Executive Turntable
Executive Turntable: AWAL Restructures Global Team, Trio of WME Agents Move to UTA
AWAL has announced the launch of a newly structured global team that will focus on audience development. London based Aaron Bogucki is moving from his role as vp, marketing to the new position of global head of audience development to spearhead the department. Bogucki will report jointly to Paul Trueman, general manager, U.K. & international and president, North America Ron Cerrito. AWAL’s new audience development team will specialize in identifying, targeting and engaging artists’ audiences as well as developing and executing digital-focused strategies and fan-focused marketing initiatives. The team will work with AWAL’s frontline marketing, creative and catalog teams. Bogucki said, “Having been a part of AWAL’s incredible growth and success over the past four years, I can confidently...
Matt Young Named President of UMG’s Bravado Merch Company
In his work at WMG, Young was a leading force in developing consumer engagement, marketing execution and revenue generation for the company’s artists. He brings over 20 years of industry experience in brand-building and artist services to UMG, with a focus on merchandising, e-commerce, retail, consumer product licensing, ticketing and customer relationship management. Prior to WMG Young worked at Bandmerch, where he served as GM of the New York office and as head of retail and A&R. Before that, he served in roles at Blue Grape Merchandising and indie labels Bush League Records and Earache Records. “I’m stoked to lead Bravado at this pivotal time and to build on the company’s reputation as the leader in our industry,” said Young in a statement. “Bravado is known for creating innovative ...
Scott Clayton Joins UTA as Co-Head of Global Music Division
Throughout his career, Clayton has worked with John Mayer, Zac Brown Band, Kings of Leon, Dead & Company, Train, My Morning Jacket, Michael Franti, Rodrigo y Gabriela and many others. He worked at CAA for 17 years as a co-head of their Nashville office, served as the co-chair with the Mayor of Nashville of the city’s Music City Music Council, and is a member of the Nashville Public Radio Board of Directors. “Scott is the epitome of what we look for in a leader at UTA: he is a strong advocate for artists and has a long history of supporting and mentoring colleagues,” said UTA CEO Jeremy Zimmer in a release. “Sam and David have done a great job building a world-class team and we are very excited for Scott to join us as we continu...
WME Music Co-Head Scott Clayton Is Leaving for UTA
The powerhouse Nashville agent who reps John Mayer and Kings of Leon was promoted to help lead WME’s music division in June 2020. Powerhouse agent Scott Clayton has left WME and is heading over to United Talent Agency, sources tell Billboard. In June 2020, Clayton was promoted to co-head of WME’s music division along with Kirk Sommer in Los Angeles and Lucy Dickins in London when Marc Geiger and Sara Newkirk Simon left the roles. This is the second major move in recent years for the Nashville-based agent who represents John Mayer, Zac Brown Band and Kings of Leon. In 2017, Clayton rocked Nashville when he quit CAA to work for cross-town rival WME. You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a dating should be. It begins with giving ...
Spotify Promotes Sulinna Ong to Global Head of Editorial
During her time at Spotify, Ong — the daughter of a Persian mother and a Chinese father who fled the Iranian revolution when she was a baby — has helped launch the streamer’s RADAR emerging artist program, which has spotlighted artists including Griff, Park Hye Jin, Joy Crookes and Young T & Bugsey. Prior to Spotify, Ong served as global vp and head of marketing at rival streaming service Deezer for two-and-a-half years, working directly with labels and content creators. She kicked off her music career in 2004, when she was hired as an international marketing manager, artist development at Sony BMG Music. She later worked in a variety of artist management and marketing roles at The Family Entertainment, Live Nation, Silver Horse Entertainment and app developer WholeWor...
Spotify Promotes Sulinna Ong to Global Head of Editorial
During her time at Spotify, Ong — the daughter of a Persian mother and a Chinese father who fled the Iranian revolution when she was a baby — has helped launch the streamer’s RADAR emerging artist program, which has spotlighted artists including Griff, Park Hye Jin, Joy Crookes and Young T & Bugsey. Prior to Spotify, Ong served as global vp and head of marketing at rival streaming service Deezer for two-and-a-half years, working directly with labels and content creators. She kicked off her music career in 2004, when she was hired as an international marketing manager, artist development at Sony BMG Music. She later worked in a variety of artist management and marketing roles at The Family Entertainment, Live Nation, Silver Horse Entertainment and app developer WholeWor...
Inside Track: RCA’s Top Two Execs Move West
A source tells Billboard the shift is in large part “because the creative community is in Los Angeles, including artist managers.” RCA had no official comment. With RCA employees still working from home during the pandemic, a source says there is no word on if there will be more shifts from the East to West coast. Mark Pitts, who was upped to president earlier this year, is based in New York. The company announced a number of other changes today, naming Jamie Abzug senior vp/head of publicity. Based in Los Angeles, she replaces Mika El-Baz, who holds the dual title of executive vp West Coast/ executive vp, publicity. El Baz is leaving at the end of this month, as is senior vp publicity Sarah Weinstein Dennison, who is based in New York. Both El-Baz and Weinstein Dennison have been with the...
Kobalt Music Names Jeannette Perez as President and COO
Based in Los Angeles, Perez joined the company from Sony Music in February 2014, where she served as VP, music for brands & advertising/licensing and, before that, as senior director, soundtracks, film & TV music at RCA. “Over the past couple of years,” comments Hubert, “Jeannette has played a key part in Kobalt’s success. From creating one of the best synch teams in the business to advancing key DEI initiatives at Kobalt, she is an integral part of the company. I am excited to work in close partnership with her and to achieve new milestones for our clients.” Perez has racked up awards during her time with Kobalt, including recognition in Billboard’s Women in Music (2020, 2019), Billboard Branding Power Player (2019, 2018), Billboard International Power Play...
Mike Sherwood Joins Capitol Music Group as EVP Global Marketing & Strategy
Sherwood comes to CMG from a more than 15-year stint at Warner Records, where he started as a regional marketing manager before working his way up to senior vp streaming & revenue. According to a press release, he “played a key role in the record-breaking global streaming stories” of Warner Records artists including Dua Lipa, Mac Miller, Bebe Rexha, Saweetie, Bella Poarch and NLE Choppa. He has personally overseen more than 20 singles that have garnered north of 1 billion streams worldwide, including tracks from M.I.A., Gucci Gang, Look Alive and 7 Years. He has also played a key role in the success of projects from The Black Keys, Linkin Park, Red Hot Chili Peppers, David Guetta, Tom Petty, Green Day and Drake’s OVO Sound label, among others. Before joining the Universal M...
J.J. Cheng Named President of Latin-Focused Digital Service TuStreams
J.J. Cheng has been named the new president of all-Latin digital distribution company TuStreams, Billboard can exclusively announce. Cheng’s appointment to the Los Angeles-based position, which oversees global business strategies, was announced by TuStreams founder and CEO Tony Larios and is effective immediately. Calling her a passionate and “impactful global Latin music leader,” Larios said in his announcement that Cheng’s “cool demeanor and mastery of digital monetization, new strategic technology models to increase royalty profits, and data analytics in publishing and sound recordings are unmatched as a top authority in the space of public performance.” In her new role, Cheng, an award-winning music executive with a more than 20-year trajectory, and who wa...
Warner’s ADA Adds Heads of US and International
“The independent music community is a vital part of Warner Music Group’s global business, and this move ensures that ADA is set up to continue super-serving our label partners and artists in the long-term,” said Kreidich. “With Marcus and Adriana at the helm, we’ll be organized to work even more strategically across the organization—accelerating our global capabilities and local impact as we push full speed ahead. I am thrilled to welcome these deeply respected, forward-thinking executives to the ADA family.” Siskind, known as “DL,” got started in the music industry in the late ’90s with the launch of his label and management company Mass Appeal Entertainment and over the years has worked with Lil’ Kim, Backstreet Boys, DJ Khaled and others. He formed the music comp...
Warner Music Nabs Kristin Burke From Universal to Run Canadian Label
Burke, who is currently executive vp and general manager at Universal Music Canada, where she has worked for more than 20 years, will report to Simon Robson, president, international, recorded music at Warner Music Group. She will succeed Steve Kane, who has served as president since 2004, and was inducted into the Canadian Music and Broadcast Industry Hall of Fame in 2015. (Kane did not respond to a request for comment.) “Kristen has a great reputation across the industry, combining great strategic insight with an instinctive empathy for artists,” Robson said in a statement. Kane, in his own statement, said he knows the company’s “future is in safe hands,” adding that he plans to focus more energy on social justice issues and music. (Kane notoriously has shopped for vinyl every weekend si...
