Musical Chairs -- Week 8 of 2021

 USA

Private equity advisor Mona Sutphen (pictured, below) has been tapped to join the board of directors of music streaming service Spotify in April 2021. The appointment, subject to shareholder approval, was announced by Spotify co-founder and CEO Daniel Ek, who said she would bring "a new and highly valuable perspective to the Board as we focus on driving our strategy forward during this time of exceptional change around the world.” Sutphen, who is currently a senior advisor at Chicago-based private equity firm The Vistria Group, has advised and co-founded several start-ups. She was a former White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy for President Barack Obama between 2009 and 2011.


Online song marketplace and licensing platform Rocket Songs has hired California-based music supervisor, songwriter and producer Jody Aaron Friedman as its new Director of Content Acquisition. A member of the Guild of Music Supervisors, Friedman has an expansive resume, covering music publishing, music supervision, songwriting and performance. He reports to Jonathan Stone, Co-Founder, President and Creative Director of Rocket Songs.

Livestream platform Looped has appointed Faisel Durrani as co-CEO, with a mandate to focus on strategic initiatives, new business opportunities, marketing strategies and talent relationships. Durrani was CEO of Ariyumi Consultingand worked previously for Live Nation and Def Jam Recordings. 

US independent music company Sumerian Records has appointed Jill Pedone to the newly created position of Chief Strategy Officer, reporting to Founder and CEO Ash Avildsen. Pedone will be leading the Washington, DC- and Los Angeles-based company's publishing and sync operations, and work with Avildsen to implement strategies to “uplevel all facets of the Sumerian business.” She worked previously for Lava Records, Dualtone and BMG. Pedone is expected to relocate from LA to London by the end of 2021 to run the label's new operations in the UK. Sumerian Records' roster includes Asking Alexandria, Poppy, Palaye Royale, Bones UKand Smashing Pumpkins. 

Warner Music Group (WMG) has hired and promoted a series of executives to the position of Senior Vice President of Catalog Development and Marketing: Blake Foster, who re-joins WMG from Skrillex’s label OWSLA; Ingrid Erickson, who joins from Warner Records, where she was VP of Marketing; Alicia Yaffe, who joins from Jampol Artist Management and The Spellbound Group; Nigel Reeve, who most recently served as VP of Catalogue A&R at Warner Music UK; Mike Engstrom, who was marketing and content development for WMG’s global catalogue. In addition, Andrea Craig has been promoted to Senior VP of Content Development and Curation, leading WMG Arts Music’s projects in kids, family, musical theater, jazz and crossover. They all report to Kevin Gore, WMG’s President, Global Catalogue, Recorded Music and Arts Music.

BMG Production Music has appointed Deb Oh as Senior Director of Creative Licensing. Based in New York, she reports to Amberly Crouse-Knox. head of BMGPM US sales team. She joins from creative audio agency Squeak E. Clean Studios where she was Executive Producer.

Grammy Awards' organiser the Recording Academy has hired RayStarck as Vice President of Digital Strategy, leading the Editorial, Digital Media Production and the Product teams. He will be responsible for content strategy and website management and reports to Chief Operating Officer Branden Chapman. 

Why&How Management founder Bruce Kalmick has partnered with Sony Music Entertainment's services and distribution company The Orchard to launch Hazel Street Records, a new label operating out of Nashville. Kalmick will serve as CEO of the new venture and LauraBenderhas been appointed to run the label's day-to-day operations. She was most recently working at Hard 8 Management/Folsom Records. The label’s first signings are Goldpark and Nox Holloway.  

UK

The British live music industry has formally set up a industry organisation to represent its interests: LIVE or Live music Industry Venues & Entertainment. The federation regroups artists, managers, venues, festivals, promoters, agents, production and ticketing companies through the 13 principal industry associations across the sector, representing 3,150 companies, over 4,000 artists and 2,000 backstage workers. Greg Parmley, publisher of trade magazine IQand organiser of the ILMC conference, has been appointed CEO of LIVE. “LIVE is an opportunity to represent the whole of the live industry, from the smallest show to the biggest festival. We are delighted that the founding associations include organisations at the very top of our industry and those with deep connections into the foundations on which that industry is built," said Parmley.

Dan Gopal has been appointed Chief Commercial Officer of British rights society PRS for Music, effective 1 March 2021. He will be leading commercial and strategic partnerships and drive the society's digital transformation. He will be part of PRS for Music’s Executive Leadership Team and will be reporting to CEO Andrea Martin. Gopal joins from Hasbro-owned Entertainment One where he was EVP & Head of Sales EMEA.

Sentric Music Group has hired Shino Parker as creative manager to its Sentric Electronic division. Parker is tasked with facilitating collaborations between the publisher’s electronic music producers and the Group’s singers and songwriters. Parker is the owner and director of artist management company Motion.