A&R Worldwide Newsletter Vol. 910

MUSEXPO 2026 TO HONOR NETFLIX’S AMY DUNNING AS THE “GLOBAL MEDIA EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR” & PRESENTS EXCLUSIVE PANEL WITH MEMBERS OF THE MUSIC CREATIVE TEAM

 

 

 

 

 

A&R Worldwide and MUSEXPO (taking place March 22nd – 25th, 2026 in Burbank, CA) widely recognized as “The United Nations of Music” and one of the world’s most respected independent global music and media events, has announced Amy Dunning, Vice President, Music, Netflix, as the 2026 recipient of the prestigious “Global Media Executive of the Year Award.”

The award will be presented during the “International Music Industry Awards” Gala Dinner on Wednesday, March 25th, 2026, hosted at the elegant Starlight Ballroom at Castaway in Burbank, California, fittingly known as “The Media Capital of the World.”

The “Global Media Executive of the Year Award” honors executives whose creative vision and leadership have redefined how audiences worldwide experience music across film, television, and media.

Amy Dunning is one of the most influential and forward-thinking music executives of her generation. Since joining Netflix in 2018, she built the company’s global Music Creative & Production team and currently oversees music for Netflix’s original films. Her team’s work can be heard across some of the platform’s most-watched and critically acclaimed titles, including A House of Dynamite, Frankenstein, Red Notice, Don’t Look Up, and Carry On, as well as award-winning films such as the Oscar-winning Maestro and Pinocchio.

Prior to Netflix, Dunning held senior leadership roles at 20th Century Fox, Downtown Music Publishing, and Lionsgate Entertainment. There, she guided the music for beloved and culturally impactful films including 500 Days of Summer, Juno, Life of Pi, The Wolverine, and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2. She also championed the songwriters and composers behind The Greatest Showman and La La Land, two of the most commercially successful and culturally defining soundtracks of the past decade.

Beyond her professional achievements, Dunning is a passionate advocate for emerging creative talent and an influential mentor within the global music community. She partners with Berklee College of Music, serves on the Advisory Board of the Alliance for Women Film Composers, and is a proud member of both the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Recording Academy.

The awards dinner will celebrate Dunning’s groundbreaking contributions to global entertainment, her visionary leadership in integrating music into visual storytelling, and her enduring impact on creative excellence worldwide. Previous recipients of this award include Mike Knobloch (President, Music & Publishing, NBCUniversal), and Mamie Coleman (Executive Vice President & Head of FOX Entertainment Music).

Also, as part of MUSEXPO 2026’s groundbreaking program, attendees will have the rare opportunity to go behind the scenes with the Netflix Music creative team in a special session curated in collaboration with Amy Dunning and Alex Patsavas (Music Creative + Production / Original Series, Netflix).

This unprecedented panel, titled, “Netflix Music: Meet The Team Shaping The Sound For Storytelling Success,” is the first of its kind to be held at any music business conference and brings together six of Netflix’s leading music executives for an inspiring discussion on how music shapes global storytelling.

The panel will feature Andy Gowan – Music Creative + Production, Netflix; Jill McCutchan – Music Creative + Production, Netflix; Lauren Danielak – Music Creative Executive, Netflix; Lyndsie Chlowitz – Music Creative, Live Action Original Films, Netflix; Michaela Green – Music Creative, Feature Film, Netflix; and Samantha Hilscher – Music Creative + Production, Netflix.

From original scores to iconic song placements, the team will explore how Netflix’s music departments work with content creators and music talent to drive creativity, innovation, and cultural impact– defining the soundtracks behind many of today’s most acclaimed series and films.

Attendees will gain valuable insights into “Netflix’s collaborative process that fuels its most powerful musical moments.” This session is a must-attend for music supervisors, composers, creatives, managers, labels, music publishers, and industry professionals eager to understand how music continues to shape the emotional and cultural heartbeat of visual entertainment.

Sat Bisla, Founder & President, A&R Worldwide and MUSEXPO stated, “Amy Dunning is an extraordinary leader who has reimagined how music can elevate storytelling on a truly global scale. We, and the worldwide music community look forward to celebrating her contributions as this year’s recipient of the “Global Media Executive of the Year Award.” Her vision, along with Alex Patsavas’ trailblazing leadership, has inspired a new era of creative collaboration between music and film. We are deeply grateful to Amy and Alex for helping bring together Netflix’s world-class creative team for this historic panel, which is a first in MUSEXPO’s history.”

To register to attend MUSEXPO, sign up HERE.

For artist showcase submissions, apply HERE.

For details on sponsorships, partnerships, or additional information, contact info@anrworldwide.com.

 

Universal Music Group (UMG) has unveiled a new partnership with NVIDIA aimed at advancing responsible uses of AI across music discovery, creation, and fan engagement. The collaboration brings together NVIDIA’s innovative AI infrastructure with UMG’s vast music catalog, spanning millions of recordings across every genre and era. Together, UMG and NVIDIA will focus on enhancing the way billions of fans around the world experience music. The companies will jointly invest in research and development with a shared commitment to supporting human creativity while ensuring fair compensation and protection for rights holders.

A central goal of the collaboration is to reimagine music discovery and engagement through AI-driven experiences that go beyond today’s search and personalization models. At the same time, UMG and NVIDIA will explore new AI-based methods to safeguard artists’ work, reinforce attribution, and protect music-related content across platforms.

NVIDIA and UMG are expanding the NVIDIA Music Flamingo model to redefine how listeners find and understand music. Built on NVIDIA’s advanced Audio Flamingo architecture, Music Flamingo analyzes full-length tracks, up to 15 minutes long, with exceptional depth, capturing musical structure, harmony, timbre, lyrics, and cultural context. Using chain-of-thought reasoning, the model interprets everything from chord progressions to emotional storytelling, setting a new benchmark in music intelligence. Outperforming existing models across numerous evaluations, including music captioning, instrument identification, and multilingual lyric transcription, Music Flamingo enables discovery that moves far beyond basic tags or genres, offering fans a more intuitive and meaningful way to explore music.

These AI capabilities unlock new interactive experiences that help artists connect with audiences in more dynamic ways. For creators, Music Flamingo offers powerful tools to analyze, describe, and present their work with greater nuance. For fans, it enables discovery driven by emotion, narrative, and cultural relevance, not just tempo or style, helping established artists deepen fan relationships while giving emerging artists stronger pathways to reach listeners most likely to become long-term supporters.

To ensure AI tools truly serve artists, NVIDIA and UMG will launch a dedicated artist incubator. This initiative will bring artists, songwriters, and producers directly into the development process, allowing them to co-create and test AI-powered tools within real creative workflows. By placing artists at the center of innovation, the incubator aims to enhance originality and authenticity, countering generic, low-quality AI outputs and reinforcing responsible creative use of technology.

Sir Lucian Grainge, Chairman & CEO, UMG said, “We’re excited to establish this ground-breaking strategic relationship which unites the world’s leading technology company with the world’s leading music company in a shared mission to harness revolutionary AI technology to dramatically advance the interests of the creative community and the role of music in global culture. We eagerly embrace the opportunities that AI presents, and the fact that NVIDIA is choosing to take a leadership position in the tech industry in their commitment to responsible AI principles is critically important. We look forward to working closely with NVIDIA to direct AI’s unprecedented transformational potential towards the service of artists and their fans as we work together to set new standards for innovation within the industry, while protecting and respecting copyright and human creativity.”

UMG’s Music & Advanced Machine Learning Lab, which has previously trained models using NVIDIA’s AI infrastructure, will play a key role in the collaboration. The partnership will also draw on the combined research expertise of both companies and leverage studio environments such as Abbey Road Studios in London and Capitol Studios in Los Angeles to support hands-on experimentation and collaboration. In addition, UMG will utilize NVIDIA’s AI infrastructure to further develop responsibly trained AI-driven creative and business solutions.

 

HYBE America has named Ethiopia Habtemariam as its new President of Music.

Best known for her recent tenure leading Motown Records at Universal Music Group, Habtemariam will play a significant role in driving HYBE America’s long-term growth plans. Her responsibilities will include overseeing A&R and artist development across the company’s portfolio of labels, while also identifying new creative and business opportunities, according to HYBE America.

Habtemariam will be based in both Los Angeles and Atlanta, her hometown, and a major global hub for hip-hop, where HYBE strengthened its U.S. presence through the 2023 acquisition of Quality Control. She will report directly to HYBE America Chairman and CEO Isaac Lee.

From 2021 to 2022, Habtemariam served as Chair & CEO of Motown Records, during which she led a partnership between Motown and Quality Control. In that role, she oversaw the signing and development of artists including Lil Yachty, City Girls, Migos, Lil Baby, Leon Thomas, and NBA YoungBoy.

“I’ve long admired how HYBE America approaches artists, fans, and the future of entertainment,” Habtemariam said. “This is a company building with intention and investing for the long term while staying deeply connected to culture. I am excited to contribute my experience as HYBE America continues to shape what is next for music on a global

Habtemariam began her career as a teenage intern at L.A. Reid‘s LaFace Records and went on to spend more than 20 years across multiple divisions within Universal Music Group, including Universal Music Publishing Group and Capitol Music Group. Throughout her career, she has worked with Chris Brown, J. Cole, Justin Bieber, Ciara, Jhene Aiko, Hit-Boy, Keri Hilson, Polow Da Don, Cardo, Theron Thomas, Happy Perez, and others.

 

 

 

 

 

Peermusic has elevated Paul Smelt to the newly created position of Chief Operating Officer. In this expanded role, Smelt will oversee the global administration of both publishing and neighboring rights across the company’s international offices. He previously served as COO of Peermusic Neighboring Rights.

Based in Peermusic’s Amsterdam, Holland offices, Smelt will report directly to CEO Mary Megan Peer and work closely with the executive leadership team to support client services, operational management, and long-term strategic growth. His remit will include responsibility for the company’s day-to-day operational and administrative functions.

Smelt’s role spans key areas of the business, including publishing operations such as copyright and royalty administration, as well as neighboring rights covering repertoire management and distribution. He joined Peermusic in 2020 following the company’s acquisition of Global Master Rights, the neighboring rights firm he co-founded with Erik Veerman, now Managing Director of Peermusic Neighboring Rights.

That same year, Peermusic also acquired Premier Muzik and All Right Music, a transaction that positioned the newly formed Peermusic Neighboring Rights as one of the world’s leading independent neighboring rights companies. The division represents a broad roster of more than 300 recording rights owners and over 3,000 performers, including Billie Eilish, Teddy Swims, Imagine Dragons, Martin Garrix, Megan Thee Stallion, H.E.R., and Stromae, along with more than 300 record labels such as Armada Music, Codiscos, Spinnin’ Records, Empire, Ninja Tune, and Big Machine.

Appointed COO of Peermusic Neighboring Rights in 2023, Smelt played a leading role in developing the company’s proprietary neighboring rights software and led operations teams across Montreal, Biarritz, and Amsterdam. Prior to founding Global Master Rights in 2014, where he oversaw operations, finance, data, and key client relationships, Smelt held roles at neighboring rights organization SENA.

Mary Megan Peer stated, “Paul has been crucial in the integration of the three neighboring rights companies we acquired in 2020 as their COO. We look forward to his continued success as he takes on this role in supporting our publishing operations as well. Paul’s expertise and client focus make him a perfect fit for Peermusic’s priorities. We are fortunate that Peermusic can draw on the integrity and leadership that Paul brings in this newly created position.”

Giant Rooks closed out a landmark year in 2025 with “The Future Is Cancelled,” a quietly powerful new single that signals the band’s next evolution. Following two sold-out homecoming shows in Hamm that brought 20,000 fans to their feet, and a No.1 album in Germany with How Have You Been?, the group steps into more reflective territory without sacrificing their unmistakable emotional weight. Here, they trade their usual voltage for something softer and more searching. Gentle piano lines, a fragile vocal, and a sense of vastness beneath the stillness create a sound that moves between melancholy and renewal. Produced in the U.K. by Jonathan Gilmore (The 1975, Nothing But Thieves, Biffy Clyro), the track carries a subtle international sheen that further elevates its intimacy. With “The Future Is Cancelled,” Giant Rooks once again show their instinct for pairing big questions with emotional nuance, continuing to evolve while staying tethered to the heart of who they’ve always been. Listen to the band’s latest single HERE. For additional information and available opportunities worldwide with Giant Rooks, please contact Mark Rankin.

 

RAMPRASAD SUNDAR TAPPED TO LEAD MUSIC PARTNERSHIPS AT YOUTUBE INDIA: YouTube India has named industry veteran Ramprasad Sundar as its new Head of Music Partnership, Artist & Label Relations. In his new role, Sundar will oversee YouTube’s music ecosystem in India, strengthening ties with record labels, publishers, artists, and managers. His remit will include expanding YouTube’s music offerings, maximizing artist and label opportunities on the platform, and serving as a key liaison between the company and the broader music industry at a time when digital consumption continues to surge. Sundar arrives at YouTube after a distinguished career across major global media and entertainment companies. Prior to this role, he served as Head of Music, APAC at Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios where he helped steer the music strategy across diverse markets. Before Amazon, Sundar played an instrumental role at Netflix India, leading their Music Creative and Production vertical as the streaming giant ramped up its regional content slate, helping bridge creative music supervision with production workflows across India and the Asia-Pacific. A trained composer and sound designer with global experience, Sundar also has a background working with Apple and Output Inc., bringing a blend of creative and business expertise to his roles, a combination that positions him well for YouTube’s expansive music ambitions.

 

TROY CARTER ACQUIRES CATALOG OF INFLUENTIAL POP ART RECORDS: Troy Carter has acquired the catalog of influential early hip-hop label Pop Art Records. Established in Philadelphia in the early 1980s by Lawrence Goodman, Pop Art played a pivotal role in bringing the city’s hip-hop scene to national attention. The label’s catalog features landmark early releases from some of the genre’s most prominent figures, including Salt-N-Pepa, Roxanne Shanté, and MC Shan. Among its most notable titles is “The Showstoppa,” the first-ever release by Salt-N-Pepa, which originally appeared under the name Super Nature. The collection also includes Roxanne Shanté’s 1984 breakout single “Roxanne’s Revenge,” the track that sparked the infamous “Roxanne Wars” and is widely regarded as the first diss record in hip-hop history. Another cornerstone of the catalog is MC Shan’s 1986 track “The Bridge,” which ignited the legendary “Bridge Wars” rivalry with KRS-One and Boogie Down Productions. Carter’s own journey in the music business began in 1990, when he left high school to join a hip-hop group briefly signed to Will Smith and James Lassiter‘s WilJam Records. After an internship at Bad Boy Records, he rose to prominence as the manager of Eve and later went on to represent major artists including Nelly, Lady Gaga, John Legend, Priyanka Chopra, and Meghan Trainor. In addition to artist management, Carter has built and led several media and technology ventures. He founded Coalition Media Group in 2007 and its talent division, Atom Factory, in 2010. In 2019, he co-founded Q&A Media with Suzy Ryoo and currently serves as its CEO. His entrepreneurial portfolio also includes Venice Music and social media platform The Backplane. Carter has previously held the role of Global Head of Creator Services at Spotify and currently sits on the board of SoundCloud.

 

BLYTHE & PETIT NAMED BIG LOUD CO-PRESIDENTS: Big Loud Records has named Stacy Blythe and Jordan Pettit as Co-Presidents. Blythe, who has been with Big Loud since 2015, steps up from her role as Executive VP of Promotion, effective immediately. Pettit will join the label on February 2nd, arriving from Opry Entertainment Group, where he most recently served as Vice President of Artist & Industry Relations. Both executives will report to Big Loud partners Seth England, Joey Moi, and Craig Wiseman. In their new roles, Blythe and Pettit will share responsibility for overseeing all aspects of the label’s operations, including A&R, artist development, promotion, marketing, merchandising, strategic initiatives, and special projects. Blythe will also continue to lead Big Loud Records’ promotion team alongside her broader leadership duties. “Stacy’s impact on Big Loud has been felt from the beginning – her dedication, vision, and leadership have shaped our culture and our success in profound ways,” says England. “As she steps into this new role, it feels like a win for everyone who has grown alongside her. At the same time, we’re thrilled to welcome Jordan, whose experience and relationships across the industry bring fresh energy and perspective to our team. This combination of homegrown leadership and new expertise positions Big Loud for an incredible future.”

 

WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC STRIKES GLOBAL PUBLISHING DEAL WITH ZIGGY ALBERTS: Warner Chappell Music has signed Australian artist Ziggy Alberts to a global publishing agreement. The deal, finalized through Warner Chappell Music Australia, covers his entire catalog as well as future releases, with Warner Chappell Music Nashville partnering closely to help guide the next phase of his career. From humble beginnings busking on the streets of Byron Bay to amassing more than one billion streams worldwide, Ziggy Alberts has cultivated a devoted global audience through his warm acoustic sound and songwriting. His music blends modern folk influences while touching on themes of love, personal growth, freedom, and optimism. Known for fostering a direct and meaningful connection with listeners, Alberts has built an international community drawn together by his music, values, and shared sense of purpose. Dan Rosen, President, Warner Chappell Music Australasia said, “Ziggy Alberts is one of Australia’s most captivating songwriters, and I am thrilled to welcome him to Warner Chappell Music. This partnership reinforces our commitment to providing global opportunities and support for local songwriters. Our teams in Australia and Nashville, alongside our worldwide network of songwriters and producers, will work closely with Ziggy to amplify his creative voice and vision to ensure he continues to build his fanbase across the globe. I would like to say a special thank you to Christina Wiltshire from our Nashville office for partnering with us in support of Australian talent.”

 

TONY GOLDRING JOINS CAA: Tony Goldring has been appointed as an agent in Creative Artists Agency‘s (CAA) global touring division. Working out of the agency’s Los Angeles office, he will focus on developing and expanding international touring strategies for artists across CAA’s roster. A seasoned live music executive, Goldring brings decades of experience to the role. He previously spent 25 years at WME, where he served as head of the international touring department. During his tenure, he assisted in growing global touring operations and guiding worldwide tour strategies for artists such as Rihanna, Shakira, Pitbull, Alicia Keys, Duran Duran, Justin Timberlake, and Ms. Lauryn Hill. “Tony is a great addition with his depth of knowledge and experience, and we’re excited to have him join the team,” says CAA’s Co-Head of Global Touring Rick Roskin. “As more artists continue to take their tours to new markets, our global touring business continues to grow and evolve. With Tony joining, we are creating even more opportunities to support clients on a broader scale.”

 

POSITION MUSIC SIGNS RELYT TO A WORLDWIDE PUBLISHING DEAL: Tyler Bacon, Founder & CEO, Position Music, has announced the signing of producer and mixer RELYT to a worldwide publishing agreement. Based in London, England RELYT has collaborated with an array of artists over the past year and recently earned his second Grammy nomination for his work on FLO‘s album Access All Areas. In 2024, he also produced music for K-pop sensation TWICE, along with projects for Josh Levi, H.E.R., Kehlani, Eric Bellinger, Arin Ray, KILLOWEN, GROOVYROOM, bees & honey, and James and Hype. RELYT previously received a Grammy nomination in 2023 for his contribution to Chris Brown‘s “Passing Time,” which achieved RIAA Gold and BMI Silver status. His career also includes collaborations with Zara Larsson, S1mba, and numerous other artists across genres. “RELYT is a forward-thinking artist with a distinct voice and a clear creative vision,” says Delmar Powell, VP of A&R at Position Music. “His ability to craft records that move seamlessly across Pop, R&B, Hip-Hop, Dance, and K-Pop while still connecting with a global audience sets him apart. With a growing catalog and undeniable momentum, RELYT is building something special. We are excited to support his next chapter and see where the music takes him.”

 

CREATE MUSIC GROUP PARTNERS WITH ICONIC U.K. DANCE LABEL CR2: Create Music Group (CMG) has announced the acquisition of Cr2 Holdings Group. The deal includes the influential dance label Cr2 Records, MBMB Publishing, and the music education brand Sample Tools by Cr2. As part of the agreement, Create Music Group will support Cr2 and Brown with capital investment, advanced technology, and a global infrastructure to accelerate the label’s long-term growth strategy. This includes expanded investment in independent dance artists, catalogs, labels, and publishers. In recent years, Cr2 has elevated flagship artists HUGEL and Matt Sassari to international prominence through a series of high-impact releases and collaborations. Sassari has surpassed one billion U.S. streams and earned Platinum and Gold certifications across 20 countries, fueled by his global hit “Give It to Me.” Cr2 also played a key role in bringing HUGEL to the forefront of the Afro-House movement with his 2021 breakout anthem “Morenita,” which has amassed 250 million streams worldwide. Most recently, HUGEL and Sassari earned an IMPALA Double Platinum certification for their collaboration “It Feels So Good” with Sonique, surpassing 200 million streams. Over its 20-plus-year history, Cr2 has released music from dance music icons including David Guetta, Eric Prydz, Avicii, CamelPhat, Fedde Le Grand, and Steve Angello, generating numerous chart-topping hits across the UK, U.S., and Australia. Mark Brown will continue to lead Cr2 as President, alongside Matthew Brown, while Jonathan and Eric will join the company’s board. Looking ahead, the label will prioritize deeper partnerships with its current roster and pursue strategic follow-on M&A to acquire and invest in artists’ future-facing businesses.

 

JANNIK KLEBER EXITS A&R ROLE AT UNIVERSAL MUSIC GERMANY AFTER FOUR-YEAR TENURE: Rising A&R executive Jannik Kleber has announced his departure from Universal Music Germany, marking the end of a four-year chapter at Universal Music Group (UMG) and the beginning of a new professional journey. Kleber told A&R Worldwide, “After four incredible years at Universal Music, I decided to leave the company to take on a new and exciting challenge. I want to thank the amazing UMG team in Germany, Central Europe, and beyond for this wonderful journey filled with lessons, achievements, and joy!” During his time at Universal Music Group, Kleber held a series of roles spanning key areas of the business, contributing to artist development, strategic marketing initiatives, and cross-territory collaboration within Germany and the broader Central European region. His work placed him at the intersection of creative and commercial strategy, where he was widely regarded as a driven executive with a strong understanding of both emerging talent and the evolving global music marketplace. Kleber’s tenure coincided with a period of significant transformation for the recorded music business, including the continued growth of streaming, the rise of data-driven marketing, and an increased emphasis on global artist development. While details of Kleber’s next move have not yet been disclosed, industry sources expect his new role to be announced in the coming months.

 

GRAMMY WEEK STATE OF MUSIC PUBLISHING WITH DAVID ISRAELITE: AIMP LA will be hosting their signature annual event and the leading Grammy Week gathering for the independent music publishing community. This highly anticipated evening includes NMPA President & CEO David Israelite‘s annual State of Music Publishing keynote, an essential address examining the key issues influencing songwriting, publishing, and rights management today. For 2026, the event has been reimagined as a cocktail-style happy hour at the American Legion Hall near the Hollywood Bowl, designed to encourage connection and conversation. Guests will enjoy enhanced networking opportunities, ample theater-style seating, substantial hors d’oeuvres, and a cash bar. Parking: Advance reserved parking is strongly encouraged and available for $20 on a first-come, first-served basis. Additional parking information will be released soon. For ticket purchases of more than five, please contact lainfo@aimp.org.

 

FRANCE’S MUSIC PUBLISHING MARKET WAS UP 6% IN 2024 TO €597 MILLION: France’s music publishing sector achieved record revenues of €597 million (Euros) in 2024, marking a 6% increase year over year, according to the annual report Focus on Music Publishing in France 2024. The report was released today by publishers’ associations CSDEM (pop repertoire), CEMF (classical repertoire), and ULM (production-music). The French publishing market spans three primary segments: Pop, Classical, and Production Music. In 2024, Pop dominated the market, accounting for 85% of surveyed publishers’ total turnover, while Production Music contributed 9%, and Classical Music represented the remaining 6%. Publishers continued to derive most of their income from SACEM, which distributed €335 million to publishers in 2024, 56% of total revenues, reflecting a 9% increase compared to 2023. This growth was driven by strong gains in digital rights (+17%), alongside rising revenues from live performances and background music. Direct revenues collected by publishers were largely generated through synchronization rights, both domestic and international, totaling €105 million in 2024, up 3% year over year. Income from foreign rights remained stable at €78 million. According to the International Confederation of Music Publishers (ICMP) in its inaugural ICMP Music Publishing Markets Analysis 2025, France ranks as the third-largest music publishing market globally, behind only the U.S. and the United Kingdom.

 

UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP NAMES JAMES STEVEN AS EVP & CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER: Universal Music Group has named James Steven as its new Executive Vice President & Chief Communications Officer. Steven joins UMG after a long tenure at Warner Music Group, where he served as Chief Communications Officer for the past decade and spent a total of 19 years with the company. His early years at Warner were based in London before he later relocated to New York. In his new role, Steven will oversee both internal and external communications for UMG, while also managing communications teams across the company’s global operating businesses. Beginning January 26, he will be based in New York and will report to UMG’s Chief Administrative Officer, Will Tanous, with whom he previously worked at Warner Music. During his time at Warner Music Group, Steven played a key role in navigating major milestones, including the company’s 2020 initial public offering and a CEO transition in 2022. Alongside his executive responsibilities, he currently serves on the board of the Recording Industry Association of America. Steven joined Warner Music Group in London in 2007 and moved to New York in 2012, where he progressed to Sr. Vice President of Communications & Marketing before being promoted to Chief Communications Officer in 2015. Prior to his tenure at Warner, he held senior positions at several public relations agencies, advising clients across sectors such as technology, entertainment, automotive, and food. UMG Chairman and CEO Sir Lucian Grainge said, “We welcome James to UMG and look forward to his contributions. Given Will’s broadened role, it was important that we brought in a communications executive with experience and perspective – one who was able to step right in to help us continue to shape the future of music.”

 

INVERTED MUSIC SIGNS COMPOSER AND PRODUCER PETE MILLER: Inverted Music U.K. has entered into an exclusive worldwide administration deal with writer, producer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist Pete Miller. Originally from New York and classically trained, Miller has developed a wide-ranging body of work through collaborations across pop, alternative, and electronic music. His recent credits include writing and studio work with Raye and Mike Sabath, as well as collaborations with artists such as Noah Cyrus, Arlo Parks, Meghan Trainor, Wiz Khalifa, and Caye. Miller’s contributions span multiple creative roles, including songwriting, co-production, session work, and keyboard performance. Known for working closely with a select group of creators, Inverted Music U.K. provides personalized creative and administrative services, and under this agreement will manage Miller’s catalog on a global basis. Ethav Mojgani, Director at Inverted Music UK, commented, “There is a quiet brilliance to Pete’s work that really resonated with us. Keeping Inverted boutique allows us to stay close to writers like Pete and support their catalogues with the care they deserve as they grow internationally. We are excited to be partnering with Pete.”

 

EDWARD ‘BUD’ COLE APPOINTED CEO OF FENDER: Fender has named Edward “Bud” Cole as its next Chief Executive Officer and a member of its board of directors. According to Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC), Cole will step into the role of CEO-designate on January 19, 2026, before officially taking over as CEO on February 16. He will succeed Andy Mooney, who has led the company since 2015 and is set to retire. Mooney departed after more than ten years at the helm, during which he guided Fender through a period of major innovation, including the expansion into digital subscription products. Under his leadership, Fender introduced Fender Play in 2017, an online learning platform for guitar and string players, followed by the launch of Fender Studio in 2025, an app designed for music recording and collaborative jamming. Cole has been part of Fender’s leadership team since 2015 and most recently served as President of the Asia-Pacific region. In that role, he oversaw significant growth initiatives, including the establishment of Fender’s APAC headquarters in Tokyo and the opening of the brand’s first-ever flagship store in Harajuku in 2023. Fender credits Cole with strengthening the company’s footprint across 14 markets throughout the region. Before joining Fender, Cole held senior executive positions at global brands including Pernod Ricard Group, LVMH, QVC, and Ralph Lauren, building an international career that has taken him to roughly 60 countries. Fender also highlights Cole’s deep personal connection to music. A lifelong musician, his first instrument was an acoustic Fender La Brea, followed by a Fender Made-in-Japan 1969 Thinline Telecaster reissue purchased in 1989, an instrument he continues to play today. Cole is a graduate of Arizona State University, and in a full-circle moment, Fender noted that his very first job interview after college was for a PR role at the company, a position he did not get.

 

HAYLEY DUKES PROMOTED TO SR. VP OF LICENSING AT ASCAP: ASCAP has promoted Hayley Dukes to the role of Sr. Vice President of Licensing. Formerly Vice President of Licensing, Dukes will continue to report to Stephanie Ruyle, ASCAP’s Executive VP and Head of Licensing. She first joined the organization in 2020. In her expanded position, Dukes is responsible for leading the negotiation, analysis, and execution of complex, multi-year public performance licensing agreements across digital platforms, broadcast television, cable, and radio. Before joining ASCAP, Dukes held senior roles at AMC Networks, including VP of Licensing and Operations & Director of Digital Business Development. During her time there, she oversaw film and television series acquisitions for two global subscription-based streaming services. Earlier in her career, she worked in program planning and analysis at HBO. ASCAP represents more than 1.1 million songwriters, composers, and music publishers around the world. In 2024, the organization posted record revenues of $1.835 billion, with $1.696 billion distributed to members as royalties.

 

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