Sony Music Publishing
Sony Music Publishing (SMP) has announced the opening of a new office space and creative hub for songwriters in Hollywood. The new location is in the heart of Hollywood’s historic media district and minutes from the city’s old vinyl district. It’s also just down the road from Kobalt and SiriusXM’s offices, making the area a […]
Sony Music Publishing (SMP) has signed a global deal with Mike Dean and several members of his producer collective MWA, including Sean Solymar, Tommy Rush and Sage Skolfield. The deal also includes a new strategic partnership between SMP and MWA to foster the creative development of its new talent. Dean is one of the most influential producers working today. Since the ’90s, he’s defined the sound of hip-hop. He started his career in the Houston area working with Southern rap icons like Scarface, Ugk and Devin The Dude. Since then, Dean has worked across nearly the entire discography of Ye (formerly Kanye West) as well as on pivotal albums like Travis Scott’s ASTROWORLD, Beyoncé’s Lemonade, Frank Ocean’s Blonde, The Weeknd’s Beauty Behind the Madness and many more.
EMPIRE Publishing has entered a global publishing partnership with two-time GRAMMY winner Billy Ray Cyrus. The voice behind hits like “Achy Breaky Heart” and Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” remix, Cyrus is set to release his next song, “Remember Why You’re Here,” on Nov. 22.
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PULSE Music Group has formed a creative joint venture with songwriter/producer Gabe Simon and his publishing entity Abide By the Vibe. Simon is best known for co-writing and co-producing Noah Kahan’s hit album Stick Season along with Kahan’s previous LPs. The first two signings to the PULSE Music Group/Abide By the Vibe JV are Noah Levine (another Kahan co-writer) and Sam “HAFFWAY” Westhoff (a Nashville-based writer, producer and artist).
Bossy Songs (the publishing venture founded by RECORDS CEO and co-founder Barry Weiss) and Sony Music Publishing have extended their joint publishing venture and announced the signing of writer/producer Austin Corona. Corona is perhaps best known for his work on Halsey’s latest album, The Great Impersonator, (“Panic Attack,” “Ego,” “Darwinism,” “Lonely is the Muse”), but he has also worked on Zara Larsson’s Venus, Jean Dawson’s CHAOS NOW and GLIMMER OF GOD, and Peter McPoland’s “Piggy.” Frequently, Corona works alongside his production partner, Wyatt Bernard, who is signed to Sony Music Publishing. The roster for Bossy Songs now includes Corona, Dan Gleyzer, Cheyenna, Michael Sonier, Cody Tarpley and IDA.
The Ivors Academy, the U.K.’s premier songwriting advocacy organization, has elected 40 songwriters and composers to its members Senate. This group includes English star Paloma Faith, Ivor Novello Award winners Kamille and Tinie Tempah, fellow of The Ivors Academy David Arnold, and current Ivors Academy Chair and founding member of Gomez Tom Gray. Elected once every three years, the Senate provides feedback that influences the direction of the Ivors Academy and its positions on key issues like AI, creator remuneration, the future of public funding for the arts and more.
peermusic latin america has signed AQUIHAYAQUIHAY, Un León Marinero and Foudeqush to exclusive worldwide publishing deals. The trio was signed by peermusic Mexico, with the deals encompassing existing song catalogs and future works. “peermusic Mexico is proud to add to its roster these latest signings which showcase the variety and breath of Mexican music’s contemporary talents and our office’s commitment towards supporting our rich local heritage,” said Viridiana Gonzalez, GM of peermusic Mexico, in a statement.
Universal Music Publishing Group has signed Tim Powell in collaboration with Organized Chaos. Powell is a British songwriting talent who has lent his pen to songs like “Hole in the Head” and “Round Round” by Sugababes, “Call the Shots” by Girls Aloud, “Love etc.” by Pet Shop Boys, “Picking Up the Pieces” by Saint Etienne, “Change Your Life” by Little Mix and “Head & Heart” by Joel Corry & MNEK.
Warner Chappell Music and Twelve6 Entertainment have signed singer-songwriter Ben Wagner to a global publishing deal. Wagner is a rising talent in Nashville and is best known for his work with Wyatt Flores on his songs for Netflix’s Virgin River and Ordinary Angels.
Sony Music Publishing Indonesia (SMPI) today announced the signing of acclaimed Indonesian singer, songwriter and actor Sal Priadi to an exclusive global publishing agreement. The landmark deal sees Sal Priadi’s entire back catalog coming under the SMPI umbrella.
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Read on for mostly good news and don’t forget to nominate an impactful executive for our Power 100 Players’ Choice Award, plus peep our weekly interview series spotlighting a single c-suiter and our helpful calendar of notable industry events and confabs.
Lekeisha Irion is the new head of A&R at Warner Chappell Music Benelux — a nifty portmanteau for Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. Based in Amsterdam, Irion will report to Niels Walboomers, president of records and publishing in the three-nation region. Since joining as A&R Manager last year following a stint as an office manager for Sony Music Publishing, Irion has influenced Dutch pop and hip-hop, working with artists like Roxy Dekker, who has slapped four No. 1s in the Netherlands this year, Dutch singer-rapper Antoon. Known for her collaborative work with Warner Music Benelux’s recorded music team, Irion has helped secure both publishing and recording deals for several artists. Walboomers and Shani Gonzales, WCM’s Head of International A&R, praised Irion’s early success and strong instincts for new talent. “She understands how genres and scenes are evolving in different markets and spots the opportunities for her writers to jump into collabs,” Gonzales said.
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Sony Music Publishing elevated Racheal Conte to vice president of sample clearance, legal and business affairs. In her new role, Conte will lead the U.S. sample clearance team, modernize operations and develop strategies to expand sampling opportunities for SMP’s songwriters and catalog. She’ll also collaborate with global offices to streamline sample clearances for U.S.-based works, reporting directly to Peter Brodsky, evp of business and legal affairs and general counsel, from New York. Conte joined SMP in 2006 and has held various roles, most recently assistant director of sample clearance. “Racheal’s contributions have been key to the success of SMP’s songwriters and catalogs, and it has been rewarding to see her growth as a leader throughout her time at the company,” said Brodsky.
RADIO, RADIO: iHeartMedia laid off dozens — hundreds, according to reports — of staffers from radio stations around the country. Among the impacted in the sweeping cuts are regional presidents Matt Scarano (Chicago), Clyde Bass (Texas/Arkansas), Alan Chartrand (Boston) and Michael Burger (Raleigh), among others … Back at the home office, iHeart elevated Jordan Fasbender from general counsel to chief legal officer, with the former 21st Century Fox exec retaining her other titles of evp and corporate secretary … Audacy hired senior vp of research and insights Ray Borelli, who arrives after working as Warner Bros. Discovery vp of ad sales research.
Emily Crews, former vp of brands and synchronisation at Warner Music Australia, joined Level Two Music as head of partnerships. She brings extensive experience in synch licensing and artist-brand collaborations from her time at Warner and, prior to that, Universal Music. The Sydneysider said she’s excited about Level Two’s dynamic and thoughtful approach to music supervision, while managing director Jen Taunton praised Crews’ ability to “navigate through often complex and layered deals, always managing to find the ‘sweet spot.’”
Nashville-based Reliant Talent Agency has announced a round of promotions and hires, with former Paradigm music executive Keith Richards joining RTA’s festival department. Reliant has also promoted Ron Kaplan and Garry Buck to executive vp roles, while Kailey Edgerton, Cole Speed and Robert Baugh have been promoted from coordinators to agents. Additionally, the agency has relocated its headquarters to a new office space at 1610 West End Ave. in Nashville. –Jessica Nicholson
NASHVILLE NOTES: Kelli Wasilauski resigned as The Oriel Co. director of Nashville operations, ending her year-long tenure on Oct. 28 … Keller Turner Andrews & Ghanem expanded with three new attorneys. J. Rush Hicks joins as Of Counsel, adding decades of experience and previous leadership at Belmont’s Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business. New associates Cheshire Rigler and Alyssa Johnson also bring experience from other Nashville entertainment law firms.
Los Angeles marketing agency Game Over Media named Gavrielle Chavez as chief operating officer. Chavez will oversee operations across Game Over Studios, Game Over Agency, Game Over Records, and the new GameTune platform. Her role emphasizes expanding reach within next-gen communities and enhancing fan engagement at the company, where recent projects include campaigns for Big Sean, Childish Gambino, Imagine Dragons and Tyla. Chavez previously worked at Scopely, where she led product marketing for the popular game Monopoly Go!, and before that was a creator strategic at TikTok, where she launched TikTok Shop and fostered partnerships between gaming brands and creators. Founder Anthony Pisano said Chavez’s experience at Scopely and TikTok align with Game Over Media’s vision, adding “Gavi’s expertise will also be invaluable as we scale GameTune, our new cutting-edge AI platform that empowers record labels, brands, and gaming publishers to reach their audiences through strategic, data-driven marketing.”
Kuke Music Holding Limited, a NYSE-listed classical music service based in China, announced that its president, Li Sun, resigned in July. The company, which provides classical content to educational resources and boasts a library of about 3 million audio and video tracks, clarified that Sun’s departure was amicable, with no disputes over operational or policy issues. Following her resignation, CEO and chairman He Yu has overseen the company.
ICYMI:
Azu Olvera
Deezer appointed Pedro Kurtz as director of operations for the Americas … Former SiriusXM exec Azucena “Azu” Olvera is now general manager of WK Records … Alana Dolgin joined Atlantic Music Group as the label’s first president of digital marketing … Spinnin’ Records president Roger de Graaf is retiring from the Dutch label he co-founded … and Cara Hutchison was named head of The Lede Company‘s new music division, while Jess Anderson also joins her team. [KEEP READING]
Last Week’s Turntable: UMG’s Nigerian Label Picks a President
Warner Chappell Music‘s Latin division has signed urbano music producer Jorge Milliano. A trusted collaborator for superstars like Peso Pluma, Myke Towers, Anitta, The Chainsmokers, Maluma, Manuel Turizo, Marshmello and Nicky Jam, Milliano is one of the top producers working in Latin music today.
Concord Music Publishing has announced the signing of poet, singer, songwriter and producer Kara Jackson. Signed in collaboration with Ark Publishing, a joint venture founded by Grammy-winning producer and songwriter, Noah Goldstein, the worldwide publishing deal includes Jackson’s catalog and all future works.
The Circuit Group has partnered with Kobalt globally for publishing administration. The Circuit Group was founded by Dean and Jessica Wilson, Brett Fischer, David Gray and Harvey Tadman with the aim to acquire ownership in artists’ IP portfolios and partner with them to build new monetization opportunities.
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U.K. music supervision company 45RPM has launched a new music publishing arm with the support of Universal Music Publishing Group, which will administer the new publishing outfit. Founded in 2022 by top music supervisors Iain Cooke, Sarah Bridge, Catherine Grieves and Nick Angel, 45RPM offers a full service experience for clients, including soundtrack development, composer partnerships, rights negotiation, budget management and on-camera music supervision.
Spirit Music Group has joined a creative joint venture with Grammy-winner Autumn Rowe to form Rowe’s Honest Songs Music & Lyrics. A singer, songwriter and producer, Rowe has worked with Jon Batiste, Dua Lipa, Diana Ross, Pitbull, Zendaya, Ava Max, FKA Twigs and Leona Lewis, as well as released songs in her own right. When she’s not in sessions, Rowe sits on the board of Songwriters of North America (SONA) where she advocates for songwriter’s rights.
Sony Music Publishing Nashville today announced the signing of acclaimed songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Elysse Yulo. News of the deal comes just months after working with Lana Del Rey and Quavo on their song “Tough.” Along with her work with Del Rey and Quavo, Elysse has also worked with Nashville talents like Zach John King, and Maddox Batson.
EJ Pasin has signed a worldwide publishing deal with Position Music. He is perhaps best known for producing the beat and guitar of the viral hit “Embrace It” by Ndorz, but the songwriter/producer has also released his own work via the names EJ Pasin and ptasinski (his side project). He is managed by Ewan Jenkins and Jack Mangan of E2J Management.
Warner Chappell Music (WCM) and Grammy-nominated duo, The Warren Brothers, have jointly signed a publishing deal with emerging country singer-songwriter Preston Cooper. An Ohio native, Cooper is currently one of the special guests on Riley Green’s ‘Damn Country Music’ Tour. He also has new music dropping in early 2025.
Jonathan Tester has launched Groove Bound Songs, a new independent publishing company, created via a joint venture with Bucks Music Group. As part of their agreement, Groove Bound Songs, founded by Bucks longtime Head of Sync, will benefit from Bucks’ leading back end administration, creative A&R, sync services and general expertise under the JV.
Sony Music Publishing Nashville has announced a new partnership with One4 Entertainment’s Brian Wright to sign breakthrough singer-songwriter Sadie Bass to a global publishing deal.
Sony Music Publishing Latin has signed Fuerza Regida frontman Jesús “JOP” Ortiz Paz and his label Street Mob Records. A leading indie label that puts out records in the Música Mexicana genre and beyond, Street Mob boasts a roster of more than 25 songwriters, producers and artists, including Chinco Pacas, Calle 24, Clave Especial and Miguel Armenta.
As one of the leading Música Mexicana groups, Fuerza Regida has helped introduce the genre to new fans around the world. The Mexican-American band’s ascent up the Billboard charts began in 2018, when Radicamos in South Central debuted at No. 35 on Regional Mexican Airplay. Since then, the band has produced a slew of hits, including “TQM,” “Bebe Dame” with Grupo Frontera, “Sabor Fresa,” “Harley Quinn” with Marshmello and many more. The group’s 2023 album Pa Las Baby’s Belikeada peaked at No. 1 on the Top Latin Albums chart and at No. 14 on the Billboard 200.
This week, JOP will join Billboard’s Leila Cobo in Miami at Billboard’s Latin Music Week as part of the Sony Music Publishing Icon Q+A.
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Recently, Fuerza Regida earned eight nominations at the 2024 Billboard Latin Music Awards, including artist of the year and album of the year, while JOP received nominations for songwriter of the year and producer of the year, along with recognition on Billboard’s 2024 Latin Power Player list.
“Partnering with Sony Music Publishing marks an exciting chapter for Street Mob Records,” said JOP in a statement. “This deal shows our commitment to exploring songwriting within Música Mexicana and beyond various genres. It’s a true reflection of the talent at Street Mob and what we’re creating together. With Sony Publishing, we’re building a partnership that aims to inspire the next generation of artists and leave a lasting impact.”
Sony Music Publishing president/CEO, Latin America and U.S. Latin Jorge Mejia said of the deal: “We couldn’t be happier to team up with an artist and executive like JOP and Street Mob Records, in order to help support and develop a fantastic stable of writers within Música Mexicana and beyond. This partnership with Street Mob is visionary and an incredible opportunity for the Sony Music Publishing family.”
Sony Music Publishing Latin director of creative Monica Jordan added: “We are thrilled to embark on this journey with JOP and Street Mob Records. We look forward to working with JOP and the Street Mob roster as they continue to innovate and push the boundaries of Música Mexicana even further.”
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
For the second quarter of 2024, Warner Chappell Music (WCM) continued to hold the top spot on Billboard‘s Country Airplay publisher rankings, marking its third consecutive quarter at No. 1.
With a 33.53% market share — up half a percentage point from Q1 — WCM’s Nashville team won big with hits including “Where It Ends” by Bailey Zimmerman, who along with the song’s producer, Austin Shawn, has been signed to WCM since 2023. Apart from Sony Music Publishing’s five-consecutive-quarter stint at No. 1 from Q3 of 2022 to Q3 of 2023, Warner Chappell has consistently held the quarterly top country music publisher title in Nashville, dating back to the first quarter of 2017.
Sony landed in second place with an 18.94% market share and 49 songs on the Q2 Country Airplay chart, including hits “Outskirts” by Sam Hunt (No. 3), “Take Her Home” by Kenny Chesney (No. 5), and “World on Fire” and “Bulletproof” by Nate Smith (Nos. 11 and 12). Of the 49 songs Sony had on the chart, 15 were co-written by Ashley Gorley, earning him the distinction of being the quarter’s top Country Airplay songwriter.
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Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) moved up one spot in the rankings to third place with a 7.69% market share and 23 songs on the quarter’s Country Airplay chart. “Outskirts” by Sam Hunt, “Tucson Too Late” by Jordan Davis (No. 6), “I Had Some Help” by Post Malone and Morgan Wallen (No. 15), and “Cowgirls” by Wallen (No. 16) were among UMPG’s top songs for the quarter.
Kobalt rose to No. 4 with a 6.88% market share, up from fifth place and 5.78% last quarter. It also controls a slice of the sixth-ranked track, Davis’ “Tucson Too Late, along with 22 other songs on the quarter’s chart.
BMG fell from third place in Q1 to fifth with a 4.95% market share. The Berlin-based music company’s biggest song this quarter was “Halfway to Hell” by Nashville superstar Jelly Roll, which ranked fourth on Country Airplay in Q2. BMG had eleven songs on the chart.
Big Machine Music finished sixth with a 4.19% market share thanks to its slice of Tyler Hubbard’s “Back Then Right Now” and eleven other songs. At No. 7, Hipgnosis made its debut on the country publisher rankings with a 3.48% market share and four songs, including a share of “Where It Ends” by Zimmerman.
At No. 8, St. Music also debuts on the Country Airplay publisher rankings with two songs, including “We Ride” by Bryan Martin. Concord came in ninth with 2.31% of the market thanks in part to “One Bad Habit” by Tim McGraw.
Anthem rounds out the top 10 with hits including “Cab in a Solo” by Scotty McCreery. The publisher held the same ranking in Q1 but improved its market share significantly, up from 1.87% to 2.18% quarter to quarter.
Universal Music Publishing Group earned the top spot on the Hot 100 Songs publishers ranking for 2024’s second quarter with 27.97% of the market, in large part thanks to Taylor Swift and the 19 songs she landed on the chart. It didn’t hurt that her writing partner Jack Antonoff is also on UMPG’s roster. (He moved there from Sony Music Publishing in August 2023.) Swift’s work accounted for a little over one-third of the 56 songs the publisher had on the Hot 100 during the quarter, up significantly from its 43-song count in the first quarter of the year.
Sony Music Publishing, which typically places first on the Hot 100 publishers ranking, finished a close second with a 27.13% market share and 57 tracks on the chart, including the No. 1 song for the second quarter, Tommy Richman‘s “Million Dollar Baby.” Warner Chappell Music finished third with a 19.87% market share. Its top second-quarter tune was “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” by Shaboozey, one of 47 that it landed on the chart.
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Sony nevertheless remained at the peak of the Top Radio Airplay ranking for the 13th consecutive quarter, with a 27.64% market share and 66 songs. Its No. 1 track was “Lose Control” by Teddy Swims, a song in which Warner Chappell and UMPG also have stakes. Sony was also buoyed by the quarter’s biggest Radio Airplay hitmaker — Ashley Gorley, co-writer of “I Had Some Help” by Post Malone featuring Morgan Wallen — plus seven other songs on the chart.
Warner Chappell maintained its second-place ranking among Top Radio Airplay publishers for the third consecutive quarter with a 23.25% market share and 63 songs on the chart. UMPG came in third with 15.82% of the market and 43 songs.
Kobalt held its position as the fourth-largest publisher on the Hot 100 and Top Radio Airplay charts with market shares of 10.74% and 9.44%, respectively, in part due to stakes in the No. 1 songs on both charts.
Despite a tumultuous first half of the year, Hipgnosis turned in a strong performance, finishing fifth on both rankings, with a 4.36% share on Top Radio Airplay and 2.73% on the Hot 100, also thanks to its piece of “Lose Control.” Last quarter, Hipgnosis — whose founder and CEO, Merck Mercuriadis, stepped down in July after private equity firm Blackstone acquired its catalog — was No. 7 on Top Radio Airplay and No. 9 on the Hot 100.
BMG ranked No. 6 on both Top Radio Airplay (3.36%) and the Hot 100 (1.47%), down from the No. 5 ranking it had on both charts in the first quarter.
Three independent publishers fill the entries at Nos. 7, 8 and 9 on the Hot 100 chart. Reservoir Music ranked seventh (1.34%) thanks to its share of “Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter, Position Music (1.194%) was eighth due to its stake in “Beautiful Things” by Benson Boone, and Sentric Music Publishing was ninth (1.192%) with help from “End of Beginning” by Djo. The latter two publishers make their first appearances on the rankings.
Last Quarter: Jack Harlow Helped Sony Sweep (Again)
Sony Music Publishing Nashville has inked a go-forward and catalog deal with singer-songwriter Clint Black. The company will administer songs from the bulk of Black’s catalog, including hits such as “A Good Run of Bad Luck,” “Like the Rain” and “Nothin’ But the Taillights.” The deal does not include his first three albums. “Clint Black […]
The Songwriters of North America (SONA) Foundation has partnered with mental health provider Backline to launch a new therapy assistance project. Called TAP, the program will provide qualifying songwriters up to $1,500 in funding for therapy services. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed weekly. Each week, the program manager will send new […]