If it’s Friday, you realize it’s excessive time for one more spin across the Government Turntable, Billboard’s complete(ish) compendium of promotions, hirings, exits and firings — and all issues in between — throughout music.
Keychange U.S., a non-profit group championing gender fairness and inclusion throughout music, added 4 new members to its board of administrators: Andreea Gleeson (TuneCore), Christine Osazuwa (Measure of Music, Shoobs), Jessica Sobhraj (Cosynd), and Matthew Yazge (Whitman Perception Methods). Moreover, Keychange U.S. employed YouTube and Reddit veteran Maria Gironas as its new common supervisor, working intently with the board on its stateside initiatives. Based in 2017, Keychange focuses on empowering ladies and gender minority artists and trade execs. The group’s objective is to reshape the music trade to make it extra inclusive. Keychange’s Gender Equality Pledge has been signed by greater than 650 international music organizations. The U.S. growth of Keychange was launched in June 2022 with funding from TuneCore and its Paris-based guardian Consider.
“After launching the gender equality examine, BE THE CHANGE three years in the past, it was essential that we continued to help the mission of the report, specifically, to see the trade transfer in direction of extra equitable and numerous illustration throughout genders. That’s what led us to Keychange,” stated Gleeson. “Witnessing the impression of what Keychange has been capable of obtain in Europe and the various lives it has influenced, it grew to become obvious that we wanted to carry comparable efforts to the US. I’m honored to be named US Chair for the Board of Administrators. Along with the remainder of the illustrious board, I’m excited to proceed to drive impression, each globally and regionally, for ladies and gender-expansive people, be they creating music creators or rising executives.”
South Korean tech conglomerate Kakao, proprietor of Kakao Leisure and a majority stakeholder in Ok-pop firm SM Leisure, appointed Shina Chung to be its subsequent CEO. She at present runs the corporate’s enterprise arm. When Chung formally takes over the mothership in March, she’lll be Kakao’s first feminine chief govt and has already signaled change is afoot on the perpetually embattled firm. “I’ll perform energetic and accountable administration,” Chung stated. “I can’t miss this chance for change as a result of Kakao doesn’t have a lot time.” Her appointment arrives a month after Kakao and its former chief funding officer have been indicted for inventory manipulation associated to its pursuit of SME earlier this yr. Kakao owns the nation’s dominant chat app, KakaoTalk, and subsidiary Kakao Leisure owns Starship Leisure, house to Ok-pop megastars Monsta X, in addition to South Korea streaming app Melon. In August, Kakao Leisure and SM Leisure revealed their plans to create a North American three way partnership by the tip of this yr.
Ming Lu was appointed to the newly created position of vp of artist improvement and leisure technique at Common Music Larger China. Ming Lu’s job can be to construct up alternatives for the label’s Chinese language-language roster and facilitate alternatives for artists throughout movie, TV, gaming and different sectors. Ming Lu joins Common from Warner Music, the place he most not too long ago served as a senior director. Previous to WMG, he put in 5 years as director of artist administration at Trendy Sky.Primarily based in Beijing, Ming Lu will report on to Timothy Xu, chairman and CEO of UMGC. “Along with his eager insights on youth tradition and strategic method within the leisure companies, Ming Lu can be instrumental to drive the innovation and progress on the very coronary heart of our enterprise – offering the total spectrum of companies and utmost alternatives for artists,” stated Xu.
All within the Household: Veteran journalist Raina Kelley is VIBE‘s new editor-in-chief. Beginning Jan. 2, Kelley will oversee the editorial course and imaginative and prescient of the 30-year-old VIBE model because it begins a brand new chapter as a part of the portfolio of its sister publication Selection. She’ll work intently with Selection co-EICs Ramin Setoodeh and Cynthia Littleton, who’ll increase their remits as editorial administrators of VIBE. The NYC-based journalist was most not too long ago vp and EIC of Andscape, the ESPN vertical dedicated to masking the intersection of Black tradition and sports activities. She assumed the management position in Could 2021 after serving as managing editor of the positioning (then referred to as The Undefeated) for 5 years. Previous to The Undefeated, she served as deputy editor at ESPN The Journal. Vibe joined the Penske Media portfolio — which additionally contains Billboard and The Hollywood Reporter — via its 2020 three way partnership with MRC. “We’re thrilled to welcome Raina to the Selection household,” stated Setoodeh and Littleton. “Raina brings along with her an extremely uncommon set of expertise and experiences throughout politics, sports activities and media. She can be instrumental in sustaining VIBE’s distinctive voice of authority and infusing her perspective into all of our initiatives. We look ahead to VIBE’s thrilling evolution forward.”
Company Briefs: Inventive Artists Company (CAA) introduced 16 promotions to agent. These promoted embrace Gabrielle Fetters, Megan Glendinning, Justin Gorkowitz, Evan Greenberg, Leilani Houston, Alex Hubert, Hannah Kaiser, Ashley King, Kyle Margolis, Peppa Mignone, Max Miller, Khalil Roberts, Sarah Phillips, Cami Potter, Jack Upton, and Connie Yan to agent or govt. (Dave Brooks) … GOA Music & Audio system (Greg Oliver Company, Inc.) has expanded and elevated its workers, with Tim Robinson becoming a member of as an artist agent, and David Richt being promoted from reserving coordinator to artist agent. GOA Music at present represents Massive Daddy Weave, Tasha Layton, Rhett Walker and extra. (Jessica Nicholson)
Dying Row Data employed UMG veteran Kat MacLean Daley because the revamped label’s first vp and head of publishing, efficient instantly. No shock, MacLean Daley studies on to DRR proprietor Snoop Dogg and relies in Los Angeles. In her new position, she’ll deal with day-to-day operations and concentrate on constructing on Dying Row’s publishing prowess, plus increase the label’s catalog and roster. She joined UMPG in July 2017 within the enterprise and authorized affairs division, and labored her means as much as director of music sampling and enterprise improvement. “Kat’s already a legend on the earth of clearances and publishing, and her drive and self-discipline was what I needed to carry to Dying Row,” stated Snoop. “The expertise that has been part of Dying Row for over 30 years deserves to have their songs heard, but in addition to be correctly licensed and paid as songwriters and producers. I do know that Kat is the correct particular person to care for our historical past, whereas additionally serving to us write the story for the chapters to return. There’s a Kat within the Dogg home now.”
Board Shorts: The Nation Music Affiliation elected its board of administrators for 2024, with new board members together with Austin Neal (The Neal Company), Shannan Hatch (SESAC), Mike Harris (UMG Nashville), Jeffrey Hasson (UTA), Annie Ortmeier (Triple Tigers Data), Rachel Whitney (Spotify), Brent Daughrity (Gallagher), Deana Ivey (Nashville Conference & Guests Corp), Michelle Tigard Kammerer (Amazon Music), Adam Weiser (AEG Presents), Stephen Parker (NIVA) and John Zarling (615 Leverage + Technique). The board officers for 2024 can be Kella Farris, chairman (Farris Self & Moore, LLC), Jay Williams, president-elect (WME), Jennie Smythe, president (Girlilla Advertising) and Ben Vaughn, secretary/treasurer (Warner Chappell Music Nashville) … Former Stone Temple Pilots supervisor Steve Stewart joined the advisory board of Sonar Media, a brand new music, social media, and streaming cell platform … Former AOL and Univision-ary Kevin Conroy joined the advisory board of American Weekend Leisure, guardian of Gen Z influencer community Music Day by day.
International artistic audio community Squeak E. Clear Studios named Chris Clark and Michael Gross (MG) co-managing administrators of the U.S. On the similar time, Hamish Macdonald will step apart as international managing director of the corporate, which creates soundtracks and sound designs for adverts, movie and TV, however he’ll proceed to supervise Squeak E’s operations in Australia. Clark joined the Squeak squad in 2020 from advert large Leo Burnett, whereas MJ is 2 years in after a tenure at someplace referred to as “Google.” Macdonald stated he’s “so pleased with this announcement,” including, “It’s such an extremely thrilling subsequent stage in Squeak E’s progress and a a lot deserved promotion to 2 nice leaders. Each Chris and MG have all of the expertise, expertise and drive to deal with the position of MD independently, however as they each carry insights steeped by equally spectacular backgrounds from completely different sides of the trade, they’re the dynamic duo to steer this extremely gifted workforce into the stratosphere.”
Radio, Radio: Partridge Household star Danny Bonaduce retired from Seattle radio this week after 12 years at traditional rock station KZOK. Bonaduce, who stated he’ll take it straightforward in Palm Springs however maintain a spot in his “beloved Seattle,” stated not too long ago that he has hydrocephalus, a neurological dysfunction attributable to a buildup of fluid in cavities deep throughout the mind … Australian radio legend Richard Kingsmill introduced his retirement after a 35-year reign as a champion of music at Triple J radio. “His dedication and keenness for supporting Australian music and musicians has formed our trade,” stated APRA AMCOS in a press release. “An absolute a radio her. Massive bravo.”
Warner Music Group veteran Barry Landis launched Pivot Music, a brand new label providing scoring and licensing companies for filmmakers and music supervisors. Pivot’s common supervisor of operations is Ben Jones, a graduate of Belmont College’s Curb School of Music Enterprise. “I’m excited for this new method to the music trade,” says Jones. “The fashions for enterprise are continuously altering and being on the frontlines of those shifts is essential.”
Anastasia Brown departed Visionary Media Group (VMG), the place she has been chief content material strategist since 2020. Brown’s position centered on directing the creation and allocation of all digital and bodily content material throughout platforms for VMG’s music, movie, tv and scoring tasks. Her 30-year profession contains roles as a music supervisor, artist supervisor, music writer, movie/soundtrack/TV producer, writer, TV persona, A&R/label govt and content material creator at firms together with Firstars Administration in Nashville, Ark 21 Data, the Nashville Conference & Guests Company and Warner Nashville. She earned a Grammy nod for her position as music guide on the 2011 Footloose remake and served as an on-air decide on the USA Community collection Nashville Star from 2005 to 2007.
Experiential leisure firm Mycotoo promoted Cirque du Soleil alum Michael Wilder to director of manufacturing and employed Jessica Herrera as director of enterprise improvement. Wilder has 25-plus years of expertise beneath his belt, and not too long ago spearheaded Mycotoo’s manufacturing for the fan activation for Netflix’s “Stranger Issues: The Expertise.” Herrera has 16 years of financial improvement expertise and was beforehand the director of econ dev for the town of El Paso, Texas. Mycotoo CEO Seth Cowl: “Their unparalleled experience and observe file of success can be undoubtedly precious in enabling us to ship stay experiences that bridge leisure, human connection, and inspiration to audiences worldwide.”
Government Turntable: Spotify’s UK Boss Departs
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