Executive Turntable
Executive Turntable: Dick Clark Productions Taps New VP; PULSE Promotes Creative Director
Annie Aberle has been elevated to the role of senior creative director at PULSE Music Group, where she previously served as director of A&R. She’ll work with the publishing company’s A&R team and its roster of songwriters and producers. Aberle brings a packed resume to her new role, having worked with clients like Tyler Johnson, who most recently co-wrote & produced Harry Styles’ “Watermelon Sugar” and co-wrote “Adore You,” ALDAE, who co-wrote five songs on Justin Bieber’s album Justice and SG Lewis, who has collaborated with artists like Dua Lipa, Nile Rodgers, Khalid, Robyn, Clairo and Lucky Daye. “I’m eternally thankful to Ashley, Scott and Josh for the opportunity they have given me, and for everything they’ve done to help me grow and be successful since I joined PULS...
Executive Turntable: New Hires at Obama’s Media Company & Warner’s Social Justice Fund
Dan Fierman most recently served as president of Epic Media in Los Angeles, leading the media start-up to acquisition by Vox Media in 2019. Prior to that, he led news coverage at MTV, was the Editorial Director of the pop culture site Grantland and oversaw culture and special packages at GQ. He and Holmes oversaw the launch of The Michelle Obama Podcast and Renegades: Born in the USA, the podcast hosted by President Obama and Bruce Springsteen. Mark R. Wright was an executive at MACRO, where he developed and produced Juel Taylor’s directorial debut, They Cloned Tyrone (Netflix). His slate of projects also includes the Oscar-winning film Judas and the Black Messiah, Alan Yang’s Tigertail and Birth of Cool. He has produced several short films, including an award-winning science fiction film,...
HYBE Leadership Shakeup: Bang Si-hyuk Out as CEO, Scooter Braun to Lead U.S. Unit
HYBE’s purchase of Ithaca married the two companies’ diverse range of services, including management, labels and publishing, for a deep roster that includes K-pop supergroups BTS and Seventeen, and U.S. pop stars Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande. Braun will continue to lead Ithaca Holdings, the parent of SB Projects and Big Machine Label Group, while also acting as co-CEO of HYBE America. Jaesang Lee, who led HYBE’s acquisition of Ithaca, will be moving to the US as Braun and Yoon Seok-jun’s chief operation officer. Over in Japan, HYBE is establishing a new regional division, HYBE Japan, that will be led by CEO Han Hyun-rok. The subsidiary will focus on signing local talent (a new boyband will be introduced soon) and managing the interests of other HYBE arti...
Motown Records Hires Brian Nolan to Lead Marketing Team
Motown Records announced Thursday (July 1) that music marketing veteran Brian Nolan has been appointed executive vp of the label and evp, marketing, effective immediately. Previously, Nolan was executive vp, Capitol Music Group. Nolan will report to chairman and CEO Ethiopia Habtemariam — Billboard‘s latest Executive of the Week — as he takes the lead on the label’s marketing teams and initiatives. Motown’s roster spans artists like Lil Baby, Lil Yachty, Migos, Ne-Yo, Asiahn, City Girls, Erykah Badu, Kem, The Hxliday, Tiana Major9 and Vince Staples. “I have been preparing for this role for over 20 years and I am so grateful to Ethiopia for the opportunity,” Nolan said in a statement. “We are building an incredible new legacy at Motown and ...
Inside Track: Leadership Shakeup at UMG Latin; KAABOO’s Future Up In the Air
Universal Music Latino is home to major stars like J Balvin, Karol G and Sebastian Yatra, with Kaminsky, a seasoned and respected executive, having had a hand in the regional and international development of all of them. “I’m thrilled to be a part of this talented team and looking forward to working together with our amazing roster of artists through the next phase, making Universal Music Latino even more successful,” said Kaminsky. “I want to thank UMG for this exciting journey, and for this new opportunity to continue making history for Latin culture.” In addition, Salomón Palacios, who has been at Universal since 2013, most recently as director of live and artist services division GTS, has been appointed senior vp of marketing & artist strategy for Univ...
Eshy Gazit Launching New Label With BMG To Release Monsta X, Wonho
Along with Monsta X and the group’s former singer, Wonho, who launched a solo career in 2020, Gazit worked with BTS during that group’s early attempts to break through in North America. Gazit will remain a partner at Maverick, as well as president at Gramophone, an artist and brand development company that was acquired by LiveXLive Media last month. “Eshy has played a vital role in strategically developing the K-pop subculture as the new mainstream music not only in the US, but around the world,” says Thomas Scherer, BMG executive vp repertoire & marketing, Los Angeles. “His relentless passion, expertise, knowledge, and track record of success speaks volumes. BMG is proud to deliver exciting new K-pop music to fans around the world. Hallyu!.” Gazit confirms that Monsta X, the...
Marc Geiger’s SaveLive Hires Nadia Prescher With Madison House, NITO
“I’m joining Marc to build out his vision of the SaveLive network to support independent music venues,” Prescher tells Billboard. “Over the last 25 years as an agent, I’ve worked closely with the independent community, and more so since the pandemic with the National Independent Talent Organization. Marc and I agree indie venues should have a safe guarded opportunity to grow their businesses.” Prescher, who is a co-founder and vp of the National Independent Talent Organization, added, “We believe indies should have the options of a national network, without having to give up or alter their unique local brand or independent spirit. Our backgrounds will make sure the plan is very agent-friendly and artist-friendly, working across all genres.” On a personal...
Executive Turntable: Atlantic Names EVP Black Music Promotion, WFUV Hires Rita Houston Successor
“Kevin literally grew up at this company,” said Atlantic chairman & COO Julie Greenwald in a statement. “From day one, he’s been a passionate advocate for our artists, who love him and his relentless devotion to their music and their long-term careers. Kevin’s played a pivotal role in taking our prominence in Black Music to new heights, and I’m thrilled to be able to announce this richly deserved promotion for one of our own.” “Kevin is one of the most accomplished and respected promo execs in the industry,” added Kyser. “He’s worked tirelessly to break countless records, and he’s earned the admiration of the entire Black radio community for his honesty and dedication. I know he’ll be an outstanding leader for our promo team, and we’re all looking forward to the great work he’ll be doi...
Ari Emanuel Leaves Live Nation Board After Stocks Vest, Taking Endeavor Public
But his timing exiting Live Nation makes sense for another reason: Documents obtained by Billboard suggest Emanuel was waiting until June 3 for the vesting of his final stock award of 4,470 shares issued June 2020 worth nearly $400,000. In a Live Nation SEC filing announcing Emanuel’s exit, the company said he “withdrew from reelection to the board of directors and will not be standing for reelection at the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders” on June 10. Live Nation officials note that the split was amicable and “not the result of any disagreement.” Emanuel has enjoyed a long relationship with Live Nation chief executive and president Michael Rapino. Endeavor’s talent agency, WME, is one of the world’s largest music agencies and has booked the company’s clients across Live Nati...
Atlantic Records Exec VP Juliette Jones Leaving Label
Jones joined the label in 2012 after moving from Warner Bros. Records to Atlantic as senior vp urban promotion; she was upped to executive vp the following year. During her tenure, she was the dynamo behind radio hits for Cardi B, Bruno Mars, Gucci Mane, Kodak Black and Lil Uzi Vert, among others, making a name herself as one of the rare upper-level female promotion executives — let alone a woman of color — to work at a major label. Prior to joining Warner, Jones served in roles at Virgin, J/RCA and Jive Records, where she was hired as the label’s first mid-Atlantic regional promotion director for urban music in 1994. You can read Jones’ full memo below. In alignment with my personal goals, I’ve decided that now is the time for me to move forward into the next exciting chapter ...
Sony Music Promotes International Marketing Execs Melissa Thomas and Monica Cornia
Thomas will continue reporting to Sony Music Group chairman Rob Stringer. Along with Cornia, she was named a Billboard International Power Player earlier this year. “Melissa knows how to harness the global power of our Company to help break our U.S. artists around the world,” said Stringer in a statement. “Her teams, in conjunction with our U.S. Record Labels, have created unique marketing campaigns that resonate with audiences and push our artists to success. I’m so happy that Melissa will be leading our U.S. Repertoire’s international marketing team for the future.” Thomas added, “Music has no borders anymore. Our audiences are global from the beginning and hits can break from anywhere. I love bringing our U.S. artists to as many audiences as we can around the globe and I’m looking forwa...
UMG Hires Former eBay Exec Richelle Parham to Lead Global D2C Efforts
Parham’s appointment is considered significant in several ways. As the ex-CMO of eBay, she has a deep knowledge of the platforms and methods that are facilitating online sales. In recent years, she has worked with private equity firms investing in e-commerce start-ups. Parham joins UMG from WestRiver Group, where she was managing director, leading investments in the consumer experience economy, and she has served on the board of Best Buy, e.l.f. Beauty, LabCorp and, until recently, Scripps Network Interactive. UMG possesses “an incredibly talented leadership team, a global footprint, iconic labels and publishing company, as well as other music businesses,” she explains in a statement. “Together these elements form an unparalleled opportunity for a consumer-demand-driven e...
