Executive Turntable
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Alexis Lanternier was named CEO of French music streamer Deezer, replacing interim CEO Stu Berger, the company announced Thursday (July 25). Lanternier, who will be based at Deezer’s Paris headquarters, most recently co-founded and developed Branded, a digital-first consumer goods company. Prior to that, Lanternier was an executive vp of Walmart Canada e-commerce and also […]
In a major leadership and strategic shakeup at the world’s top K-pop company, HYBE promoted Jason Jaesang Lee to be the company’s new chief executive officer on Wednesday (July 24), replacing Jiwon Park, according to a press release.
Lee previously served as president of HYBE America and chief strategy officer, a role which saw him lead HYBE’s 2021 acquisition of Scooter Braun‘s Ithaca Holdings and spearhead the Seoul-based company’s initial public offering in 2020.
In positioning him at the top of the company, HYBE said Lee “is the central figure for the forthcoming ‘HYBE 2.0’ strategy rollout,” a global expansion plan that has been in the works since the start of 2024.
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“Jason is an entertainment industry veteran with vast experience in strategic planning and operations across both domestic and overseas businesses,” the company said in the statement. “Under his new leadership, we are looking forward to advancing as a global entertainment lifestyle platform company.”
More than the home of BTS, HYBE’s budding empire has expanded in the U.S. and Latin American music markets in recent years with the November acquisition of Exile Music, the music division of Spanish-language studio Exile Content, and HYBE America’s acquisition of hip-hop label Quality Control and, before that, the country powerhouse Big Machine Label Group.
HYBE’s revenue-generating engine showed signs of slowing earlier this year when the company reported in May that its first quarter revenue fell to the lowest point in two years, and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) fell to the lowest point since the first quarter of 2021.
Park, who was named CEO in July 2021 when HYBE founder Bang Si-Hyuk transitioned to board chairman, “decided to step down … [and] will continue to contribute to the company’s growth strategy by leveraging his expertise in the intersection of entertainment and technology,” according to the statement.
During Park’s tenure as CEO, HYBE more than doubled its revenue and operating profit and became the first Korean entertainment company ever to generate more than 2 trillion Korean won ($1.4 billion) in revenue.
Kobalt has elevated Bob Bruderman to the role of Chief Digital Officer, the company announced today (July 24). In the new role, he will continue to lead overall global digital strategy for Kobalt, including commercial partnerships with companies such as Amazon, Apple, Meta, Pandora, Snap, Soundcloud, Spotify, TikTok and YouTube, among others. He will also […]
Welcome to yet 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.
Victoria (Torie) Mason was elevated to oversee Warner Music Nashville‘s newly rebranded marketing and digital departments, but misplace your reading glasses and you may not spot the change in the WMG veteran’s title. The Nashville-based home of Blake Shelton, Dan + Shay, Ingrid Andress and Randy Travis promoted Mason from senior vp of strategic marketing and analysis to senior vp of marketing and analytics — a subtle tweak but it now means Mason will oversee an expanded marketing division that encompasses artist marketing, digital marketing, analytics, brand partnerships, video strategy and advertising strategy. As part of the changes, the label’s Artist Development team will merge into the wider Marketing department, while the Interactive Marketing team will now be called Digital Marketing. “This new structure will allow us to continue to super-serve our artists and their music with more focus and urgency,” explained WMN co-chair and co-president Ben Kline. Mason joined Warner in late 2011 as director of research and analytics and worked her way up to svp by August 2021.
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Elsewhere at WMN, Mary Catherine Rebrovick was promoted from senior director of publicity to vice president of publicity. Rebrovick joined the label in July 2012 as an assistant for then-vp of publicity Tree Paine, who has gone on to work exclusively with someone named Taylor Swift. “Little did either one of us know that 12 years later, I’d be taking that title myself (and she’d be taking the mega title of legendary publicist to the current Queen of Pop),” said Rebrovick on social media, according to Music Row. “Happy full circle anniversary to me.”
More Warner, you say? Tat Tong joined Warner Chappell Music as vice president of A&R and creative, Asia Pacific. The industry veteran joins WCM from Sony Music, where he was A&R director for RCA Records Greater China. In his new role, Tong will lead all things creative in the region and oversee the signing and development of new talent and music-related projects. Tong is also an accomplished producer and songwriter, with credits on tracks by Luis Fonsi, Troye Sivan and CNCO, among others, and he’s currently working on a musical stage adaptation of Crazy Rich Asians. “The APAC music scene is rapidly growing and evolving, and I’m excited to join the Warner Chappell Music team in this role,” said Tong. “I’m eager to leverage my expertise and knowledge of the regional markets to discover and develop exceptional songwriting talent.”
Meanwhile…
Virgin Music Group wants you to know that Justin Bumper Reeve is their senior vp of global sync, overseeing licensing opportunities for VMG artists and labels across film, television, video games, advertising and more. Technically speaking, Bumper has been grinding at Virgin since August 2023, following a highly successful 16-year stretch as founder and head of sync at his boutique sync licensing firm Hidden Tracks, where he negotiated thousands of placements for a roster including Courtney Barnett, Haim, Major Lazer and others. Since joining Virgin last year, Reeve’s sync wins include BTS’s “Dynamite” in the latest Despicable Me movie and bbno$’s “edamame (feat. Rich Brian)” for a Mountain Dew Super Bowl ad, among others. “Bumper is one of the most successful and respected creative sync executives in the business,” said Jeremy Kramer, executive vp of global marketing at Virgin. “He is already proving to be invaluable for our label and artists clients around the world, having already secured syncs with global blue chip brands and some of the most commercially successful films and television shows.”
Kenny Ochoa
Courtesy of Splice
Kenny Ochoa is Splice‘s new senior vp of content, overseeing the music tech platform’s build-out of its catalog of royalty-free, human-made samples. Based in Los Angeles and reporting to Splice CEO Kakul Srivastava, Ochoa’s remit also includes industry outreach and partnerships with artists. Ochoa joins Splice from Snap, where he served as head of music curation and licensing. Earlier in his career, he held senior roles at Warner Music, Sony Music and Sanctuary. “This is a critical time in our industry, so it was vital that we found someone with the relationships, taste and passion to help us build and prepare for the future of music creation” said Srivastava.
Alison Finley, a veteran music lawyer and label executive, joined tech-driven law firm Pierson Ferdinand, LLP as a partner in the corporate department. Finley is fresh off a seven-year tenure at Universal Music Group, where she rose from senior vp to executive vp from mid-2017 to March of this year, with a 20-month stint as the COO of Motown in the middle. At UMG, she oversaw strategy and negotiations for the company including for label ventures, record deals, label distribution, merchandise, vendors and brand partners. At Motown, she oversaw the iconic R&B and hip-hop label’s day-to-day operations. Finley has also served as general counsel at Ultra Music and on the board of trustees of the TJ Martell Foundation. “I have known and admired Alison Finley essentially my entire career, having been on the opposite side of deals from her for more than two decades,” said Steve Sidman, co-chair of PierFerd’s Global Media, Entertainment & Sports practice group. “I much prefer being on the same team as Alison, so the minute I learned of her free agency, I leaped at the opportunity to ask her to join us.”
300 Entertainment promoted Az Cohen to vp of A&R and research, Janelle Gibbs to vp of publicity, and Tashana Ventura to vp of marketing. In their new roles, Cohen will continue to sign and develop new acts, while Gibbs will help those artists with media messaging and storytelling, and Ventura will work with them on partnerships and release strategy. Cohen joined 300 in 2014 and has been instrumental in shaping the company’s A&R structure. Gibbs was hired in 2022 as a senior director and has worked with Gunna, HUNXHO and Tee Grizzley, among others. Ventura joined in 2018 as director of marketing and was promoted to senior director in 2020, also working closely with HUNXHO. “Az, Janelle, and Tashana embody the spirit of 300 Entertainment,” said 300 co-presidents Rayna Bass and Selim Bouab. “They live and breathe music, devoting themselves to their artists and tirelessly supporting their fellow team members. With their respective skillsets, diehard passion, and bold ideas, they truly represent a new vanguard of music industry executives.”
Mallary Birdsong
Universal Music Group‘s merch and brand management arm, Bravado, appointed industry veteran Mallary Birdsong as senior director of brand management. Birdsong will be based in Bravado’s Nashville office and represent their country roster while reporting to Brian Schechter, senior vp and head of brand management, artist relations. She joins Bravado from Make Wake Artists, where she worked with Luke Combs, Josh Abbott Band, Dillon Carmichael and more. Prior to MWA, she held managerial roles at Dallas Fan Fares and BV3. “Mallary’s multifaceted industry experience is exactly what we look for to help bring our artist’s vision to life,” said Schechter. “I couldn’t be happier to welcome her to the team as we continue to build out our presence in Nashville.”
Berklee has found its next president in Jim Lucchese, the former Echo Nest CEO and founding global head of Creator at Spotify. Lucchese, a longtime drummer based in Boston, was most recently CEO of concert curation and artist services company Sofar Sounds. He begins his role as Berklee’s fifth president on New Year’s Day, 2025. Until then, Berklee’s provost, David Bogen, will continue serving as interim president, and Betsy Newman, senior vp of student enrollment and engagement, will remain as interim executive vp. “It is an immense honor to become a part of the Berklee community, an institution that means so much to me personally and has been a singularly positive force for creativity around the world,” said Lucchese.
NASHVILLE NOTES: Big Loud Records added Lisa Smoot as director, secondary promotion. Smoot joins Big Loud following a nearly two-decade tenure with Jerry Duncan Promotions, where she rose from promotions coordinator to vice president. In her new role at Big Loud, Smoot will oversee secondary promotion across the label’s roster of country singles … Bassist-educator David Abdo joined PLA Media as a publicist … Cox Media Group named Brad Smith CFO on a permanent basis after operating for six months as interim co-CFO.
International production company 1stAveMachine appointed music video director Emil Nava, director/founder of Ammolite Studios, to lead its music division for global commercials and music content. Along with his appointment, Nava has also partnered with 1stAve on Ammolite Machine, a new music and culture venture. According to a press release, Ammolite Machine will bring Nava’s “years of expertise” to the “evolving landscape” of music visuals, boasting “a 360 degree creative offering, which supports music artists and brands to connect with culture, technology and creative storytelling.” Nava has worked with Calvin Harris, Rihanna, Ed Sheeran, Dua Lipa and Post Malone, among many others. –Chris Eggertsen
Activist Artists Management welcomed Karly Brecher as an artist manager. Based in Los Angeles, Brecher works closely with The Pretty Reckless and other artists on the Activist roster. The Syracuse grad has nearly a decade of management experience, most recently from a two-and-a-half year stretch at SB Projects and HYBE America, where she worked with Scooter Braun and a roster headlined by Demi Lovato and Ariana Grande. Earlier in her career, Brecher spent several years at Laffitte Management Group. “Karly brings a decade of experience and a proven track record handling day-to-day responsibilities and branding for an eclectic group of global artists,” said Activist founding partner Bernie Cahill.
Opry Entertainment Group added Samantha Kane as artist relations manager and Ariana Cubillos Voegler as artist relations coordinator. Kane and Voegler will both contribute to the development of artist and industry relations at the Grand Ole Opry and at Opry Entertainment Group. Kane and Voegler will report to Jordan Pettit, director of artist relations & programming strategy, and join Jenn Tressler, artist & label strategy senior manager, on the team. –Jessica Nicholson
The Chamber Group promoted Cassandre Souvenir and Desmond Sam to PR manager at the boutique PR and marketing agency. Souvenir’s career path has included stints at Yelp and BET, plus time as a flight attendant, while Sam’s CV includes sales and styling experience at Patricia Field and time as a community director at VFiles. Both are based in NYC and report to CEO Chris Chambers, who said “Desmond and Cassandre have worked very hard for this promotion, strengthened their relationships and continue to find new ways to deliver for our clients.”
RADIO, RADIO: Southern California Public Radio hired Alejandra Santamaria as its new president and CEO. The executive, who recently served as interim president, general manager and VP, director of sales for Univision Los Angeles, succeeds Herb Scannell in the role (THR) … David Kantor announced he’ll be retiring as Radio One‘s CEO at the end of the year.
ICYMI:
Eddie Rosenblatt
Longtime Geffen Records president Eddie Rosenblatt passed away at age 89 … Miles Beard and David Wolter are the new co-heads of A&R at Republic Records … Sony Music U.K. and Ireland chairman/CEO Jason Iley has been announced as this year’s recipient of the U.K.’s Music Industry Trusts Award (MITS) in recognition of his contribution to the record business … and Livelihood Music Co. added hit-makers Jacob “JKash” Kasher Hindlin and Michael Pollack to its team as principals.
Last Week’s Turntable: Big Loud Promotes a ‘Day-One Believer’
Independent music publisher Livelihood Music Company has added hitmakers Jacob “JKash” Kasher Hindlin (“Last Night” by Morgan Wallen, “Sugar” and “Memories” by Maroon 5) and Michael Pollack (“Flowers” by Miley Cyrus, “Memories” by Maroon 5, “Ghost” by Justin Bieber) onto their team as principals. As part of their roles, JKash and Pollack will serve as owners and will actively participate in the growing publisher. The company has also appointed a new president, Wendy Christiansen, who will handle the firm’s day-to-day operations.
Livelihood Music Company quietly began signing songwriters back in 2020, adding talents like Jack & Coke, Ryann, Kiddo AI Elof Loelv and more to its roster. Already, Livelihood signees have played a role in the creation of hits like “Lose Control” by Teddy Swims, “Calm Down” by Rema & Selena Gomez, and “You Broke Me First” by Tate McRae and have written with the likes of Maroon 5, Charlie Puth, Jason Derulo, Marshmello, Charli XCX, Thomas Rhett, The Chainsmokers, Ava Max, Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani and Nick Jonas.
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Livelihood is helmed by founder/CEO Liz Newmark, a veteran attorney, and is supported on the A&R side by Nonstop Management, a songwriter/producer management company led by manager/executive Jamie Zeluck Hindlin. (JKash and Pollack are also managed by the Nonstop team).
“Stepping into the role of President at Livelihood was a natural fit for me,” says Christiansen. “I was drawn to the company’s unwavering commitment to hands-on development and its dedication to supporting songwriters at every stage of their careers. Joining forces with hit songwriters like JKash and Michael Pollack further solidified my belief in Livelihood’s mission to prioritize the songwriter’s journey.”
“I couldn’t be more excited to help build Livelihood into the next great independent music publishing company,” says Pollack. “Our leadership is uniquely comprised of both seasoned executives and active songwriter-producers, giving our clients the opportunity to both benefit from our services, and collaborate with and learn from experienced hit-makers. Of course, JKash has been and continues to be the best in the business at making, finding, and orchestrating hits. I’m so grateful to be a part of such an incredible team with an already remarkable roster.”
“I founded the company to establish a community of songwriters mentoring other songwriters,” says Newmark. “In addition to fostering creativity through this approach, we are committed to encouraging songwriters to gain an understanding of the business aspects that impact their careers.”
Republic Records has named Miles Beard and David Wolter as co-heads of A&R, the company announced today (July 15). Beard, based on the West Coast, and Wolter, based on the East Coast, will report to label president and chief creative officer Wendy Goldstein.
The duo, who both joined Republic in 2022, had previously served as executive vice presidents of A&R for the label. Their new roles will see them jointly lead the A&R development and strategy for the company, as well as oversee partnerships, alongside executive vp Danielle Price, who oversees the R&B/hip-hop A&R team.
“When it comes to A&R, Miles and David are two of the industry’s most savvy and visionary executives,” Goldstein said in a statement. “They could not be more different in terms of preferences, approach and even location of the two coasts, however they’re the perfect match to run this department. They share a rare passion for music and they’re intensely committed to championing their artists. Their partnership is genuinely next-level and will be integral to our success going forward. Our focus is creating a dominant A&R team with them along with our hip-hop/R&B initiatives.”
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Beard has worked with the Jonas Brothers, with Republic’s K-pop partners on Stray Kids and TXT, and on Republic’s recent deal with Nigerian label Mavin for the singer Ayra Starr, among other projects. Wolter, meanwhile, has worked with artists like Conan Gray, Greta Van Fleet, Miranda Lambert and Zoe Kravitz for the label. Republic Records — also home to superstars like Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, The Weeknd and more — is part of Republic Recording Company, alongside Island Records, Def Jam Recordings, Mercury Records, Casablanca Records, indie distributor Imperial and the Corps team, under Monte Lipman and Avery Lipman.
“It’s incredible to work with Wendy, Monte and Avery Lipman, and my new partner Miles,” Wolter said in a statement. “We have so much support. Wendy’s instincts are unrivaled. Monte and Avery don’t stop, and it’s inspiring. When it comes to our artists, I just want to be a vigilant fighter for their artistry. My main hope is for our team to have a massive impact on culture and challenge the status quo.”
Wolter spent a decade at Virgin Records from 1997 through 2007, signing The Gorillaz, before spending another 10 years at RCA Records, before returning to Virgin under the Capitol Music Group umbrella in 2017, and then shifting to Republic in 2022. Beard, a longtime DJ, spent 10 years at Mike Caren’s APG, signing Charlie Puth, before moving to Republic.
“Wendy, Monte and Avery make you feel like anything is possible,” Beard said in a statement. “The way they balance being good people and being extremely competitive is one-of-a-kind. David and I are opposites. He’s a purist, I just love what people love. He has no filter, I’m measured. He’s tall, I’m short. We complement each other in every way. As an A&R, I want to make our artists feel comfortable and motivated to think as big as possible.”
Welcome to a steamy edition of Executive Turntable, Billboard’s comprehensive(ish) compendium of promotions, hirings, exits and firings — and all things in between — across music. Check out this year’s Pride List of top LGBTQ+ executives in the industry. 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.
Big Loud Records promoted Stacy Blythe to executive vp of promotion, effective immediately. Much like her fellow recent promotee Patch Culbertson, she reports directly to partners Seth England, Joey Moi and Craig Wiseman at the Nashville-based label. Blythe joined Big Loud in 2015 and most recently held the position of svp of radio promotion. She and her promo team are credited with pushing two dozen No. 1 singles to radio during her nine-year stretch, starting with Chris Lane’s “Fix” and most recently hitting the mark with Post Malone and Morgan Wallen’s “I Had Some Help.” In addition to Wallen, Big Loud’s roster includes ERNEST, HARDY, Lauren Alaina, Lily Rose, Maggie Rose, HIXTAPE and others. Blythe is a fixture in assorted Billboard lists of influential executives, including Women In Music, Indie Power Players and Country Power Players. “Stacy is a day-one believer in Big Loud,” England said. “She is not only a radio expert, but a relationship builder and an investor in people, as well as a trailblazer within the industry at large that helped us build this company from the ground up. Stacy is integral to the success of our organization, and on behalf of all of the partners, we are honored to continue growing with her.”
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After roughly 18 years in the thick of Japan’s music industry, first at MTV, then Universal and Amazon before spending the last two years in the C-suite at Warner Music Japan, veteran executive Kazuhiro Shimada is taking a break. Shimada said earlier this week that Tuesday (July 9) was his last day as WMJ’s chief operating officer, a post he took on in late 2022 following a celebrated two-plus years as director and general manager of Amazon Music Japan. Prior to that he clocked a decade overseeing business affairs at UMG, and in the aughts was a vp of strategy at MTV Networks Japan. “I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all my colleagues whom I have worked with, business partners, artists and artist managers who have supported me throughout the time,” he said. “I plan to take a break for a while to recharge myself and look forward to the next challenge in the near future.”
Guitar Center appointed Adolfo Rodriguez as executive vp and chief technology & information officer, effective immediately. Reporting to CEO Gabe Dalporto, Rodriguez will harness the senior leadership experience he acquired at companies such as Advance Auto Parts, Citrix and IBM to develop and execute innovative technological advancements at the musical instrument retailer. Guitar Center’s biggest competitor in online retail is Sweetwater, but in the brick-and-mortar game — it has 300-plus stores in the U.S. — the company is about to be the only major player following the pending closure of all Sam Ash stores. “I am thrilled to join Guitar Center at such a pivotal time in its history,” said Rodriguez. “As a passionate musician and advocate for leveraging technology to drive business growth, I am eager to blend my professional expertise with my personal experience.”
Sony Music Latin-Iberia promoted Sergi Reitg to vice president of premium content, a role in which he’ll oversee various audiovisual initiatives throughout Spain and Mexico. Based in Spain, Reitg reports to Fernando Cabral, SML-I’s evp of strategic partnerships. Reitg has spent the last six years leading the company’s premium content team in Spain — recent productions include the documentary Sintiéndolo Mucho and the MAX series Acoustic Home — and will now broaden his remit overseas to North America. “Sergi’s vast experience and innovative approach to the film and television space makes him the perfect creative for this role,” said Cabral.
The Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum said longtime executive director Chris Joslin will step down later this month. Joslin, who joined the Owensboro, Ky.-based organization in 2015, is headed to suburban Nashville to oversee development and fundraising for Mission Lazarus, a faith-based nonprofit with operations in Honduras and Haiti. During his tenure, the Hall moved offices, rebranded, launched a magazine during the pandemic and grew its signature ROMP Festival into a premiere destination event for bluegrass fans. “Chris led our organization through a crucial era, and under his stewardship the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum has flourished into a destination point for bluegrass music fans from all over the world,” said Chris Love, board chair of the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum.
NASHVILLE NOTES: Red Street Records promoted Cambria Sojka to creative director, serving both country and Christian rosters at the Jay DeMarcus-founded label. Working closely with Sojka is newly hired Gianna Robinson as the label’s digital content coordinator. Both report directly to vp Michael Steele … Former RCA Nashville svp of promotion Dennis Reese joined artist management company Neon Coast. Their marquee artist? RCA Nashville superstar Kane Brown … Business management firm FBMM promoted Nashville-based Beth Tyson and New York-based Brian Gordner to associate business manager from account manager.
There’s been a C-suite shuffle at Muse Group, home to musician-focused digital tools like Ultimate Guitar, MuseScore and Audacity, as well as sheet music publisher Hal Leonard. Joining the company as chief growth officer is Sven Ahrens, who will oversee a team driving acquisition, engagement and retention of Muse’s apps and products. He arrives from Spotify, where he ran the streaming giant’s subscription growth team. Sliding over from Hal Leonard is the publisher’s longtime chief financial officer Debbie Diekelman, who is now CFO of the whole shebang. Finally, Mo Chahdi joined Muse as COO following a 20-year career that has included stops at AI company Aspen and Dell Technologies. “Sven, Mo and Debbie bring deep and diverse experience to our senior leadership team,” said Eugeny Naidenov, CEO of Muse Group. “Their visionary approach, proven success in scaling businesses and passion for our mission will be invaluable as we continue to evolve to best serve our global community of musicians, educators and learners.”
Nielsen hired advertising veteran Akhil Parekh as its chief solutions officer of digital product, responsible for overseeing the audience measurement company’s ads products, as well as forging strategic partnerships. He arrives from French ad conglomerate Publicis Groupe, where he was most recently executive vp and managing director … Nielsen also announced that former Snapchat, Chime, AOL, Spotify and HuffPost executive Jaren Grusd has joined the company as CEO of its metadata unit Gracenote. The data firm was previously led by Sujit Dasmunshi, who now assumes the role of chief operation officer.
Cinq Music promoted Diana Schweinbeck from director of marketing to senior director of artists and label services. In her new role, Schweinbeck and company will focus on optimizing the end-to-end release process for Cinq artists and labels. Prior to joining the Los Angeles-based distributor, label and publisher, Schweinbeck ran Schweinbeck, LLC, where she offered branding and management services to new artists. “Diana is a seasoned operator with artist management experience and a strong network, making her the perfect fit for understanding artist needs and running this department,” said Barry Daffurn, Cinq Music president and co-founder.
Evelyn Ingram joined Austin-based venue booking software company Prism.fm as senior director of strategic partnerships. Ingram is a veteran of the business, most recently at EventBooking and earlier at Ungerboeck and Momentum Technologies, and has carried on a “very friendly rivalry” with Prism.fm CEO Matt Ford for years, he said. “One of my favorite parts of running a company is building out an awesome team and Evelyn certainly adds to that,” Ford added. “Her experience, her love for life, the intelligence in her approach… Very excited for the future!”
Ex-Directors Guild of America general counsel David Korduner joined KM&M as partner in Los Angeles in the firm’s entertainment and labor practice. Most recently, Korduner served as svp and associate general counsel of labor relations at indie studio Fifth Season. “David’s impressive experience in union relations, contract negotiations, and overseeing legal and labor issues in the entertainment industry complements our entertainment labor practice,” said Bill Zuckerman, KM&M’s managing partner and entertainment group leader.
ICYMI:
James Dolan
Universal Music U.K. reorganized operations into what CEO David Joseph called “two new powerhouse frontline label groups” — Island EMI Label Group, headed by Louis Bloom as president, and the newly formed Polydor Label Group, led by Ben Mortimer … James Dolan got a three-year contract extension to continue running Sphere Entertainment … and BMI welcomed Tom Kershaw as chief technology officer and Justin Rohde as chief transformation officer.
Last Week’s Turntable: Bertelsmann Boards Up BMG Boss
BMI’s C-suite continues to grow with the appointment of Tom Kershaw as chief technology officer and Justin Rohde as chief transformation officer. The respective CTOs, both new hires with 40-plus years of experience between them, will report to BMI president and CEO Mike O’Neill. Kershaw arrives from travel retail platform Travelport, where he served as […]
It’s time for a July 4th weekend edition of the Executive Turntable, Billboard’s comprehensive(ish) compendium of promotions, hirings, exits and firings — and all things in between — across music. Check out this year’s Pride List of top LGBTQ+ executives in the industry. 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.
Thomas Coesfeld celebrated his one-year anniversary as CEO of BMG by joining the executive board of Bertelsmann, parent company of the Berlin-based music giant. The 34-year-old executive is point-person for Bertelsmann’s music business as a member of the board, which also includes chief executive Thomas Rabe and Thomas’ big brother Carsten Coesfeld, CEO of its venture capital arm, as well as company CFO Rolf Hellermann and chief human resources officer Immanuel Hermreck. Coesfeld took the reigns of BMG from longtime CEO Hartwig Masuch on July 1 of last year, and in short order instituted a new organizational structure by globalizing its catalog, sales and marketing teams and a “recalibration” of its presence in continental Europe, among other changes. Prior to rising to CEO, Coesfeld had been named deputy CFO at BMG in October 2021 before taking over as full-on CFO the following spring. During that time he oversaw BMG’s balance sheet and helped the company land 70 deals, including acquiring the catalogs of Mötley Crüe and Tina Turner, as well as those of Paul Simon, The Pointer Sisters, Peter Frampton and others.
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He previously served as chief strategy officer on the executive committee of the Bertelsmann Printing Group, but began his career in 2014 as a consultant at McKinsey. Coesfeld is also a member of Bertelsmann’s Group Management Committee (GMC), which advises the executive board.
“[Coesfeld] knows Bertelsmann well from various positions,” Rabe raved in the announcement. “As CEO of BMG, he has made important decisions for the future of the business, for example by bringing digital distribution in-house and using artificial intelligence in various areas of the music business. Thomas will enrich the work of the Management Board as well. I look forward to working even more closely with him.”
Meanwhile…
Hannah Neaves
Laura Lewis
Universal Music UK promoted Hannah Neaves to sole president of its catalog division, Universal Music Recordings. Her co-president over the last two years, Azi Eftekhari, has left the company, Billboard can confirm. Neaves and Eftekhari joined UMR in early 2022, roughly a year after the pair launched a London-based creative agency called Remedy Inc. Prior to joining forces, Neaves was creative director at TaP Music and Eftekhari had been head of label relations (EMEA) at YouTube. In the last two years, UMR’s wins include “Now and Then” — the “last Beatles song” — and other releases featuring Bob Marley, Amy Winehouse, the Spice Girls and more. “Hannah is, first and foremost, an artist person with an innate understanding of where creativity and discovery meet, something she has brought in abundance since re-joining our team,” said Universal Music UK chief David Joseph, referencing Neaves’ tenure at UMG’s Polydor earlier in her career. “A truly exceptional and inspiring executive, Hannah has already had huge success, most recently creatively leading the global and record-breaking Now And Then campaign for The Beatles, and there’s so much more to come.”
Former BMI executive Jody Williams was elected to a one-year term as the new chair of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum‘s board of officers and trustees. The publishing veteran, who founded Jody Williams Songs in 2020 following a 14-year run at BMI, has served on the museum’s board for 17 years. He replaces outgoing chair Mary Ann McCready, who remains as a trustee. CMHFM CEO Kyle Young remarked that Williams is “woven into the fabric of country music’s creative community in a true and meaningful way” and “resolute in furthering country music’s vitality as a cultural artform.” The Nashville institution also elected several new members to the board, including artist manager Clint Higham and WME agent Becky Gardenhire.
Merlin, the digital licensing partner for the independent music sector, welcomed Neil Miller as its new general counsel. Miller arrives from Greenberg Traurig, where he served as partner of the global law firm for three years. Prior to that, Miller was an associate general counsel at Facebook and earlier in his career spent six years as GC at SoundCloud. He is based in the UK. “Merlin is a dynamic organisation operating in a complex and ever changing legal and commercial environment,” said Charlie Sexton, Merlin COO. “Neil’s wealth of experience across music and digital entertainment is exactly what we need to meet these challenges. He is highly respected across the industry and brings a valuable blend of long-term thinking, technical skills, and impressive leadership.”
Believe has new leadership in place for its efforts throughout China, naming Charles Liu as general manager and Rebecca Dong as managing director for the growth-ready region. Based in Beijing and reporting to Sylvain Delange, Believe’s president of Asia-Pacific, Liu will focus on building partnerships and growing Believe’s roster of labels and artists. Dong rolls up to Liu and will manage all operations, along with legal, finance and HR matters. Believe has operated in China since 2016 and has grown to 80-plus “digital and music experts” across offices in five cities, the company said. “Greater China is both an exciting and challenging market where Believe’s unique approach can significantly contribute to accelerate the rise of a strong, diverse and thriving local music ecosystem as we’ve done is so many other markets in Asia Pacific,” said Delange.
NASHVILLE NOTES: Universal Music Group Nashville hired Houston Gaither as director of radio marketing. She was previously Sony Music Nashville’s manager of content, promotion and artist development … Former PLA Media director of publicity and branding Becky Parsons formed Found Sound Media, a PR and management firm focused on developing LGBTQ+ and female artists … Kylie Taylor joined Black River Entertainment as a graphic designer. Reach her at ktaylor@blackriverent.com.
OTM Music, a boutique publishing company with footholds in London, New York and Los Angeles, welcomed Kristin Genovese as the firm’s new U.S. head of sync and Kate Sweetsur as the new head of A&R. The company, which provides creative services for its roster of songwriters and brands, also noted the recent additions of Chi Chi Nwakodo as senior creative and Ethan Mizen as A&R manager.
ICYMI:
Britney Davis
Hipgnosis Song Management founder Merck Mercuriadis will step down as chairman of the investment manager, months after vacating the CEO role … Stephanie Rosa is managing director of Tixr‘s new London office … Former Capitol Music Group executive Britney Davis was named general manager at Quality Control … Warner Records promoted Robert Santini to senior vp of brand partnerships and ad sync … and Mano Sundaresan is the new head of editorial content for Pitchfork.
Last Week’s Turntable: Audacy OG Elevated
Warner Records has promoted Robert Santini to senior vp of brand partnerships and ad sync, the company announced Monday (July 1). Santini assumes the role after four years as the label’s vp of brand partnerships & ad sync. Under his previous title, he spearheaded projects including Warner Records’ collaboration with Roblox and the NFL for […]