Music Chairs -- Week 6 2021

 USA

Bertelsmann-owned music company BMG has unveiled a new management structure for its US operations. The move is part of "a US growth plan, designed to allow the company to accelerate out of the pandemic." As part of the restructuring, Los Angeles-based Thomas Scherer is promoted to President, Repertoire & Marketing, Los Angeles and New York, responsible for both West Coast and East Coast repertoire organisations, while Nashville-based John Loba is confirmed as President, Recorded Music, Nashville. Both executives report to BMG CEO Hartwig Masuch. Sherer previously served as EVP, Repertoire & Marketing, Los Angeles. In addition, Sherer will rely in Los Angeles on two newly promoted EVPs who report to him: Monti Olson, responsible for US publishing, leading BMG’s Los Angeles, Nashville, and New York creative teams, as well as creative service for BMG’s Film & TV publishing clients; and Dan Gill, responsible for recorded music, looking after BMG’s frontline recordings repertoire and strategy in Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Jason Hradil – currently SVP, Global Repertoire – will become EVP, Recorded Music in New York, taking on the responsibilities of John Loeffler who will enter into a newly expanded role focused on VIP client relations, US-wide business development and strategic partnerships. 

Sony/ATV Music Publishing has appointed Liz Lewis to Senior Vice President, Catalogue Development, working closely in New York with Sony/ATV’s President and Chief Marketing Officer Brian Monaco. In this newly created role, she will "implement strategies to further strengthen catalogue and songwriter relationships, negotiate administration deals and secure new catalogue signings." She will also work closely with various departments including Sync, Business Affairs, Communications, Administration and A&R. 

Downtown Music Publishing has appointed Bea Koramblyum to the newly created role of Global Head of Business Affairs for the company. In addition, Downtown Music Publishing’s Corey Roberts will take on an expanded role to lead A&R research globally and Carla Downs has been promoted to VP of Film & Television Music. Based in New York, Koramblyum and Roberts will both report directly to Downtown Music Publishing Global President Mike Smith. Downs is based in Los Angeles and reports to SVP of Film & Television Music Jumee Park. Meanwhile, Sarah McCann (pictured, below) has been appointed Senior Vice President of International Creative at Downtown Music Publishing, reporting to Smith. Based in Los Angeles, she will sign and work with songwriters, producers and artists represented by Downtown in North America, and collaborate with the company’s global creative team to help local international talent break into the US market. She was head of A&R at Wide Eyed Entertainment.


Universal Music Group has promoted music attorney Michael Seltzer to Executive VP of Business & Legal Affairs and Head of Commercial Transactions. Based in Santa Monice, CA, he leads a team of 15 attorneys negotiating the company’s agreements such as recording contracts, label ventures, label distribution, merchandise, vendors, trademark entities, brand partners, film, TV and theatrical productions and equity and asset acquisitions, among other areas. Seltzer will continue reporting to UMG General Counsel and EVP of Business & Legal Affairs Jeffrey Harleston. 

Universal Music Group (UMG)'s Executive Vice President of Communications Will Tanous has been promoted to EVP, Chief Administrative Officer, a new position which involves new strategic and corporate responsibilities in addition to his current role. “He’s my proverbial ‘Swiss Army’ knife," said UMG chairman and CEO Lucian Grainge, to whom Tanous continues to report. "This formal expansion of the scope of Will's responsibilities acknowledges what has been firmly in place for some time: his wide-ranging role in the day-to day executive management of our global organisation, as well as his contributions to our long-term growth strategy.” Tanous, who joined UMG in 2013 after 20 years at Warner Music Group, will continue to serve as a member of the company’s Executive Management Board.

Universal Music Group (UMG) has appointed Dr. Menna Demessie as Senior Vice President and Executive Director of the company’s global Task Force for Meaningful Change (TFMC). TFMC was established in June 2020 by UMG’s Chairman and CEO Lucian Grainge, as a force for social justice in the music industry and beyond.   

Livestream studio Bulldog DM has hired live entertainment strategist and attorney Simon Rust Lamb as COO and as the co-founding partner and CEO of Bulldog DM’s new company dedicated to producing original livestreams, the curiosity preservation society, that will produce and develop original livestream programming in collaboration with a diverse range of partners from across entertainment, philanthropy and music. 

Law firm Boyarski Fritz, specialising in music and entertainment, has established its first-ever West Coast team based in Beverly Hills, with the appointment of attorneys Avi Dahan and Evan Zinaman. Dahan joins Boyarski Fritz after two years running his own private practice. Zinaman was Senior Attorney at the entertainment firm Abrams Garfinkel Margolis Bergson. “We are thrilled to be expanding our firm to Los Angeles on its tenth anniversary with two key additions,” said firm partner Jason Boyarski.

Tim Zawada (pictured, below) has been hired as the new Managing Director of The Numero Group, the archival and reissues label part of Secretly Group. Based in Chicago, Zawada will work alongside Co-Founders Rob Sevier and KenShipley. Zawada was the founder of reissue label Star Creature Universal Vibrations. 


US independent music company Concord has promoted seven  executives from its various offices: Sophia Dilley to SVP, Film & TV Development and Production (Los Angeles); Steven Greenhalgh to VP, Acquisitions and Artistic Development (Europe/London); Dan Hoffman to EVP, Business & Legal Affairs (New York); Stephanie Hopson to VP, Project Management (Los Angeles); Steven Lankenau to SVP, Boosey & Hawkes (New York); Amy Rose Marsh to VP, Acquisitions and Artistic Development (North America/New York); Abbie Van Nostrand to SVP, Client Relations and Community Engagement (New York).

Karen Schoenrock has been named Chief Financial Officer of Global Catalogue for Recorded Music and Rhino Entertainment, the catalogue division of Warner Music Group. Based in Los Angeles, she reports to Kevin Gore, President of Global Catalogue, Recorded Music at WMG. Schoenrock was most recently Vice President of Finance at Warner Records. Schoenrock replaces Rhino CFO David Woirhaye who took a similar position at WMG's music publishing division Warner Chappell Music.

The Agency for the Performing Arts (APA) has named Tommy FinkelsteinVice President, Head of Global Business & Legal Affairs. He joins from WarnerMedia where he was head of Business Affairs. He reports to APA CEO Jim Gosnell. 

Music publishing executive Chuck Kaye has died, aged 80, from complications related to Covid. He started in the music publishing business at Screen Gems-Columbia, then helped Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss set up Almo/Irving Music, and was one of the architects of the formation of Warner Chappell Music in 1987 by combining Warner Bros. Music and independent music company Chappell-Intersong. In 1997, he helped launch Dreamworks' publishing unit.

US singer and songwriter Jim Weatherly, who penned 'Midnight Train To Georgia', performed by Gladys Knight & the Pips and countless other artists, has died at the age of 77 at his home near Nashville, Tennessee.

FRANCE

Civil servant Christopher Miles has been appointed Director General of artistic creation (DGAC) within the Ministry of Culture, replacing Sylviane Tarsot-Gillery who held the position since 2018. He was Deputy Director General of the Palais de Tokyo since 2017. DGAC is one of the departments of the Ministry of Culture dealing with the creative sector.

Natacha Krantz has been appointed Director of Communications for Universal Music France. In her new role, she will be a member of the company's Executive Committee and will report directly to Olivier Nusse, CEO of Universal Music France. Krantz was Managing Director of UMG's labels Mercury since 2016 and Barclay since 2018. 


Columbia Records France has appointed Karim Ech-Choayby as head of A&R. He joins from Def Jam Recordings France, where he was head of A&R since 2019. He reports to LaurentChapeau, Director General of Columbia Records & Labels Group France.

UK

New York-based Island US President Darcus Beese is returning to the UK “for personal reasons and to pursue new career opportunities there," according to a statement from Island parent Universal Music Group. Beese reallocated to the US in 2018 after running Island UK since 2008. “We fully support his decision and we are thankful to Darcus for his many contributions to Island Records throughout the years," said UMG. 

Warner Music UK has promoted Mike Watson from SVP, Finance to CFO, reporting to WMUK CEO Tony Harlow. He will be part of WMUK's leadership team and will be responsible for financial planning, budgeting and reporting for WMUK’s labels and departments. He replaces Peter Breeden, who left the company at the start of 2021.

Sony/ATV Music Publishing has appointed Sonia Grant-Yendell to Vice President, Human Resources, UK and International. Based in London, she will lead the UK and International HR team and will report to Senior Vice President, Global Human Resources, Elicia Felix-Hughey. ​

AUSTRALIA

Former Sony Music and Universal Music Australia executive Tim Kelly has been appointed Programme Director for Arts and Entertainment Management at the Australian Institute of Music (AIM). “I’m excited to be joining AIM and working with the whole team to enable the creative thinking, actions and positive outcomes for our students. They represent the next generation of creators, developers and executives in our industry,” said Kelly. He also worked for Australia's independent label Inertia, Pinnacle Licensed Repertoire, and Rough Trade, and was one of the founders of British indie label One Little Indian.

GLOBAL

Three new directors join have joined the board of independent music companies' global organisation Worldwide Independent Network (WIN): Maria Amato, Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Independent Record Labels Association (AIR); Takuya Yamazaki, Managing Partner of Field-R Law Offices, and and who will become head of theIndependent Music Coalition Japan in Tokyo, replacing Takashi Kamide, who is stepping down; and Gord Dimitrieff, founder of Aporia Records in Canada, also vice-chair of the Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA). In addition to Takashi Kamide, Matthew Rogers and Justin West are also stepping down from the board. The new directors join a 15-member board made up of representatives of independent music companies and trade associations in key markets around the world. The WIN board's priorities include Covid recovery, developing the network of associations, market research, international performance rights, and challenges for independents in today’s business environment.