NATE ALBERT APPOINTED PRESIDENT
AT GIANT MUSIC
Giant Music, the independent record label falling under The Azoff Company umbrella, has named Nate Albert as its new President. Albert, with an extensive background as an A&R executive and accomplished artist, transitions from Warner Records, where he held the position as Executive VP A&R and played an important role in developing and signing artists like Omar Apollo and Teddy Swims.
His most recognizable A&R contributions extend to Capitol Records and Republic Records, where he inked deals with global artists like The Weeknd and Maggie Rogers. Albert’s musical journey began at 13 as a guitarist, songwriter, co-producer, and founding member of the multi-Platinum-selling ska-inspired band The Mighty Mighty Bosstones.
Joining the Giant Music team alongside co-Founder Shawn Holiday, Matt LaMotte, and Charles Hamilton, Albert steps into his role within The Azoff Company’s diverse portfolio, which includes Full Stop Management, Global Music Rights, Oak View Group, and Iconic Artists Group. The latter recently made waves by acquiring the music rights of iconic figures like Graham Nash, Cher, Dean Martin, David Crosby, and others, cementing The Azoff Company’s influential presence in the music and entertainment industry.
Irving and Jeffrey Azoff stated, “Nate invests his time, energy, and love into everything he touches. We can’t believe how lucky we are to be bringing him into the Giant family.” Shawn Holiday added, “Partnering with Nate at Giant is the next step for us in building a world-class label. As an artist himself, he understands how to help artists achieve their dreams and that is what we do at Giant.”
NATASCHA AUGUSTIN NAMED MANAGING DIRECTOR
AT WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC GERMANY
Natascha Augustin has been promoted to become Managing Director of Warner Chappell Music Germany. In her new role, she will report to Guy Moot, Co-Chair & CEO of Warner Chappell Music (WCM), the music publishing arm of Warner Music Group (WMG).
Lars Karlsson, who has served as Managing Director of both WCM Scandinavia and WCM Germany, will now focus on the publisher’s expanding business in the Nordics.
Augustin has played a pivotal role in the rise of Germany’s rap and hip-hop scene, helping WCM Germany become the country’s number-one domestic publisher for six consecutive years. She will now spend time in, and oversee, WCM’s three German hubs – Berlin, Hamburg, and Munich – which are dedicated to tapping into the different cultures and scenes across the country.
She has signed and supported a number of Germany’s top rap stars including 187 Strassenbande, Apache 207, Capital Bra, Farid Bang, Juju, Katja Krasavice, Luciano, Makko, Nimo, Shirin David, Summer Cem, and breakthrough-superstar Ayliva. Augustin has also worked with top producers such as Juhdee, Miksu Macloud, and Sira; producer teams like Plugs, Ghana & Geenaro, and Nilly; as well as genre-defining pop and dance writers including Felix Jaehn, Kiddo, M22, Southstar and Tom Gregory.
Natascha Augustin stated, “This appointment feels like an organic development in my career and part of the exciting changes within Warner Chappell Music. I’m thankful to both Guy and Lars for putting their trust in me, back from when I was first an A&R Manager and got to act as our point of contact for the most culture-defining songwriters and producers in Germany. They gave me the freedom to expand our publishing activities into the world of hip-hop and rap and supported my collaboration with WM Germany to launch Atlantic Records Germany. Now that the label is established, I can fully focus on my new role as MD of WCM Germany.”
Guy Moot commented, “This a significant day for Warner Chappell Music. Germany is such an important global market, and home to some of the world’s best writers, producers, and artists. We’re the number one domestic publisher there thanks to the support that Natascha has given a generation of songwriters under Lars’s expert guidance. It’s great that she now has an opportunity to head up our business in Germany, while Lars can devote more time to driving our ongoing success in the Nordics.”
Lars Karlsson added, “I’m so excited for Natascha. We’ve been working towards this moment over recent years, and I’m delighted she’s now stepping up to the plate to run our German business. She’s been instrumental in our incredible success in Germany and so her promotion is richly deserved. I’m looking forward to having more time to focus on our continuing expansion across the Nordics, where we’ve revitalized our A&R team and are signing some remarkably talented songwriters.”
Augustin joined the A&R team at WCM Germany in 2010, becoming Sr. Creative Director in 2018 and Vice President in 2021.
GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING SINGER-SONGWRITER
COLBIE CAILLAT SIGNS WITH DOWNTOWN
Downtown Music Publishing (DMP) has announced a global music publishing agreement with multi-Platinum, Grammy-winning U.S. singer-songwriter, Colbie Caillat.
Caillat shot to fame in 2007 with her three times Platinum debut album Coco, which hit No.5 on the Billboard Top 200albums chart upon release and included hit singles “Bubbly,” which is certified six times Platinum – and two times Platinum “Realize.” Over the course of her extensive career, the acclaimed singer-songwriter has been the recipient of two Grammy Awards and five Grammy nominations, boasting over 15 billion streams worldwide and eight No.1 and Top 10 singles across her lauded catalog.
Caillat has collaborated with some of the industry’s biggest heavyweights, including Taylor Swift, Sheryl Crow, Jason Mraz, Brad Paisley, and Gavin DeGraw to name only a few. Following her Grammy-winning duet with Jason Mraz, “Lucky,” in 2008, Caillat’ released her second studio album Breakthrough, which became the singer’s first album to debut at No.1 on the Billboard album chart.
Caillat will benefit from Downtown Music Publishing’s global administration service as well as creative sync services, whose recent high-profile placements include Bruce Hornsby‘s 1988 track “The Show Goes On” on Netflix‘s The Bear, Air‘s “Kelly Watch The Stars” on Chanel‘s Christmas advert and Doja Cat‘s ‘Boss Bitch’ synced during 2023’s Super Bowl. The deal will cover Caillat’s full catalog and all future releases, including their debut album, Coco, multi-Platinum singles, “Bubbly,” “Realize” and “Lucky,” and her debut country solo album Along The Way, featuring the collaboration “I’ll Be Here” with Sheryl Crow.
“My experience working with Downtown over the past year has been amazing and I’m grateful it will now also include their publishing team,” said Caillat. “Their creativity and passion for artists and songwriters goes above and beyond. I look forward to this exciting new chapter of working alongside the best in the business.”
Colbie Caillat’s latest album Along The Way – released in October 2023 via her own imprint Blue Jean Baby Recordswas distributed via Downtown Artist & Label Services who, alongside Caillat’s publishing deal with Downtown Music Publishing, will continue to work with Caillat and her team across distribution on future releases. Downtown Artist & Label Services has had a significant stream of recent success across its distribution and marketing offering, including seeing client, Luis R Conriquez hitting the No.1 spot on Spotify‘s debut global album chart with Corridos Bélicos, Vol IV.
LANA DEL REY INKS DEAL
WITH UNIVERSAL MUSIC PUBLISHING GROUP
Lana Del Rey has signed a publishing agreement with Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG), departing from her previous affiliation with Sony Music Publishing.
The announcement comes on the heels of Del Rey being unveiled as one of the headliners for this year’s Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival alongside Tyler, The Creator, Doja Cat, Blur, Ice Spice, and others. The new agreement follows a major year for Del Rey, marked by the release of her highly acclaimed ninth studio album, Did You Know That There’s A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd?, which is currently nominated for five Grammy categories.
Del Rey’s career, spanning from her 2012 debut Born To Die, has seen her signed with Polydor Records in the U.K., and Interscope Records in the United States. The UMPG deal consolidates her publishing and recorded music endeavors under the Universal Music Group umbrella. With 15 Billboard Hot 100 Chart entries, including two Top 10 hits, and all nine studio albums reaching the Billboard 200’s Top 10, Del Rey has enjoyed an exceptional career worldwide.
Lana Del Rey is by British managers Ben Mawson and Ed Millet who are the co-Founders of TaP Management who also manage Ellie Goulding, Dermot Kennedy, London Grammar, and others.
According to Billboard, the publishing agreement, signed in 2023, was subtly acknowledged by UMPG in an Instagram post featuring Del Rey alongside Jody Gerson, Chairman & CEO, Universal Music Publishing Group.
SYNC EXECUTIVES & MUSIC SUPERVISORS
JOIN THE GROWING MUSEXPO 2024 LINEUP
MUSEXPO (www.musexpo.net), the renowned annual global music industry conference and showcase event, often dubbed the “United Nations of Music” has confirmed more music supervisors, sync and licensing creatives and executives to its burgeoning 2024 conference speaker lineup. MUSEXPO takes place March 17 – 20, 2024 in Burbank, California, “The Media & Sync Capital of the World.”
MUSEXPO will feature a special keynote interview with one of the leading global music and videogame executives – Steve Schnur, Worldwide Executive & President Music, Electronic Arts in conversation with Mark Sutherland, Contributing Editor, Music Business Worldwide. Schnur has spearheaded music for gaming franchises including FIFA, NASCAR, Madden NFL, Battlefield, Medal of Honor, Star Wars, The Sims, Need For Speed, Burnout, and many others.
In addition, MUSEXPO will exclusively feature a Universal Pictures sync panel featuring the leading global film studios’ creative and music licensing team, along with the companies award-winning leader Mike Knobloch, President, Music & Publishing, NBCUniversal who has worked on films including Jurassic World, Titanic, Fast & Furious(various films), Pitch Perfect, Despicable Me, Fifty Shades of Grey, Avatar, and countless more. Over the last decade, songs and soundtracks Mike has supervised have been streamed more than 42 billion times.
Some of the other sync-focused music supervisors, brands, advertising, and licensing executives confirmed for MUSEXPO include Adam Taylor – President & CEO, APM Music; Alicen Schneider – former Head of TV/Music, NBCUniversal; Allison Wood – Music Supervisor & Founder, Vibrant Ground Music; Andrew Brady – Sr. Manager, Creative Music Strategy, Paramount; Angela Leus – Sr. Vice President, Film Music, Universal Pictures; Glen Gabriel – Composer & Producer (Nike, Mercedes, The Game Changers and more); Harold Shawn – Music Coordinator, Creative Music Strategy, Paramount; Jason Markey – Founder & Music Supervisor, Sound Advice; Jay Biegelsen – Manager, Creative Music Strategy, Paramount; Jennifer Pyken – Music Supervisor (The Way Home, This Is Us, Workaholics, Las Vegas); John McGrew – Music Creative, Netflix Animation Series; Katie Hargrove – Co-Founder, Little Wolf Music & Sound; Kristen McFarren – Associate Manager, Original Music, FOX Entertainment Music; Livy Rodriguez-Behar – Music Supervisor & Founder, Dreamboat Music; Mary Jo Braun – Vice President, Music Clearance, Paramount Pictures; Mason Cooper – Music Supervisor & President, Songrunner Entertainment; Natalie Hayden – Sr. Vice President Film Music, Universal Pictures; Nikki Walsh – Vice President, Soundtrack & Marketing, Universal Pictures; Peymon Maskan – Founder, Radish Music Supervision; Rachel Levy – Executive Vice President, Motion Picture Music, Universal Pictures; Ryan Svendsen – Head of Music, Angel Studios; Selena Arizanovic – Director, Programming Music, FOX Entertainment Music; Tyler Bacon – President & CEO, Position Music; Vikki Jacobs – Vice President, Film Music Licensing, Universal Pictures; Warren Hastings – Associate Manager, Creative Music, Fox Entertainment; Zoe Gillespie – Vice President, Brand Partnerships, Capitol Music Group + Motown Records, and numerous others to be announced in the coming weeks.
In addition, the MUSEXPO program will also include its highly anticipated Global Sync & Brands Summit, which originally launched at the event fifteen years ago, and takes place on Wednesday, March 20th where delegates will have an opportunity to meet face-to-face with music supervisors, brands, advertising, and licensing executives.
To register to attend MUSEXPO, and for discounted hotel room rates, click HERE.
For the full list of current MUSEXPO speakers, and the event program, click HERE.
For sponsorship, panelist, partnership, or artist showcase opportunities contact Sat Bisla at sat@anrworldwide.com.
Each week, A&R Worldwide shares a snapshot of creatives and executives that we have collaborated or worked with in various music markets around the world, albeit in recent or previous times!
Bonnie McKee is a highly successful hit songwriter who has crafted chart-topping songs for artists including Katy Perry, Britney Spears, Kesha, Cher, Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson, Adam Lambert, and many others. However, her pivotal career success and breakthrough came at the hands of A&R Network (the predecessor to A&R Worldwide).
Bonnie McKee was a 15-year-old unsigned singer/songwriter who was introduced to Sat Bisla (Founder & Global VP of A&R Network, which Bisla had created then sold to Clear Channel Radio and Clear Channel Entertainment – now respectively known as iHeart Media and Live Nation) by his then office assistant who was loosely managing her, who had discovered her whilst on a trip to Seattle, WA back in 2000. After listening to her demos, Bisla felt the undeniable song on her EP was a track called “Somebody.” However, the song needed some additional production and mixing work, so Bisla put together some mix notes and A&R suggestions to help elevate Bonnie’s sound.
Sat asked his friend Kevin Held (who managed Gary Jules at the time) to convince his French-Canadian producer/mixer Nicolas Jodoin to do the production work, which led to “Somebody,” being produced/mixed in a professional manner.
Shortly thereafter, Bisla sent Bonnie’s song to his friend Nic Harcourt who was a DJ on KCRW Santa Monica, who started playing the song on his “Morning Becomes Eclectic” show, and at the same time sent the song to a number of label heads, and A&R executives, as well as to his attorney friends Doug Mark and Brian Schall, who called Bisla the same day and said they wanted to work with Bonnie as she had no legal representation at the time.
As timing would have it, Sat featured Bonnie and her single “Somebody” in the weekly A&R Network newsletter (predecessor to the A&R Worldwide newsletter), which was the first of its kind global weekly editorial highlighting talent from around the world. Within 24 hours of Bonnie’s music and story being featured in the A&R Network newsletter, and from Sat sharing her music with labels, publishers, and A&R executives, a global bidding war between major labels and music publishers began with multi-million dollar offers being made to sign Bonnie. With Doug, Brian, and Sat’s help, Bonnie ended up signing with Tom Whalley in 2001, as his first signing as then the new Chairman & CEO, Warner Bros. Records.
Bonnie was extremely emotional after the signing, as was her manager and his dad who had asked Sat to co-manage her as he’d helped create some life-changing career opportunities for her. Bisla states, “I remember Bonnie coming up to me outside of the restaurant in Burbank, CA, where we were celebrating her worldwide signing to Warner Bros. Records. Bonnie ran towards me, broke down, and cried on my shoulders saying she’d never forget what I had done for her. I told her it was just a part of what I did for artists and songwriters I believed in. Back then it was talent first, data second, which is the way it should be today.”
With Femme Schmidt, her then-manager Deville Schober, introduced her talents to A&R Worldwide against the recommendation of her major label in Germany, as they felt she was not ready for the United States. However, as A&R Worldwide’s instincts and Femme Schmidt’s talent would have it, A&R Worldwide was able to introduce her music to key music supervisors at FOX Television and ABC Television, who ended up licensing her music for two primetime shows. Femme Schmidt’s performance at MUSEXPO in Hollywood led to her being discovered by Sir Elton John‘s tour manager who attended the conference and showcased with legendary Australian promoter Michael Chugg. After seeing her MUSEXPO showcase she was booked as the opening act for Sir Elton John’s Australian tour, which is where Coldplay discovered her, and subsequently offered her opening stadium tour dates with them in Germany.
THE PALE WHITE
BANNERS
Award-winning and acclaimed singer-songwriter Michael Nelson, known as BANNERS, embarked on his musical journey at the age of seven, singing daily in a renowned cathedral in the city. A pivotal visit to a Toronto studio with his producer father reshaped his path. His demo CD reached Grammy-nominated producer Stephen ” Koz” Kozmeniuk, recognized for his collaborations with Madonna, Kendrick Lamar, and Dua Lipa, resulting in a chart-topping debut single in Canada. The track garnered 10 million Spotify streams overnight and an invitation to perform on Jimmy Kimmel Live! BANNERS rapidly rose to prominence in North America and Canada, propelled by a viral TikTok hit with his song “Someone To You,” accumulating over 1.5 billion streams and achieving Platinum and Gold certifications across multiple countries. The success led to an appearance on American Idol. BANNERS has started the new year on a high note with the release of “The Best View in Liverpool” – a homage to his home city and has announced a new album titled All Back to Mine due April 19th via Nettwerk. Experience the ‘Capital City of Pop,’ as only BANNERS can show you with the visual for “The Best View In Liverpool” HERE. For additional information on BANNERS, contact management: Brian Winton at brian@foundationsmusic.com and Jackie Karlsson at jackie@foundationsmgmt.com, or the label: Nadia Shukri at nshukri@nettwerk.com and Ken Li at kli@nettwerk.com.
“PASSPORT APPROVED” PLAYLIST FOR Sunday, January 21st, 2024: The weekly import show. Heard on more than 50 radio stations on six continents weekly including: Flux FM Berlin, Germany; NINETYSIX Radio (Indonesia); JioSaavn (India); Radio Doble Nueve, Lima, Peru; WZRH–FM New Orleans, LA; KWSS “93.9FM”; Phoenix, AZ; KRML “102.1FM”; Carmel, CA; KFRR “New Rock 104.1FM”; Fresno, CA; Radio 1, Mumbai, India; WCNR Charlottesville, VA; KIWR “The River”; Council Bluffs, IA; 2XM Ireland (national radio); 96.2 ZFM The Netherlands; WAPS–FM “The Summit.FM”; Akron–Canton, OH; WKTL–FM Youngstown, OH; 105.5FM XFM Nairobi, Kenya; PUK–FM Johannesburg, South Africa; Rock 96.5FM Zambia; 897 FM Bratislava, Slovakia; WITH “90.1FM”; Ithaca, NY; UCFM 87.8FM Australian Capital Territory, Australia; WRUR 88.5FM Rochester, NY; WCRU–FM Hamilton, NY; KZND Anchorage, AK; KQCJ Quad Cities, IL; Allgauhit–FM Bavaria Germany; Indie Xfm Los Angeles and on The Independent FM (iHeartRadio) in the United States, as well as many others internationally.
Listen to this two hour show by clicking HERE:
MYLES SMITH – “Solo” (Propeller Recordings, U.K.)
TRIBE FRIDAY – “Andy” (ICEA, Sweden)
SEA GIRLS – “Young Strangers” (Propeller Recordings, U.K.)
GIANT ROOKS – “Cold Wars” (Universal Music, Germany)
EVERYONE YOU KNOW – “Coming With You” (RCA Records, U.K.)
BETTER JOY – “Hard To Love” (Fader Amp, U.K.)
MATTHEW MOLE – “Always By My Side” (Universal Music, S. Africa)
HEARTS HEARTS – “Stop Being Poor” (Parramatta, Austria)
ONLY THE POETS – “Looking At You” (EMI, U.K.)
TEENAGE DADS – “Tale of A Man” (Chugg Music, Australia)
KYTES – “Friend Of A Friend” (Frisbee Records, Germany)
RUM JUNGLE – “Electric Snowman” (Sureshaker, Australia)
DARK TROPICS – “Carnival” (Unsigned, UK)
RHETT REPKO – “Until We Meet Again” (Unsigned, N. America)
BECCA SWAN – “Two Tears and No More” (Unsigned, Canada)
IAMJJ – “On My Way” (Mermaid, Denmark)
KAMRAD – “I Hope You End Up Alone (With Me)” (Sony, Germany)
FLAWES – “Love For Granted” (Red Bull Records, U.K.)
DOTAN – “Diamonds In My Chest” (7 Layers Music, Holland)
NIEVE ELLA – “Car Park” (AWAL Recordings, U.K.)
NOTHING BUT THIEVES – “Overcome” (AWAL, U.K.)
TALISCO – “Reign” (Roy Music, France)
JERUB – “There Til The End” (Elevate Music, U.K.)
CATHOLIC GUILT – “Can You See Me” (Unsigned, Australia)
JAMIE HANNAH – “Dragonfly” (Unsigned, U.K.)
THE PALE WHITE – “Taste The Sun” (Unsigned, U.K.)
LUKE NOA – “Flight of Birds” (Bread, Butter & Champagne, Germany)
BANNERS – “The Best View In Liverpool” (Island Records, U.K.)
SAHARA BECK – “Compromise” (Unsigned, Australia)
BLOSSOMS – “To Do List (After The Breakup) feat. Findlay (ODD SK Recordings, U.K.)
TRISHA – “Somewhere Else” (Universal Music India, India)
MASI MASI – “Comfort Me” (Unsigned, U.K.)
HOLYOAK – “Hold Too Tight” (Unsigned, Australia)
PULSE RECORDS SIGNS 9LIVES: PULSE Records announces the signing of Maxwell Jardine, known professionally as 9lives, an artist hailing from New Zealand. Recognized for pioneering the Sigilkore sound and scene, 9lives has rapidly gained popularity since 2022, accumulating over 435 million Spotify streams across 15.6 million listeners in 184 countries within the past year. His distinct style, dark aesthetics, and innovative production approach transcend traditional genre boundaries. 9lives upcoming single, “Multimillionaire,” featuring Trippie Redd and Odetari, is poised to gain traction upon its release on January 19th. At just 19 years old, 9lives has collaborated with talents like Trippie Redd, Rico Nasty, Jaleel, and more, amassing over 400 million Spotify streams in his first year. 9lives’ music fuses an alluring blend of Lofi trap, hyper-pop, and electronic club styles. PULSE co-Founders Josh Abraham and Scott Cutler, along with President & Head of Creative, Ashley Calhoun commented, “At PULSE, we gravitate towards artists and creators who are uniquely themselves and who are trying something new. 9lives is at the forefront of a very exciting, emerging genre and we’re thrilled to partner with him to help amplify his music and his vision.” 9lives signed a global publishing deal with Kobalt late last year.
SHARON VAN ETTEN SIGNS TO WARNER CHAPPELL: Sharon Van Etten has entered an exclusive global publishing agreement with Warner Chappell Music. Known for her solo career, Van Etten’s talents extend to film and television, earning her a spot on the shortlist for “Best Original Song” at the 2024 Academy Awards with “Quiet Eyes” from the A24 film Past Lives. With a diverse collaborative history, including partnerships with Courtney Barnett, Josh Homme, and Norah Jones, Van Etten’s impact resonates across genres. Her previous album, We’ve Been Going About This All Wrong, was released in May 2022. Ashley Winton, Sr. Vice President, Creative Services, Warner Chappell, stated, “We’re thrilled to welcome Sharon Van Etten to Warner Chappell Music. She’s a prolific creative talent and one of the best singer-songwriters of our time.”
GARRETT REAM JOINS POSITION MUSIC AS VP, ARTIST STRATEGY & PROMOTION: Position Music, under the leadership of its President & CEO Tyler Bacon, has tapped experienced U.S. music executive Garrett Ream as their new VP, Artist Strategy & Promotion. With a decade-long stint at Republic Records, including roles like Vice President & Rhythm Promotion, Ream brings valuable experience from working with global artists such as Taylor Swift, Drake, and The Weeknd. In his new role, Ream will oversee creative content strategy, data-driven marketing, and radio promotion at Position Music. Reporting directly to J Scavo, General Manager, Recorded Music at Position, Ream is set to contribute his expertise to the label’s ongoing success and the discovery of emerging talents. “Garrett is a key hire for us as we continue to build our frontline artist roster and label marketing team,” says Bacon. “In addition to bringing major label promotion experience, he also has an indie drive and entrepreneurial approach to identifying and developing artists that is in lockstep with our company ethos.”
GRAMMY NOMINATED SINGER / PRODUCER INKS GLOBAL DEAL: Downtown Music Publishing (DMP) recently announced a global music publishing agreement with Grammy-nominated songwriter, producer and lead vocalist of multi-Platinum selling group Marianas Trench, Josh Ramsay. Boasting a wealth of accolades and multiple strings to his bow, Canadian-born Ramsay has had a prolific career working extensively with heavy-hitting names including Nickelback, 5 Seconds of Summer (“Story of Another Us”), Faber Drive, and Danny Fernandez among others. With two double Platinum albums, one Platinum album, and one Gold album under his belt, Ramsay found considerable fame for co–writing Carly Rae Jepsen‘s Grammy-nominated hit, “Call Me Maybe,” of which he was a recipient of the SOCAN Award for “Most Performed Song in SOCAN history.” “Call Me Maybe” was released in 2011 and has remained firmly embedded in global pop culture since. Benefiting from the rise of short-form video and user-generated content, the song – which hit one billion streams earlier this year with its accompanying music video reaching 1.5 billion views, has provided the soundtrack to nearly 100k viral videos as well as over a dozen movies and TV series. Downtown Music Publishing will provide global administration and creative services for Ramsay’s extensive catalog, which also includes “Sour Candy” and “Guitar String/Wedding Ring” by Carly Rae Jepsen – of which he co-wrote and produced both – and writing credits for “She Keeps Me Up” and “Satellite” released by Nickelback. The deal will also cover Josh Ramsay’s publishing share of the multi-platinum-selling group, Marianas Trench. The group, which formed in 1999, has released five studio albums including Masterpiece Theatre, and Ever After, which both reached double-platinum status, with multiple singles including “Desperate Measures,” “Fallout,” and “Haven’t Had Enough” reaching three times Platinum in Canada.
SONY MUSIC U.K. NAMES NEW SR. VP INT’L MARKETING: Sony Music U.K. has announced the appointment of Brooke Salisbury to the newly created position of Sr. Vice President, International Marketing & Digital Partnerships, starting immediately. Reporting to Jason Iley, MBE, Chairman & CEO, Sony Music U.K. & Ireland, Brooke will oversee the Sony Music U.K. teams working on international marketing and partnerships with Digital Service Providers. She was most recently General Manager at ADA U.K., Warner Music‘s Distribution and Label Services division, and has worked closely with Central Cee on his success through chart-topping mixtapes and global hit singles. During her time at ADA, Brooke guided the distributor’s partnerships with a diverse range of leading independent labels including BMG, Defected, and London Records, and artists such as Sonny Fodera, Oliver Heldens, and Tom Zanetti. Before ADA, Brooke held senior roles at British independent label Domino, first running their Australian business before relocating to London as the label’s U.K. Head of Marketing overseeing the campaigns of Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand, Jon Hopkins, and more.
VOTE ON EUROPEAN REPORT ON MUSIC STREAMING: The European Parliament has endorsed MEP Ibán García del Blanco’s initiative report, addressing the challenges faced by creators in the European music streaming market. With an overwhelming majority, the report recognizes the prevalent issues and proposes Union-level initiatives to establish a fairer and more sustainable ecosystem. Despite the massive online music consumption and the presence of over 100 million tracks on streaming platforms, the report emphasizes the need for fair remuneration, exposing imbalances in revenue allocation, fraudulent practices, and threats to cultural diversity. The suggested initiatives include legal provisions for algorithm transparency, content recommendation systems, and positive obligations to enhance the visibility of European works. GESAC President Gernot Graninger stated, “By adopting the report on the Music Streaming Market the European Parliament sends a strong signal of recognition and understanding of the needs of creators. The issue of fair remuneration in the streaming market needs to be resolved – not only for the benefit of the creators but also for culture to remain a significant driver of the European economy.” Read the full report HERE.
PERFECT HAVOC SIGNS DJ STEPHANI B: Perfect Havoc has expanded its roster with the signing of Stephani B to its management division. As a Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA) trained artist, Stephani B brings a unique mesh of live drumming and sampling to her DJ sets, mentored by Elbow drummer Rick Jupp. Having inked a multi-single deal with Perfect Havoc record label, her November 2023 production debut, “Sober (La Da Dee),” in collaboration with Movada gained acclaim on BBC Radio 1 and KISS. Stephani B’s live performances using the Roland SPD-SX Pro Sampling Pad have garnered a social media following of over 750,000 followers and 80 million views. With plans for a U.K. tour, festival appearances, and a debut on Toolroom Records subsidiary Love & Other, Stephani B adds her own vibrancy to Perfect Havoc, which is known for fostering breakthrough artists like Joel Corry. The management stable also houses PS1, Tobtok, Movada, and others, further contributing to Perfect Havoc’s track record with over 10 billion streams and numerous accolades.
BEATPORT LAUNCHES BPXX: Beatport has unveiled BPXX, a year-long festivity commemorating its 20th anniversary. Embracing the theme “Music Is Unstoppable,” BPXX promises a myriad of special programming, events, and retrospectives spanning two decades of dance music evolution. The BPXX Capsule digital web experience traces Beatport’s journey, from its inaugural upload, Steve Smooth‘s “Beatfreaker” (Jay Walker and David Garcia Retromode Remix), to contemporary strides integrating proprietary technology into DJ software and hardware. Established in 2004, Beatport has steadfastly dominated the global music scene, bolstered by strategic acquisitions like Loopcloud, Plugin Boutique, ampsuite, LabelRadar, and the International Music Summit Ibiza (IMS) in 2023 – the IMS co-Founder, Ben Turner said in a Music Week interview that he came up with the idea of IMS after being inspired by attending MUSEXPO in Los Angeles in 2006, with his band The Orange Lights. The Beatport Group now stands as a comprehensive ecosystem, meeting the diverse needs of DJs, producers, and their longstanding fanbase.
PLAYGROUND MEDIA SIGN PUBLISHING PARTNERSHIP WITH BMG: Grammy-nominated and multi-Platinum producer, songwriter, and arranger Jeff “Gitty” Gitelman has entered a new publishing partnership with BMG. Recognized for making chart history by simultaneously appearing on various Billboard Producers charts in a single week, Gitty has recently earned Grammy nominations for his work with Victoria Monet on “On My Mama.” His collaborations include hits with Jessie Murph & Jelly Roll, Mary J Blige, and Hozier, and serving as the co-executive producer for Jennifer Lopez‘s upcoming album, This Is Me…Now, accompanying the documentary of the same name. Gitty’s first signing to Playground Media is multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Kevin Theodore, known for his work on Mac Miller‘s Grammy-nominated album Swimming, and collaborations with Teddy Swims, Allen Stone, and Muni Long, among others. Beyond the studio, Gitty remains involved with The Recording Academy, serving as an advisor to the Los Angeles Chapter Board and contributing to various committees.
PRIMARY WAVE MUSIC ANNOUNCES AGNES KACICKI TO EXECUTIVE TEAM: Agnes Kacicki, with over 13 years of capital market expertise, has joined Primary Wave Music as Head of Corporate Development. In collaboration with CEO & Founder Larry Mestel, Kacicki will be in charge of larger acquisitions, focusing on music publishing catalogs and music platforms. Her role also involves forging international partnerships to expand Primary Wave’s portfolio, including existing collaborations like Times Music (India). Operating from the Los Angeles office, Kacicki will collaborate with Bill Cisneros, President of IP Investment Management, and Ramon Villa, COO, while also engaging in investor relations. Formerly a Director at RBC Capital Markets, Kacicki’s specialized experience includes advisory and capital raising in the entertainment sector. Primary Wave President & CEO Larry Mestel stated, “Agnes has been a close adviser to Primary Wave for many years in her senior role at RBC, she will make a very significant impact on our ability to increase our acquisition capabilities and service our partners. I couldn’t be happier that Agnes is joining our executive team.”
JUST ISN’T MUSIC JOINS IMPEL: Just Isn’t Music, the publishing arm of independent label Ninja Tune, has officially joined IMPEL, the international collective licensing agency for digital music publishing rights. As a part of Ninja Tune, Just Isn’t Music boasts a catalog that includes the majority of Ninja Tune’s repertoire and non-Ninja Tune writers, featuring a roster across electronic and alternative genres. The notable artists on the Just Isn’t Music roster include Thundercat, The Cinematic Orchestra, ODESZA, Bonobo, Young Fathers, and more. Successful copyrights in their catalog encompass hits like “How You Like Me Now?” by The Heavy, “A Moment Apart” by ODESZA, and “To Build A Home” by The Cinematic Orchestra. The IMPEL membership brings Just Isn’t Music into a diverse collective, representing a vast array of works by major artists worldwide, including Ed Sheeran, Stormzy, Dua Lipa, David Bowie, Ray Charles, Rihanna, Beyonce, Calvin Harris, Elvis Presley and more.
BMG APPOINTS NEW SR. VP CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT: BMG has appointed Johannes von Schwarzkopf, as its Sr. Vice President, Corporate Development, to drive its new business strategy. In his new role, von Schwarzkopf and his team will be responsible for developing new business opportunities, spearheading the execution of company-wide initiatives to accelerate growth, and leading BMG’s cross-collaborative efforts of creating new capabilities and partnerships, including GenAI initiatives. Since joining BMG in early 2021, Johannes has held roles in finance and corporate development where he was responsible for developing and implementing the strategy known as BMG Next. He reports directly to BMG CEO Thomas Coesfeld. Joining BMG in 2021 as Sr. Director, Board Projects, supporting BMG’s Boost program across Finance and M&A, von Schwarzkopf was promoted in 2023 to lead the newly developed Corporate Development department. Prior to joining BMG, he worked for consulting firm Ernest & Young (EY) in an M&A (mergers and acquisitions) Transaction Advisory capacity and advertising technology company Taboola as a media sales representative. Von Schwarzkopf studied International Management at the ESADE Business School.
COSCAP SIGNS DEAL WITH CMRRA & SX WORKS GLOBAL PUBLISHER SERVICES: COSCAP (Copyright Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers) has made a groundbreaking move by entering into a partnership agreement with CMRRA (Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency) and SX Works Global Publisher Services, both SoundExchange companies. The partnership highlights the expanding influence of Caribbean music, as COSCAP and CMRRA join forces to spearhead the mechanical reproduction rights of their members in the Canadian market. With a shared commitment to protecting the rights of music publishers and self-published songwriters in Barbados and Canada, this partnership is an important step toward fostering fairness and prosperity. SX Works Global Publisher Services will further contribute by managing end-to-end administration with The Mechanical Licensing Collective (The MLC) in the United States.
FORMER HIPGNOSIS EXECUTIVE LAUNCHES ALLOY: Tom Stingemore, former Global President, Sync & Creative at Hipgnosis, has announced the launch of ALLOY Sync Distro (ALLOY), a platform aimed at standardizing sync deal parameters. ALLOY aims to standardize the global sync licensing and approvals process – stating that it will offer a streamlined, modernized approach that enhances efficiency for labels and publishers while empowering artists and songwriters. The platform addresses manual workload challenges in sync business, fostering scalability and control for rights holders. Stingemore’s experience, including his role at Hipgnosis, where he pioneered an in-house sync-focused tech platform, positions ALLOY as a solution to help the global sync marketplace, benefiting artists, songwriters, record labels, and publishers.
NEED TO MAKE CONTACT, SEND NEWS AND NEW MUSIC RELEASES?: If you have any A&R, publishing, technology, agent/promoter, international radio, management, new media or film/TV music supervisor news you’d like to share with A&R Worldwide, or need to respond to information published in the weekly newsletter please E–mail it to the attention of Sat Bisla at sat@anrworldwide.com. Also, all demos and new music releases should be sent as STREAMING LINKS ONLY to info@anrworldwide.com.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Kenny Ochoa, Steven Melrose, Brandon Silverstein, Rachel Howard, Mike Elizondo, Katie Garcia, Ryan Tedder, Emma Banks, Tarsame Mittal, Mark Beaven, Anita Chinkes-Ratner, Mona Rübsamen, Ed Shapiro, and Rich Christina.
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