Music Chairs -- Week 24 2021

 USA

Ari Emanuel and Mark Shapiro, respectively CEO and President of leading talent agency Endeavor Group Holdings, have resigned from the board of directors of the world's largest concert production and venue owner Live Nation, following antitrust concerns from the Department of Justice. Richard A. Powers, acting assistant Attorney General, commented, “These resignations ensure that Endeavor and Live Nation will compete independently. Executives are not permitted to hold board positions on companies that compete with each other. The division will enforce the antitrust laws to make sure that all companies compete on the merits.”

Professor Joel Waldfogel has become the fourth Abraham L. Kaminstein Scholar at the US Copyright Office. He joined the Office on June 7 and will be serving in this position through the end of 2021. He holds the Frederick R. Kappel Chair in Applied Economics in the Department of Strategic Management & Entrepreneurship at the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management. “Professor Waldfogel is a well-known scholar who has done extensive work on the economics of copyright markets and industries. His expertise will greatly benefit the Office and the public, both in providing insights on the economic aspects of copyright matters and in helping to develop an economic research programme for the Office going forward,” said Register of Copyrights Shira Perlmutter. 

Universal Music Group has appointed Imran Majid and Justin Eshak as co–CEOs of Island Records, effective January 1, 2022. They join from Columbia Records where they were co-Heads of A&R. 

Following the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM)'s AGM, the organisation has welcomed three new board members: Mariah Czap, Co-General Manager of Yep Roc; Victor Zaraya, COO of Concord; and Heather Johnson, CEO of Ninety9lives, who was previously on A2IM's advisory board. They take over from outgoing board members Laura Ballance, Co-Founder of Merge Records; Tony Kiewel, President of Sub Pop Records (and current chair of the A2IM Board); and Rosie Lopez, President of Tommy Boy (a previous chair of the A2IM Board).  

In addition, A2IM has promoted several staffers: head of membership Lisa Hresko becomes General Manager; Indie Week Programme Director Sheryl Cohen is appointed Head of Strategic Planning; lyssa Mark is promoted to Sr. Director, Label Member Relations; Evan Plake to Sr. Manager, Membership; Brian Pacris to Sr. Manager, Member Services & Partnerships; and Ross Ford to Senior Manager, Operations.  

Danielle Lee has been appointed to the newly created position of President, Warner Music Artist and Fan Experiences at Warner Music Group (WMG). She will lead WEA's artist services division with a focus on strengthening the company's fan engagement strategy. Based in New York, she reports to WEA President Maria Weaver. She will lead WEA's existing Artist Services division, covering ticketing, marketing, account management, and data research and analysis. Lee joins from the National Basketball Association (NBA), where she was Chief Fan Officer.

Sony Music Publishing has appointed Francisco Granados as Vice President, Creative, US Latin. Based in Miami, he reports to Jorge Mejia, President and CEO, Latin America and US Latin. His responsibilities include providing strategic direction for US Latin A&R efforts, signing and discovering new talent, and working closely with Sony Music Publishing’s songwriters to further develop their careers and create new, global opportunities for their songs. 

Attorney Sarah Scott has become Managing Partner at LaPolt Law, the Los Angeles boutique law firm founded by Dina LaPolt. Scott joined the firm in 2017 and was previously SVP of Business & Legal Affairs for Universal Music Group Canada. She will continue to oversee the attorneys and workflow at the firm.

BMG has promoted Shane Cosme to Senior Vice President, International Marketing, US. Based in Los Angeles, he was in charge of international marketing. He will continue to report to Fred Casimir, EVP Global Repertoire & Marketing, alongside Jason Hradil, EVP, New York & SVP International Marketing. 

LATIN AMERICA

Alejandro Duque has been appointed President of Warner Music Latin America, according to a Billboard report. Duque joins from Universal Music Group where he spent 15 years, most recently as Managing Director of Universal Music Latin, Machete and Capitol Latin. He succeeds Iñigo Zabala, who will stepping down at the end of September from his role as Warner’s President of Latin America and Iberia after more than 30 years with the company. Duque will join Warner in August and start his new position at the beginning of October. Based in Miami, he reports to Simon Robson, president, International, Recorded Music, Warner Music Group.

FRANCE

French composer Patrick Sigwalt was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors of SACEM at the general assembly of the authors' society held on June 15. He succeeds music publisher Bruno Lion, MD of peermusic France, who held the position for two years. The Chair is chosen by the Board of Directors for a one-year term, renewable once. Sigwalt had been a member of the SACEM board since 2019. A third of the seats on the board were up for renewal, and the general assembly elected Christine Lidon (author), Serge Perathoner (composer), Valérie Foray (publisher), Thomas Jamois (publisher), France Monot-Fortin (publisher), Marion Sarraut (author-director), Marie-Jeanne Serero (composer) and Frédéric Zeitoun (author). They will serve for a three-year mandate.


Documentary filmmaker and reporter Rémi Lainé was elected Chairman of the Board of SCAM, the French rights society representing multimedia authors, following the organisation's general assembly on June 16. He succeeds Laëtitia Moreau, who held this position for the past two years. Lainé has been a Board member between 2009 and 2017 and since 2019. Author Karine Le Bail was elected vice-president of the society of authors, and director Marie Mandy treasurer.

BENELUX

Nikolaas De Belie has been named Head of Believe & TuneCore, Benelux, as the independent music distribution and services company opens a new subsidiary, covering Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. He reports to Believe’s Director Label & Artist Solutions UK, Ireland, and Benelux, Ben Rimmer, and to Faryal Khan-Thompson, Vice President, International, TuneCore. “Due to the pandemic, digital growth in Benelux has accelerated. More than 80% of Dutch music revenue now comes from streaming, with independent artists and labels becoming stronger than ever before. With our expertise, data and technology in Benelux, Believe and TuneCore are uniquely positioned to quickly become the leading digital music distribution partner of the independent music community here,” said De Belie.

UK

Global law firm Greenberg Traurig has added Neil Miller as a Shareholder in the firm’s global Entertainment & Media Practice. Based in London, Miller was most recently head of Facebook’s international music licensing legal team and previously General Counsel at SoundCloud. At Greenberg Traurig, he will focus on digital media and technology matters, with emphasis on music licensing and social media. “Neil brings years of experience working on some of the most complex and highly-negotiated deals in the music industry, and we are fortunate to have him on the team,” said Bobby Rosenbloum, Chairman of the firm's global Entertainment & Media Practice. 

British music industry executive Darcus Beese will be joining on July 1 Warner Music UK's senior leadership team as Executive Vice President. He will also be President of a new joint venture record label, the details of which have not been announced yet. Beese was previously President and CEO of Island Records US. Based in London, he reports WMUK CEO Tony Harlow, who described Beese as "a truly great music man" who is going "to help me shape the future of Warner Music and help us by bringing compelling, urgent music to us through his label.” 

AUSTRALIA

Denis Handlin, who has been CEO and chairman of Sony Music Australia for the past 30 year, has left the company he spent 50 year working for, effective immediately. The announcement was made by Sony Music Group Chairman and CEO Rob Stringer in a memo to staff.  “It is time for a change in leadership and I will be making further announcements in terms of the new direction of our business in Australia and New Zealand in due course,” wrote Stringer. In the past weeks, Sony Music has hired an external counsel to run an investigation into the company's culture in the workplace, after the Sydney Morning Herald published several articles referring to allegations of discrimination, bullying and harassment at the company.

CHINA

Warner Music Group has hired Sherry Tan as the new head of its recorded music business in mainland China. Based in Beijing, she reports to Jonathan Serbin, CEO of Warner Music Greater China. Tan joins from start-up company Mengxing Media that she co-founded and where she served as CEO.