A&R WORLDWIDE SUPPORTED ARTIST VELLA INKS A GLOBAL DEAL WITH UNIVERSAL MUSIC SWEDEN Florida-born artist Gabriella Valdes, professionally known as Vella has signed a worldwide recording deal with Universal Music Sweden, A&R Worldwide can reveal. The talented singer-songwriter whose musical style is a cross between Amy Winehouse and Adele, first came across the international radar...Read More

UNIVERSAL MUSIC JAPAN APPOINTS SHINTARO AKI AS MANAGING DIRECTOR, EMI RECORDS   Universal Music Japan (UMJ), a division of Universal Music Group (UMG), has today announced the appointment of widely respected industry and A&R executive Shintaro Aki as Managing Director, EMI Records Japan, effective immediately. He will be based in Tokyo and will report to...Read More

MUSEXPO 2025 ANNOUNCES ITS EVENT PROGRAM & UNVEILS MORE SPEAKERS FOR ITS 25TH EDITION MUSEXPO “The United Nations of Music” (www.musexpo.net), the pioneering global music business conference renowned for its transformative impact on the music industry, will take place March 16 – 19, 2025, in Burbank, California. Marking a quarter-century of influence, MUSEXPO 2025 will...Read More

MUSEXPO 2025 TO CELEBRATE 25 YEARS OF INDUSTRY TRANSFORMATION WITH A GROUNDBREAKING KEYNOTE PANEL FEATURING BOB BOWEN & AMAZON MGM STUDIOS’ GLOBAL MUSIC TEAM   MUSEXPO (www.musexpo.net), “The United Nations of Music,” is thrilled to announce its 25th global edition, scheduled to take place from March 16 – March 19, 2025, in Burbank, California “The...Read More

JENNIFER KNOEPFLE NAMED HEAD OF U.S. A&R AT UNIVERSAL MUSIC PUBLISHING GROUP   Jennifer Knoepfle has been promoted to the position of Head of U.S. A&R at Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG), as announced by Jody Gerson, Chairman & CEO, UMPG. Knoepfle will continue to operate from the company’s Santa Monica headquarters while retaining her role...Read More

MANDAR THAKUR, CEO, TIMES MUSIC GROUP (INDIA) NAMED AS THE MUSEXPO 2025 “INTERNATIONAL MUSIC PERSON OF THE YEAR”   MUSEXPO 2025 will celebrate its 25th global edition by recognizing Mandar Thakur, CEO, Times Music Group (India), as the “International Music Person of the Year.” Thakur is the first executive from the Asia, SE Asia, and...Read More

IRELAND’S SHOBSY INKS WORLDWIDE SIGNING WITH PANGEA INTERNATIONAL MUSIC PUBLISHING   Irish singer-songwriter Shobsy has signed a worldwide music publishing deal with Pangea International Music Publishing which is partnered with Sony Music Publishing for administration. The signing follows Shobsy’s recent successful trip to Los Angeles, where he performed at MUSEXPO in Burbank, CA, and made...Read More

MUSEXPO 2025 UNVEILS MORE GLOBAL SPEAKERS FOR ITS 25TH EDITION AND ANNOUNCES A&R ARTIST SHOWCASE DETAILS MUSEXPO “The United Nations of Music” (www.musexpo.net), the pioneering global music business conference renowned for its transformative impact on the music industry, will take place March 16 – 19, 2025, in Burbank, California. Marking a quarter-century of influence, MUSEXPO...Read More

VETERAN U.K. MUSIC EXECUTIVE RICH CASTILLO JOINS GRADUATION AS HEAD OF A&R   Rich Castillo, a highly respected figure in A&R, has been appointed the Head of A&R at the London, England-based Graduation, a music and artist development firm. In his new role, Castillo will report to Charlie Lycett, Founder & CEO, where he will...Read More

MAX PAPROTH NAMED MANAGING DIRECTOR & GLOBAL PRESIDENT A&R AT BUDDE MUSIC   A&R Worldwide can reveal that starting in January 2025, Maximilian Paproth (also known as Max Paproth) will step into the role of Managing Director at the esteemed independent and multinational German music publishing powerhouse, Budde Music. In this capacity, he will also assume the title of Global...Read More