, LS Dunes, Taking Back Sunday, Marcus King Band, Grace Potter, Devon Gilfillian and Tanya Tucker. Prior to that, she was senior vp of marketing at Concord.
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In his prior role as interim president at both Concord and Rounder Records, Williams shepherded the release of music by artists including Sierra Ferrell, Billy Strings and The Revivalists and signed acts including Thirty Seconds To Mars, John Vincent III, Bella White, Amythyst Kiah, Daffo, Nitefire, Luke Tyler Shelton and Spacey Jane.
Cheske and Williams met while both were working at Virgin Records, where Cheske was The Smashing Pumpkins’ product manager and Williams was in A&R. Williams boasts a 44-year history in the business and previously founded Outpost Recordings before joining Interscope in 2001 and Columbia in 2010.
The new Concord label’s roster includes esperanza spalding, Lindsey Sterling, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, Taking Back Sunday, Seether, The Offspring and Thirty Seconds To Mars, along with emerging acts like Russell, Vincent and Matt Berninger.
Along with the announcement comes the reveal of a new Concord Records logo.
“In a music landscape where radical change has become the norm, it is vital that labels position themselves to manage complex challenges deftly,” said Becci in a statement. “This merger allows Concord to best utilize our global platform while maintaining the boutique level of service artists have come to expect. I know Mark and Margi share this notion, and their combined resources, alongside their complementary skill sets, will be a real benefit to the artists we serve.”
Added Williams, “Both Concord and Fantasy Records have always pursued artists with a unique vision and story to tell; the combined Concord Records will have an environment where those creative visions will be nurtured and supported.”
“This merger will allow us to better maximize our resources in service of those visions,” said Cheske. “Ultimately, this means a much more global, interconnected approach—allowing us, in concert with our incredible roster of artists, to bring their music to audiences around the world.”
The merger of the Fantasy and Concord labels is just the latest among several recent changes at the label group. Becci, who joined as CEO in August 2023, has previously restructured parts of the company, including by naming Hudacek president at Rounder Records and making changes to executive leadership in operations, marketing, and data analysis and streaming.
In a previous interview with Billboard, Becci alluded to the merger by calling the appointments of Cheske and Williams “a formidable frontline duo that can deliver on both new and developing artists,” adding, “They were swimming in the same pond, and I think together they’re going to own the pond.”
Welcome to another edition of Executive Turntable, Billboard’s comprehensive(ish) compendium of promotions, hirings, exits and firings — and all things in between — across music. While you’re here, check out Billboard’s fresh list of top R&B and Hip-Hop executives leading the genres forward, plus our weekly interview series spotlighting a single executive and a regularly updated gallery honoring many of the industry figures we’ve lost throughout the year.
Erika Savage has joined the entertainment department of top music law firm King, Holmes, Paterno & Soriano, Billboard can announce. A multi–year honoree in our annual list of influential women in music, Savage was most recently senior vp of global music operations at United Talent Agency, where she oversaw all operational elements of UTA’s global touring division. The bulk of Savage’s roughly 25-year career, however, was spent at Universal Music Group, where she rose to senior vp of strategic development at Interscope Records, developing integrated artist brand strategies across music, brand partnerships, merchandise and touring. “We are delighted to supplement our deep bench of entertainment attorneys with someone at the top of her game,” said managing partner Howard King. Here, Savage expands on her big move from agency life to KHPS:
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Why join private practice at this point in your career? The idea of artist advocacy. Being an artist lawyer in the music industry is the greatest privilege because you are entrusted to protect your client’s rights and to bring value as a strategic advisor. After many incredible experiences gained working within a major label, building brands, and in global touring, I finally feel like I’m doing what I was meant to do – directly advocating for artists. I’m particularly inspired by the fact that more women artists, producers and songwriters are looking for women to be part of their team as lawyers, managers, agents and business managers. It’s exciting that our shared experiences as women in music will allow us to find ways to be entrepreneurial together.
What issue concerns you the most in music? When I started in business affairs at UMG, the major label deal was largely considered the path to superstar artist status. Now, while it’s great that there are fewer gate keepers and far more access points for artists to distribute their music, the legal landscape is far more complicated for developing artists. Navigating all these distributors and platforms can be really overwhelming for an artist just trying to break through. Being a TikTok artist is an incredible catalyst but career longevity requires a strategy beyond achieving 24 hours on the top of a For You page. We represent some incredible legacy artists. We want to make sure that our clients who are currently young and developing clients have similarly vibrant legacy careers in 20 years.
Meanwhile…
All My Friends, the event production company behind the floating dance festival FriendShip, hired industry veteran Randy Sosin as its first head of creative content. As AMF’s creative chief, Sosin will manage everything from ideation to delivery of all areas of creative branding and promotion for the company, founded by dance impresario Gary Richards. Sosin arrives to AMF following a six-year stretch as chief content officer at The X, a digital content agency not to be confused with the social network. He has also held senior roles at Insomniac Events, MTV, Gang of Fore and Interscope, where he spent the early aughts producing videos, short films and other visual goodies for artists including Eminem, 50 Cent, Enrique Iglesias and others. “I am so fortunate that I am able to come on board and help Gary and AMF grow and expand FriendShip (the greatest party in the world), but also be a part of an amazing team,” said Sosin. “Gary is an inspiration to me, and I look forward to helping show the world what I have known for years.”
Christoffer Lindh was promoted to head of A&R and Atena Banisaid to general manager of Sony Music Publishing Scandinavia. Both Stockholm-based execs will continue reporting to Johnny Tennander, managing director and svp of A&R international for SMPS. As his title implies, Lindh is now tasked with leading the company’s A&R-related endeavors across Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden and Denmark). In his 15 years at the publisher, Lindh has signed and/or worked with Yung Lean and Sad Boys, Scarlet Pleasure, Cashmere Cat and others. For Banisaid, her role as GM means growing the overall business and crafting forward-thinking initiatives. She’ll also continue lending a hand on Lindh’s A&R team, where she has worked with Benjamin Ingrosso, Giift and other artists. “It feels very good to elevate Christoffer and Atena to these key positions for Sony Music Publishing Scandinavia,” noted Tennander. “They have for a long time both proven to be incredibly important to our A&R team, but also to our wider team and company.”
Downtown Music promoted David Driessen to chief commercial officer, effective immediately. He’ll lead efforts to drive revenue across the company’s four divisions — publishing, distribution, artist/label services and financial services — and continue to report to CEO Pieter van Rijn. Driessen was previously CCO of FUGA, the Downtown-owned B2B music distributor, before sidling over to Downtown in early 2023 to become chief business officer.
PULSE Music Group promoted Tizita Makuria to senior vp of A&R for both PMG and PULSE Records. She’ll focus on signing and developing new talent, and then finding creative opportunities for them. Based in Los Angeles, Makuria holds bragging rights as the company’s first hire to PULSE Records, where she was part of the team that signed “Million Dollar Baby” phenom Tommy Richman to the PULSE/ISO Supremacy joint venture. Prior to joining PMG in 2022 as vp of A&R, Makuria held down the senior director of A&R role at Artist Publishing Group. “Tizita brings a positive energy to every meeting—she’s passionate about her writers and recording artists and she has a relentless drive to deliver good results for them,” said co-CEOs Scott Cutler and Josh Abraham, and president Ashley Calhoun. Earlier this summer, PMG upped Steven Gringer to svp of A&R.
Mike Harris announced his departure as executive vp and COO of Universal Music Group Nashville. According to Music Row, Harris is leaving the position at the end of the month for an as-yet unannounced opportunity. A source tells Billboard that a replacement will be announced soon. Harris joined UMGN in 2016 as COO following a three-year stint as evp/general manager of Caroline, UMG’s since-renamed label and artist services company. Harris’ previous work experience includes 15 years with EMI in a variety of roles, including evp/GM for label services, evp/finance director, global A&R operations for EMI’s new music division and evp/CFO for various labels and divisions within EMI.
NASHVILLE NOTES: The Core Entertainment added day-to-day managers Jackie Gomez and Brittani Johnson to the company’s artist management team in Nashville. Gomez most recently served as DtD manager of Charlie Puth while at Friends at Work, where she also A&R’d a number of up-and-coming artists. Johnson arrives from Big Loud, where as director of Southwest promotion she played a major role in boosting the signals of Morgan Wallen, HARDY, Ashley Cooke and others … Invasion Group expanded with the launch of a new Nashville office. Leading the Music City office is artist manager Courtney Oertel. Among the artists on Invasion Group’s roster are Ani DiFranco, John Driskell Hopkins, Rissi Palmer, The Righteous Babes, Blackstar Symphony and Ken Butler.
Jared Gibo was named CEO of specialty live entertainment company LiveCo’s new full-service, global faith-based promotion arm, TPR. TPR merges three promotion companies that LiveCo previously acquired—Transparent, Premier and Rush Concerts—into the newly-minted TPR. With the creation of TPR, Transparent Productions founder and CEO Tim Taber has been promoted to the LiveCo management team as chief strategy officer. Premier Productions CEO Michael Pugh was also promoted to LiveCo as chief operating officer. TPR works with artists including Anne Wilson, Cece Winans, Chris Tomlin, Forrest Frank, Gaither Vocal Band, Dude Perfect, Jeremy Camp, Josiah Queen, KB, MercyMe, Tauren Wells and more. –Jessica Nicholson
Music curation and licensing firm SoStereo elevated Lindsey Camerota to CEO, effective immediately. Camerota joined SoStereo in March, as chief marketing officer, following senior marketing roles at fintech startup Tomo, experiential tech company Superlogic, something called “Spotify” and fitness giant Equinox. Earlier in her career, Camerota served as a marketing manager at Republic Records. “Building a career in the music industry has been a lifelong dream,” she said. “I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to advance SoStereo’s mission of making brand narratives powerful, memorable experiences with accessible, high-quality music.”
ALL IN THE FAMILY: Amanda Smith is promoted from president to chief executive officer of Fairchild Media Group, overseeing a portfolio of brands that includes Women’s Wear Daily, WWD Weekend, Beauty Inc, Footwear News, Sourcing Journal, Rivet and Fairchild Live Events. Like Billboard, FMG is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Prior to joining Fairchild in September 2020, Smith served in senior positions at print powerhouses including Fast Company, The New York Times, Vogue and The Wall Street Journal, among others. She is based in NYC and reports to Celine Perrot-Johnson, executive vp of operations and finance at PMC.
Kerri Kolen is the new vp of PAVE Publishing House, the independent print and audiobook division of PAVE Studios. Kerri was previously vp and head of audiobooks at Pushkin Industries and a creative executive at Audible, and has worked with notable authors and celebrities, including Kelly Osbourne, Carrie Fisher, Kate Winslet and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, among others.
ICYMI:
Jackie Winkler
Recent executive of the week Jackie Winkler was promoted to senior vp and head of A&R at Island Records … Martijn Tel joined BMI as the performing rights organization’s new chief financial officer … Ultra Records veteran Eddie Spears joined Republic Records as its new evp of creative … and Rachelle Jean-Louis was named executive of the year in Billboard‘s 2024 R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players list.
Last Week’s Turntable: HYBE-Owned Label ADOR Replaces CEO
BMI named Martijn Tel to be its new chief financial officer on Wednesday, the performing rights organization said in a statement. Tel joins BMI from the global data & information services provider Gerson Lehrman Group, where he also served as CFO. He will report to BMI’s president and CEO Mike O’Neill. Since being acquired by the private […]
Republic Records has appointed Eddie Sears as its new executive vice president of creative, effective immediately. The announcement was made on Sept. 3 by Republic president and chief operating officer Jim Roppo.
In his new role, Sears will lead Republic’s creative team, working closely with the label’s entire roster. His responsibilities will include overseeing creative strategy, packaging design, visual storytelling, and immersive fan experiences for both superstar artists and emerging talent.
The department will also focus on short and long-form visuals, photo shoots, logo creation, and more.
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Roppo commented on the appointment, stating, “Eddie doesn’t just dig into the music; he completely entrenches himself within each artist’s vision. He studies every detail and proactively devises a creative strategy befitting of that vision. His spirit, energy, and creative expertise are unmatched, and I’m honored to welcome him to the Republic Records family.”
Sears, in turn, acknowledged the importance of creativity in the music industry. “Nothing is as powerful as an idea. On a daily basis, our team builds ideas for our artists, and we do so with an entrepreneurial mindset. Jim Roppo, Monte, and Avery Lipman know the importance of creative, and they’ve placed it at the forefront of Republic Records. Moreover, they’ve given us the latitude and support to really make an impact. It’s an honor to work with such an incredible team.”
Born in Italy, Sears has spent nearly a decade as the creative director at Ultra Records, where he worked with a diverse roster including Grammy Award-winning Black Coffee, Benny Benassi, Grammy Award-nominated Sofi Tukker, and Steve Aoki. Before that, he ran his own creative agency in Milan, serving clients across various industries. Sears is also known for his work as a singer, songwriter, and producer under the moniker Rocket Pengwin.
Sears will be based at Republic’s New York headquarters, where he will continue to bring his innovative vision and expertise to the label’s creative endeavors.
Welcome to another edition of Executive Turntable, Billboard’s comprehensive(ish) compendium of promotions, hirings, exits and firings — and all things in between — across music. While you’re here, we also have a weekly interview series spotlighting a single executive and a regularly updated gallery honoring many of the industry figures we’ve lost throughout the year.
HYBE-owned label ADOR appointed Kim Ju-young to replace founder Min Hee-jin as CEO of the imprint, home of K-pop girl group NewJeans. The decision was made on Tuesday (Aug. 27) by ADOR’s board of directors following a turbulent several months of legal disputes, allegations of defamation and an earlier attempt by HYBE to dismiss the exec, who co-founded ADOR in 2021. ADOR said Min, formerly a creative director at SM Entertainment, would continue to produce music for NewJeans. Additionally, ADOR said it will restructure in order to separate its management and production sectors. Kim most recently served as HYBE’s chief HR officer and was previously head of HR at South Korean video game publisher Krafton. The move is the second major leadership change in a month for HYBE, which recently promoted Jason Jaesang Lee to CEO, replacing Jiwon Park in the top spot ahead of what it has since dubbed its “HYBE 2.0” strategy.
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TikTok elevated Toyin Mustapha to head of music partnerships for the UK, Ireland and Sub-Saharan Africa. He joined the ByteDance-owned platform in late 2018 as music content and artist partnerships manager before shifting over to music promotions lead at SoundOn, TikTok’s DIY distribution service. “I’m really looking forward to helping the incredible team continue to build on all of their great work driving music discovery and making TikTok a true home for artists at every stage, as we support as much incredible homegrown talent as possible,” Mustapha said in announcing his move. Back at SoundOn, Nichal Sethi was upped to head of SoundOn for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). He joined the ByteDance family in 2022 from BMG, where he held a senior director-level position. Remarked Sethi: “I’ve been lucky to work with some amazing artists and teams so far and looking forward to working with many more in the future as we help more independent artists break through on TikTok and beyond.”
Universal Music Group Nashville appointed Derek Anderson as senior vp of commerce. Anderson has more than 15 years of industry and music distribution experience and in this new role, he oversees e-commerce, retail and streaming teams for the label group. Anderson’s career includes time at Sony Music’s RED Distribution, Kobalt/AWAL, The Orchard, Black River Entertainment and New West Records. “Having followed [UMGN’s] industry dominance from afar, I’m very much looking forward to building upon their great foundation and continuing to grow personally and collectively with the UMG team,” said Anderson. –Jessica Nicholson
Sony Music Publishing Australia hired Julian McGruther as senior A&R, a new position at the publisher. He’ll focus on boosting the company’s roster of local talent and report directly to Craig Hawker, Sony Music Publishing’s head of A&R/creative. McGruther joins from Mushroom Music, where in seven years he rose to creative director and worked with artist including Amy Shark, Nat Dunn and Mona Khoshoi, among others.
The Country Radio Broadcasters revealed its elected members for the organization’s 2024-2025 Board of Directors. Returning board officers for 2024-2025 are Kurt Johnson (Townsquare Media) as president, John Shomby (Country’s Radio Coach) as vice president, and Beverlee Brannigan (Beverlee Brannigan LLC Creative Coaching) as secretary. Elected/appointed members of the new board are Emily Cohen Belote (Amazon Music), Justin Chase (Beasley Media Group), Mike Harris (UMG Nashville), Debra Herman (Apple/Shazam), Jennifer Johnson (Riser House Records), Ashley Morrison (iHeartMedia/WFUS), Jordan Pettit (Opry Entertainment Group), Greg Strassell (Hubbard), Allison Warren (Cumulus Nashville) and Kristen Williams (Warner Music Nashville), while those continuing their terms are Chuck Aly (Country Aircheck), George Couri (Triple 8 Management), Gator Harrison (iHeart Country), Steve Hodges (Sony Music Nashville), Clay Hunnicut (BMLG), Kenny Jay (Albright & O’Malley & Brenner), Jon Loba (BMG North America), Mike McVay (McVay Media), RJ Meacham (Curb Records), Brent Michaels (KUZZ), Charlie Morgan (Apple Music), Rod Phillips (iHeart Country), Joel Raab (Joel Raab Country Radio & Media), Royce Risser (The Familie), Tim Roberts (Audacy/WYCD) and Matt Sunshine (The Center for Sales Strategy). –J.N.
BOARD SHORTS: Former Warner Music executive Linda Walker will be joining the Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA) as the UK org’s new chair, effective Sept. 1. She succeeds Ben Drury, who served for 18 months in the role. Walker spent nearly 20 years at WMG, rising from an account manager to senior vp of commercial for UK and Europe … Creator-run nonprofit Artist Rights Alliance added songwriter and voice actor Dan Navarro to its board of directors and beefed up its music council with the likes of Aerosmith, Creed, Wolfgang Van Halen, Lauren Daigle, Jerry Flowers, Myles Kennedy and Sevendust. Founded in 2013, the ARA’s mission is to provide “artists and their allies with resources, knowledge, and tools to navigate the complex music business landscape.” It launched its music council, along with an Artists’ Bill of Rights, in mid-2020 with names including Elvis Costello, Sheryl Crow and Emmylou Harris. The board and council both provide advisory input and offer their oomph to advocating for legislation to benefit artists rights.
Creator-centric marketing company QYOU Media hired Karen Kehm as vp of communications. Kehm is tasked with overseeing all marketing and communications efforts, along with B2B initiatives, at the company. Prior to QYOU, she held senior communications roles at influencer marketing firm BENlabs and at AOL. “We’re thrilled to welcome Karen to the team to help continue QYOU’s forward trajectory as we head into 2025,” said Glenn Ginsburg, president of QYOU Media. “We are excited to continue to shed light on the innovative work we’re doing across the influencer marketing space, tapping into the cultural zeitgeist to connect our client partners with their target audiences, through socially relevant and authentic campaigns.”
Mike Lisanti recently departed Prodigy Artists to launch MLennial, a new artist management agency with clients including BARELY ALIVE, Kompany, MUZZ and SABAI. The Los Angeles-based manager previously served as chief operating officer at Prodigy, where he was credited with helping to revitalize the career of dubstep DJ/producer Crankdat.
ICYMI:
Celine Joshua
Former Universal Music executive and longtime music tech futurist Celine Joshua joined BMG for the newly created role of executive vp of global marketing … Dr. Kenji Kitatani is Warner Music Japan‘s first chairman in a decade … and Warner Music Brazil onboarded Tatiana Cantinho and Mariana Frensel to fortify its genre-focused strategies and strengthen its market presence.
Last Week’s Turntable: Warner Music Bolsters Global A&R Team
Warner Music Japan has appointed Dr. Kenji Kitatani to the resurrected role of chairman of the label division, effective immediately. Dr. Kitatani will work closely with WMJ’s longtime president and CEO, Kazuyuki “Kaz” Kobayashi, to boost the company’s presence in the globe’s No. 2 music market. Dr. Kitatani currently holds the title of chairman of […]