Musical Chairs -- Week 12 - 2021

USA 

Katherine Tai has been confirmed by the US Senate as the new US Trade Representative (USTR). Tai was the Chief Trade Counsel with the Ways and Means Committee and as the Chief Counsel for China Trade Enforcement at USTR. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) said Tai was "outstanding choice" and welcomed her commitment to "support America’s copyright industries and the workers employed in such industries by ensuring that our trading partners open their markets to copyrighted exports produced by America’s innovators and enforce the IP laws necessary to protect such work from piracy." Mitch Glazier, Chairman and CEO of the RIAA said: “We look forward to working with Ambassador Tai and her team in their critical work on developing a trade policy that promotes a thriving American creative community and protects the copyright that is vital to our community’s contributions to US jobs, wages and growth.”

 Cryptocurrency company Crypto.com has appointed Joe Conyers III as Executive Vice President, NFT Platform, in charge of overseeing the development of Crypto.com’s invite-only NFT platform that will feature the world’s top artists, athletes and sports leagues. He reports to Kris Marszalek, co-founder and CEO of Crypto.com. Conyers most recently served as Chief Strategy Officer at Downtown Music Holding. “I’m very excited to lead what is sure to become the preeminent NFT platform," said Conyers. "Crypto.com’s commitment to creating premium user experiences is unparalleled in the market. I look forward to giving fans and collectors a new way to connect with creators of all types, while offering everyone an opportunity to earn their fair share.” Said Marszalek: "Joe’s unique experience building and managing some of the largest creator driven companies in the world will accelerate our growth in the NFT market. While excitement for NFTs reached an all-time high recently, this is just the beginning.”

Drew Wilson (pictured, below) has been appointed Chief Operating and Chief Financial Officer of Berlin-based music streaming platform SoundCloud, effective April 1, 2021. Wilson will oversee all finance and operations, including workplace, and people functions. Based in New York, he reports to SoundCloud CEO Michael Weissman. Wilson joins from First Look Media, where he was COO and CFO of the company.


Jim Catino will be leaving Sony Music Nashville Executive when his contract ends on July 1, 2021 after 20 years with the company. He was Vice President of A&R. Catino will start his own publishing and artist development venture, according to an email seen by MusicRow. Sony Music Nashville Chairman & CEO Randy Goodman paid tribute to Catino: “He has made an indelible mark on the amazing legacy of Sony Music Nashville and thus we all owe him a great debt of gratitude.”

CANADA

Solange Drouin (pictured, below), who has served as Vice-President of Public Affairs and General Manager of the Association Québécoise de l'Industrie du Disque, du Spectacle et de la Video (ADISQ), has informed the Board of Directors that she will be leaving Québec's record labels' association this summer after 29 years with the organisation. Drouin has decided to devote the next few years to personal projects. "It is with deep regret that we learned of Solange's decision," said ADISQ President Philippe Archambault. "Over the past three decades, she has devoted all her energies to promoting the interests of the Quebec music community, with unique skill, combativeness and creativity. We owe her a lot and are deeply grateful to her." ADISQ will start the process to find Drouin's replacement in the coming weeks.


UK

Azi Eftekhari has been elected as the new Chair of the UK’s Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA). She replaces James Morton of Sky. Eftekhari previously served on ERA’s Executive Board and Digital Board and has been the ERA Non-Executive Chair since 2018. Eftekhari worked for Universal Music UK and YouTube, and most recently co-founded Remedy Inc, a company focused on digital innovation, content creation and events. She will lead the organisation's Executive Board alongside Paul Firth (Director of Music International at Amazon); ERA CEO Kim Bayley; Phil Halliday (Managing Director at HMV); Drew Hill (Managing Director of Proper Music Distribution); Natasha Youngs (Owner, Resident Music); Tom Connaughton (Managing Director UK, Spotify) and Dan Chalmers (Head of Music EMEA at YouTube).

Paul Williams has joined British neighbouring rights society PPL in the newly-created role of Senior Corporate Communications Manager. Based in London, he reports to Sarah Mitchell, Director of Membership and Communications. Williams spent more than five years in New York as VP, Communications at Sony/ATV Music Publishing (now Sony Music Publishing) and before that had been working for 17 years in London at Music Week.

EUROPE

Lowri Evans (pictured, below), who was the European Commission's as Director-General for Internal Market and Industry and retired from the Commission after 35 years in 2019, has joined global strategic consultancy company Shearwater as a Senior Advisor. Evans joins Karl Falkenberg in the Brussels office of Shearwater, and will focus on EU's policies and regulations. In addition, Coco Carmona, who was Director-General of the International Confederation of Music Publishers (ICMP) until 2018 and who also worked with the International Music Publishers' Forum, has joined Shearwater as Director, based in Brussels.


AUSTRALIA

Alice Young has been appointed Managing Director of independent record label and management company Future Classic. Based in Sydney, Young will oversee the company's business operations including strategy, financial performance, investment and ventures. Young joins from Spotify New York, where she was a Product Marketer for Spotify for Artists.

AFRICA

Temi Adeniji (pictured, below) has been appointed to the dual role of Managing Director of Warner Music South Africa and SVP, Strategy for Sub-Saharan Africa. Adeniji will assume this position in September. She will report to Alfonso Perez-Soto, Warner Music Group's EVP, Eastern Europe, Middle East, India and Africa. In addition, as SVP of Special Projects, she’ll work closely with Simon Robson, President, International Recorded Music, on a number of international projects. Adeniji will succeed as Managing Director of Warner Music South Africa Tracy Fraser, who has been in the job since 2013. She will work alongside Adeniji over the next few months to support her transition. Originally from Nigeria, Adeniji joined Warner Music in 2016 as Director, International Strategy & Operations, and was promoted to VP in 2019 and SVP last year.