MARK BEAVEN
CO-FOUNDER & CO-CEO, AAM, INC.
NAMED THE RECIPIENT OF
THE “LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD”
AT THE 25TH GLOBAL EDITION OF MUSEXPO
MUSEXPO (www.musexpo.net), the renowned global music industry annual conference and showcase event, often described as the “United Nations of Music,” in collaboration with the esteemed talent discovery and development firm A&R Worldwide, has announced that Mark Beaven, Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Advanced Alternative Media (AAM),Inc., as the recipient of its prestigious “Lifetime Achievement Award” at the 25th global edition of MUSEXPO. The award will be presented during a special luncheon on Monday, March 17, 2025, held at Castaway, Burbank, CA, which runs from March 16 – 19, 2025.
Mark Beaven, with business partner, Andrew Kipnes, played a transformative role in the music and entertainment industries with their pioneering work via AAM. Founded in New York City in 1982, AAM has risen to prominence as the most globally recognized Producer and Songwriter management company. Beaven and Kipnes spent over 40 years cultivating a family-style environment for creative talent, with teams in the creative hubs of New York, Los Angeles, London, Philadelphia, Miami, & Ecuador.
Under Beaven’s stewardship, AAM significantly influenced the music landscape, having helped shape and define many iconic albums and projects. Their legacy includes involvement in such landmark works as Nirvana‘s Nevermind, Guns N’ Roses‘ Appetite for Destruction, Madonna‘s Ray of Light, and Amy Winehouse‘s Back to Black. Such seminal records mark the tip of AAM’s role in their commercial success and cultural impact within modern music.
AAM began as a marketing powerhouse, championing priority tastemaker artists including The Smiths, Prince, Depeche Mode, Talking Heads, and Radiohead. This initial success led to an evolution into Producer, Artist, and eventually Songwriter management, with AAM becoming a trusted partner for clients seeking their expertise with navigating the industry’s complexities. AAM’s focus on a select client base lets them maintain a high standard of excellence, representing industry legends: Dr. Luke, Serban Ghenea, Andy Wallace, Justin Tranter, and many more.
Beaven’s influence extends beyond Producer and Songwriter management. AAM has been at the forefront of defining industry practices and Creator rights advocacy. The company’s innovative approaches to deal-making and compensation have set new standards that continue to influence industry norms. AAM has also been instrumental in managing high-profile transactions, including the sale of over forty music catalogs, many with atypically high values.
The breadth of AAM’s work is expressed via its diverse roster of clients. Their music has moved billions of people, achieved countless Billboard Top 10 hits, and sold billions of albums and singles worldwide. AAM and its clients have made records with and supported the journey and creative spirit of mega-stars ranging from Taylor Swift, The Rolling Stones, U2, David Bowie, Madonna, Paul McCartney, Rihanna, Travis Scott, Prince, Adele, Elton John, Beyoncé, Jay Z, Dua Lipa, Nirvana, Drake, John Lennon, Doja Cat, Bruno Mars, Amy Winehouse, BTS, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga, Guns ‘N’ Roses, and countless others. Few companies have been so intrinsically involved with the most important artists, recordings, and happenings of the last 30-plus years — culturally and commercially.
The MUSEXPO 2025 “Lifetime Achievement Award” honors Mark Beaven’s extraordinary career and significant contributions to the music industry. In addition, Mark will receive official proclamations from the City of Burbank, County of Los Angeles, and the California State Assembly at MUSEXPO for his incredible work. This recognition celebrates his role in shaping the industry’s evolution, advocating for artists’ rights, and fostering an environment where creative talent can thrive.
For more information about MUSEXPO 2025 and to follow updates on the event, please visit www.musexpo.net.
In celebration of the 25th global edition of MUSEXPO, A&R Worldwide readers are eligible for the discounted registration rate of $495.00 which expires on August 31st, 2024. Email dusty@anrworldwide.com for your discount code.
For information regarding sponsorship, panel, and showcasing opportunities contact info@anrworldwide.com.
CHRISTOPH BEHM PROMOTED TO CEO
SONY MUSIC FOR GERMANY, SWITZERLAND & AUSTRIA
Sony Music has announced that Christoph Behm will be promoted to CEO of the company’s operations in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria (GSA), effective September 1, 2024. Behm will report to Daniel Lieberberg, President, Sony Music Continental Europe, and Africa, and will continue to be based in Berlin. In this role, he will be responsible for the strategic direction and day-to-day operations of the GSA region, succeeding Patrick Mushatsi-Kareba, who will be leaving the company at the end of August.
Behm has been with Sony Music GSA for 13 years, most recently serving as Sr. Vice President of the Commercial Division. In this role, he managed a substantial team and was instrumental in the growth of the Family Entertainment segment. Over the past two years, Behm’s responsibilities have expanded to include oversight of the Catalog division in addition to leading the sales and streaming teams.
Daniel Lieberberg, said, “Christoph has played a key role in building and expanding our business across this region during the streaming era. He has worked closely with our artists to bring their music to new fans in innovative ways and has embraced continuous industry change to create opportunity despite rapidly shifting paradigms and business models. Christoph’s deep understanding of our DSP partners and creativity as a leader for 10 years will serve him well in his new role as we always work to adapt for the future.”
Christoph Behm, added, “It fills me with pride to now lead the company that I have served in various roles for so many years. I cannot wait to get started with the excellent team at Sony Music GSA and bring out the best for our artists every day. We are at another exciting time for our industry, and I look forward with great confidence to this next chapter for Sony Music GSA.”
Christoph began his career at Sony Music in 2011, focusing on digital sales and marketing for the company’s artists and catalog across various digital platforms. As Sony Music’s first key account manager for Spotify, he advanced to Head of Streaming for the GSA region in 2016, with his role subsequently broadening to encompass strategic, analytical, and marketing responsibilities.
OSCAR SCIVIER JOINS WARNER MUSIC’S ASIA TEAM
AS SR. DIRECTOR A&R
Warner Music Group (WMG) has revealed that Oscar Scivier will step into the role of Senior Director, A&R for Asia. With long-standing experience as an A&R executive, producer, and artist manager, Scivier brings a proven history of artist development followed by his achievements across various genres and markets.
Scivier will be headquartered in Hong Kong, where he will collaborate closely with the regional team to craft forward-thinking A&R strategies that complement Warner Music’s global objectives. His responsibilities will also include strengthening internal communication and collaboration within Warner Music’s regional A&R network, as well as assisting local teams in nurturing and promoting local talent on an international scale.
Throughout his 15-year career, Scivier has been based in London, Los Angeles, and New York, working with a lineup of global artists such as deadmau5, Madison Beer, DJ Regard, Rita Ora, Zayn, and Kygo. His contributions to A&R have earned Grammy nominations, with his projects accumulating billions of streams and securing over 75 certifications. He also spent a number of years working at FAE grp and Ultra Records.
Kabiru Bello, Vice President, Global A&R, Warner Recorded Music, said, “Adding Oscar to our worldwide A&R team strengthens our ability to swiftly seize artist development opportunities and reaffirms WMG’s commitment to providing the best platform for the most impactful and popular talent. His wide-ranging experience as a producer, label manager, and artist manager will make him a superb addition to our company’s leading team of A&R executives. He will be a key player in elevating our Asian roster to a global level, and I am thrilled to have him on board as we continue to expand our worldwide reach.”
Scivier commented, “I am excited to join the dynamic team at Warner Music. The company’s global reach, commitment to artist development, and focus on cross-cultural collaboration are truly inspiring. I look forward to working with the A&R teams on the ground to discover and nurture the next generation of Asian talent and introduce them to a worldwide audience.”
Chris Gobalakrishna and Jonathan Serbin, Co-Presidents of Warner Music Asia, added, “Oscar’s appointment is a strategic move that underscores our commitment to nurturing the next generation of Asian artists and introducing them to new audiences around the world. His exceptional A&R skills, entrepreneurial mindset, and deep industry connections will further strengthen our position as a leading force in artist development across the region. We are confident that his expertise will play a crucial role in shaping the future of the Asian music landscape.”
NEW LEADERSHIP CHANGES AT TIKTOK
FOR U.K., IRELAND & SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
TikTok has revamped its senior leadership team in the U.K. with two key promotions. Toyin Mustapha has been appointed as the new head of music partnerships for the U.K. & Ireland, and Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Nichal Sethi has been tapped to lead SoundOn across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). SoundOn is the music marketing and distribution platform launched in 2021 by TikTok. It provides song distribution and artist services and allows users to upload music directly to TikTok to earn royalties while allowing them to retain their copyright on the music.
The two new hires mark a shift in TikTok’s U.K. leadership landscape after the departures of Paul Hourican (Global Head of Music Operations) and David Mogendorff (Head of Artist Partnerships).
Nichal Sethi said, “After just over two-and-a-half years at TikTok, I am happy to announce that I will be stepping into a more expanded role as head of SoundOn EMEA. Having managed all areas of the U.K. business for the last two years, I am excited to continue growing SoundOn in Europe, the Middle East, and Sub-Saharan Africa, building upon the many successes we have had since launching in various markets while opening and growing in new territories.” Mustapha who will spearhead support for U.K. talent at various stages of their careers, added, “The TikTok ride continues. I am happy to share that I will be moving back into music partnerships to lead our efforts in the U.K. & Ireland, and SSA. It has been an incredible journey so far, that started in a coworking space almost six years ago to where TikTok is today and the role it plays in getting artists’ music heard.”
These recent executive promotions at TikTok come on the heels of last week’s announcement that Charlotte Stahl has been elevated to Head of Artist & Label Partnerships EMEA. Previously, Stahl served as TikTok’s Head of Music Operations DACH since October 2022, and before that, she was an Artist Relations Manager. She originally joined TikTok in August 2020. In her new position, Stahl will oversee TikTok’s music partnerships team across Europe (excluding the UK), as well as the Middle East and North Africa.
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!
MUSEXPO has been a global leader in providing labels, publishers, managers, composers, songwriters, creatives, and many others, insights into the evolving world of sync within film, TV, video games, trailers, promos, brands, advertising, and more. The world’s first-ever global sync forum was launched at MUSEXPO 2005, and has featured well over one thousand sync executives since, including individual music supervisors, and companies like Netflix, Universal Pictures, EA Games, Warner Bros. Pictures, NBC Universal, Pepsico, Apple, Nike, Red Bull, Coca-Cola, Activision, FOX, Disney, 20th Century Fox, ABC, CBS, Paramount, Viacom, Microsoft, X-Box, Sony PlayStation, Best Buy, WWE, Starbucks, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, and countless others.
In addition, MUSEXPO has brought its global sync and brands summit concept which it created and launched back in 2010 to conferences and events in Canada, U.K., France, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Australia, Holland, and numerous other countries around the world.
MUSEXPO 2025 will bring together some unique sync types of engagement/s, panels, and opportunities that are exclusive to next year’s event. Access is limited, so sign up early at www.musexpo.net to guarantee your spot.
THE RUBENS
The Rubens have announced their highly anticipated new studio album SODA, set for release on Friday, September 20th. Three years after their ARIA No.1 album 0202, the Sydney, Australia-based quintet returns with their most evolved record yet, blending refined sounds with experimental elements. Their recent singles “Black Balloon,” “Liquid Gold,” “Good Mood,” and “Pets and Drugs” have garnered significant attention across major Australian radio stations and streaming platforms. With a history of chart-topping successes, including four Top 3 ARIA Albums and the 5x Platinum hit “Hoops,” The Rubens continue to solidify their place in the music industry. In celebration of their fifth LP, the band will embark on a 12-date national headline tour this September and October, visiting major cities across Australia. SODA showcases The Rubens have an innovative approach to pop music, featuring a mix of subversive love songs, genre-blending guitars, and unique vocal effects. The album’s standout single “Black Balloon,” produced by Konstantin Kersting (Tones & I, Spacey Jane) exemplifies the band’s signature energy while pushing their sound to new heights. Sample the new single HERE, and contact Matthew Kennedy at matthew@wemanage.com.au for all global opportunities on behalf of The Rubens.
WEDA MAUVE
Seventeen-year-old Weda Mauve is redefining the boundaries of Indonesia’s music scene with his daring approach to songwriting and production. Weda recently unleashed his most ambitious track yet, “[Still On] Repeat,” through Semesta Records. Known for his willingness to push the envelope, Weda delves into a bold blend of Eurodance, house-pop, and hyper-pop in this four-minute, high-energy anthem. Fans of Troye Sivan and Charli XCX will find themselves captivated by Weda’s latest evolution. “[Still On] Repeat” not only showcases Weda’s musical growth since his debut album DENIAL DLX+, but also his lyrical maturity. Drawing from personal experiences, he infuses the track with passionate and suggestive lyrics, reflecting on relationships and the changes that come with growing up. His collaboration with Jevin Julian, one-half of the EDM duo Soundwave, adds a fresh and dynamic layer to the track, ensuring that listeners will be compelled to dance. Weda’s journey from his earlier work, like “Adrenaline Rush” and “Dinner,” to this latest release, illustrates his commitment to artistic exploration and authenticity. “[Still On] Repeat” is a powerful testament to his growth, both as an individual and an artist, marking a new chapter in his already impressive career. Embrace the energy of “[Still On] Repeat” with the music video HERE, and contact Sisil at dmasivbandofficial@gmail.com for additional information on Weda Mauve, including booking, sync, licensing, publishing, and signing opportunities.
“PASSPORT APPROVED” PLAYLIST FOR Sunday, August 25th, 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:
LEONIDEN – “Never Never” (Universal Music, Germany)
LIME CORDIALE – “Cold Treatment” (Chugg Music, Australia)
NOTHINGSPECIAL – “Catacombs” (Don’t Be Greedy, Germany)
HINDS – “Boom Boom Back” Featuring Beck (Lucky Number, Spain)
NOTHING BUT THIEVES – “Oh No :: He Said What?” (RCA Records, U.K.)
THE VICES – “Strange Again” (Mattan Records, Holland)
MATTHEW MOLE – “Okay” (Universal Music, South Africa)
ACROBVT – “Can’t Put You Down” (Unsigned, U.K.)
JACK CRITCHLOW – “Bleeding” (Unsigned, U.K.)
PICTURE THIS – “Satellites” (RCA Records, Ireland)
STONE – “My Thoughts Go” (Polydor, U.K.)
BRIMHEIM – “Dancing In The Rubble” (Tambourhinoceros, Germany)
SEA GIRLS – “Does Only God Know That We’re Lonely” (Alt Records/Believe, U.K.)
WEDA MAUVE – “(Still On) Repeat” (Unsigned, Indonesia)
RHETT REPKO – “How Cold” (Unsigned, N. America)
BRICE KENDALL – “The Birdhouse” (Unsigned, N. America)
DELIGHTS – “Two Times Over” (Modern Sky, U.K.)
MIDDLE KIDS – “Your Side Forever” (EMI, Australia)
DOTAN – “Louder” (7 Layers Music, Holland)
CORELLA – “I Didn’t Know Your Name” (Corella Music, U.K.)
CHAPEL OF ROSES – “It’s Not Nothing” (Unsigned, N. America)
THE RUBENS – “Black Balloon” (Ivy League Records, Australia)
PALE WAVES – “Perfume” (Dirty Hit, U.K.)
IAMJJ – “Extra Spicy Noodles” (Mermaid, Denmark)
CARISSA SUMMER ROSE – “Living In The Moment” (Unsigned, N. America)
TALISCO – “Closer” (Roy Music, France)
THE DREAM MACHINE – “Cindy’s Eyes” (Unsigned, U.K.)
MONOTRONIC – “Kids of Summer” (Unsigned, N. America)
MASI MASI – She’s Coming Through My Window (P.I.M.P, U.K.)
GLASS CITIES – “Kennedy” (Unsigned, N. America)
DIYA – “Blow The Blue Away” (Unsigned, U.K.)
ELECTRIC ENEMY – “The Dark” (Red Sun Records, U.K.)
BECCA SWAN – “No Regrets” (Unsigned, N. America)
SOUTH AFRICA’S 2KULTURED INKS GLOBAL DEAL: The David Gresham Record Company (DGRC), a leading independent music company in South Africa tells A&R Worldwide that it has signed 2Kultured. The dynamic producer duo from Kwa-Thema, consisting of Kamto da Kay and Khesto Deep SA, are recognized for their exceptional DJing skills and deep connection to the Amapiano culture. Their mission is to elevate their unique sound on a global scale, bringing the vibrant essence of their township to the international music scene. 2Kultured’s music is a rich tapestry of their upbringing and street culture, capturing the spirit and energy of their community with every beat. Andrew Mitchley, Managing Director, DGRC said, “We are thrilled to have 2Kultured join our roster. Their unique sound and infectious energy align perfectly with our mission to support and promote innovative artists. We look forward to amplifying their incredible work on a global stage.” Kamto da Kay and Khesto Deep SA said they were equally enthusiastic about this collaboration with DGRC, viewing it as a pivotal moment in their careers.
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 info@anrworldwide.com. Also, all demos and new music releases should be sent as STREAMING LINKS ONLY to info@anrworldwide.com.
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