Island Records promoted Sharon Timure to senior vp/head of marketing and hired Jhared “Jae” Brown as vp, A&R.
Based in New York, Timure will lead marketing strategies at the label. She’ll report to Island general manager Mike Alexander, who in a statement called Timure “one of the most dedicated, passionate, and creative marketing strategists in the industry,” adding, “Respected by artists, managers, as well as the entire staff, Sharon’s prowess in developing artists with a progressive strategy will be a driving force leading Island Records into the future.”
“I’m honored to continue my journey at Island records as part of an amazing team driven by many female department heads,” said Timure. “Island is an iconic label with unmatched artists and staff, that has been my home since the start of my career. Thank you Imran, Justin, and Mike for this incredible opportunity to join the senior executive team launching the next era of Island Records.”
Timure, who started at Island as a college intern, has been vp, marketing at the label since 2015. During that time, she played a pivotal role in the success of Shawn Mendes while also working with artists including The Killers and Bon Jovi. She was named to Billboard’s 40 Under 40 list in 2016 and Billboard‘s Women in Music list in 2017.
Brown arrives at Island after spending two years at Rostrum Records, where he served as vp, A&R. During his time there, he worked on the rollout of Rich the Kid, whom he signed, while developing emerging artists like Taleban Dooda and DC the Don.
“Jae is widely known for his ‘artist-first’ philosophy, a credo that we take very seriously at Island as we strive to build on the label’s entrepreneurial spirit and live up to our commitment to breaking new artists across every genre,” said Island co-CEO Imran Majid. Co-CEO Justin Eshak added, “Jae brings in a unique vision as an A&R with great marketing expertise, which will be an instrumental part in defining the Island Records roster.”
Brown, who is based in New York, will report to both Majid and Eshak. In addition to Rostrum, he previously served in a dual product manager/A&R role at Interscope and in a dual A&R/global marketing role at Capitol/Motown.
Concord promoted a total of 10 staff members from across the company to vp, senior vp and managing director roles.
Kay Anderson is now vp, marketing, Craft Recordings. Based in Los Angeles, she joined Concord in 2017 after serving in roles at Warner Bros. Records, BMG and Velvet Hammer Management, among others. She focuses on driving catalog music discovery and consumption for Concord’s repertoire.
Caroline Barnard is now senior vp, business & legal affairs. She’s been with Concord for five years, initially as part of The Musical Company and, since 2018, at Concord Theatricals. Based in New York, she provides business and legal support across Concord’s theatrical division, including stock and amateur acquisitions, first class licensing, theatrical investments and cast album distribution. She also works to maintain Concord Theatricals’ catalog of over 10,000 titles.
Brian Buchanan, based in Nashville, is now vp, income tracking. He joined Concord in October 2018 as revenue analyst following two years at Big Deal Music Group. In leading Concord’s income tracking department, his duties will include taking large sets of data and extracting valuable information about the company’s revenue.
Nashville-based Mark Copeland is now vp, rights optimization. He started at Concord in 2015 following its merger with The Bicycle Music Company, where he was hired in 2013. In 2018, he launched Concord’s first-ever rights optimization department and, along with his team, he’s developed a business model managing Concord’s video rights and revenue.
Rob Dekker, based in New York, is now vp marketing, Kidz Bop. He arrived at Concord in 2015 after it acquired Wind-up Records and subsequently joined Kidz Bop as marketing manager in 2016. Over the last five years, he has led Kidz Bop’s global release planning, album marketing and digital initiatives. He will continue focusing his efforts on expanding the brand globally and leveraging its audio and video catalog.
Fred Gillham is now managing director, recorded music, Europe & UK out of London. He joined Concord in 2019 to open its first U.K. recorded music office and build a team to take control of campaigns and distribution relationships while championing Concord’s label brands. In his expanded role, Gillham will expand deeper into Europe, making new hires and signing new partnerships across the continent.
Brandon Schott is now, vp, licensing. The Nashville-based Schott boarded Concord in the summer of 2020 and became a key player in building out and managing Concord’s new Nashville clearance department and assembling a team of licensing talent. He also secured major advertising opportunities for Concord’s songwriters and artists alongside the company’s publishing and recorded music creative teams.
Jackie Turner is now vp, Kidz Bop partnerships. Based in New York, Turner joined Kidz Bop in 2014 and has since helped build and grow the brand’s partnership marketing division. She spearheads the development and execution of brand alliances across tour sponsorships, co-branded promotions, consumer products and experiential events.
Robin Walton is now vp, business & legal affairs, theatrical. She came to Concord in 1991 via The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization. Based in New York, she boasts 30 years of experience in the theatrical industry and has expertise in the licensing and administration of the Rodgers & Hammerstein, Rodgers & Hart and Irving Berlin catalogues.
Los Angeles-based Yimage Yousuf is now vp, repertoire management. He joined Concord in 2003 as a teenager, shipping out custom orders from Concord’s warehouse in the Beverly Hills office. He has worked in various departments at Concord and was one of the first members of the company’s repertoire management team.
Republic Records elevated Julie Vastola to vp, visual content. She was previously director, visual content.
In the new role, Vastola will continue overseeing the creation of visual content for artists across the label’s roster, including lyric videos, social media videos and other assets. She will also help foster the creation of music videos and original content production alongside senior vp, visual content and production Devon Libran.
During her tenure at Republic, which she joined in 2015 as digital marketing manager, the New York-based Vastola has led digital visual content creation for artists including Ariana Grande, Lil Wayne and Kim Petras, among others.
Before joining Republic, Vastola spent seven years at SRP Music Group, where she worked her way up to project manager. In addition to her executive duties, she co-heads the creative committee of the Republic Records Action Committee (R2AC), which helps provide equal opportunities to BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ visual creatives. She was included on Billboard’s 2021 Pride List and was part of the team that won the Silver Clio Award in 2019 for the Jonas Brothers‘ Happiness Begins Campaign.
Swiss music fintech company Utopia Music hired Ulf Zick as CMO, effective Apr. 1. He joins the company from Universal Music Germany, where, as managing director, he was tasked with overseeing the strategic development and marketing for the company’s roster and driving its digital transformation.
Based in Zug, Switzerland, Zick will oversee the overall strategic vision and direction of Utopia’s marketing, positioning, communications, content strategy and execution of the brand direction. He’ll report to Utopia CEO Markku Mäkeläinen.
Zick joined UMG in 2018 from Spotify, where he served as director, artist relations for five years. During that time, he helped drive the evolution of Spotify for Artists and launch the platform in Japan. While at UMG, he helped grow the company’s German business while elevating the careers of artists including Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga and Olivia Rodrigo in the German market. Last year, he guided the German rollout of ABBA’s comeback album Voyage, which led the band to sell more units in Germany than in any other country in the world. Zick has also worked in booking and public relations and for musical instrument and audio brands including Gibson.
“The breadth and depth of Ulf’s expertise is rare,” said Mäkeläinen. “Having worked on all sides of the business, and at the intersection of Music and Technology for many years, Ulf brings a unique perspective of the Music Industry that will be valuable to Utopia as we continue on our mission to secure ‘Fair pay For Every Play’. We couldn’t be happier to welcome him to the team.”
“Having been lucky enough to work at some of the world’s greatest companies in both the Music and Tech space, I noticed there is a massive need to optimize that important bridge,” added Zick. “Enabling the Industry to hyperfocus on its strengths while fixing the entire ecosystem will have a lasting, positive impact on the industry at large and, subsequently, on Artists and Creators.”
AEG promoted and hired eight new individuals in its global touring and talent division. Brittanie Delava, who has been with AEG Presents since joining as club and theater tour coordinator in 2016, and Jonathan Ramos, who joins the company from Canada-based Ink Entertainment Group, both came aboard as vp, global touring and talent, working on the promoter team. On the same team, Lindsay Dworman was promoted to director, touring.
On the marketing team, Amy Buck was promoted to senior director, marketing; Adam Cohen was elevated to director, touring; and Dan Cleff and Nicole Dellarocca have each been named director, ticketing. Shelby Moran joined the company as director, artist development in marketing from Warner Music Nashville, where she worked in the same capacity.
“There’s nothing more gratifying to be able to see people grow and succeed from within, and it’s that much more exciting when it’s combined with the addition of new perspectives and energy,” said AEG Presents president, global touring and talent Gary Gersh. “It finally feels like a hopeful, optimistic time in our business, and I can’t wait to see the contributions made by all eight of these exceptional individuals.” – Taylor Mims
UTA added Janet Kim and Scott Schreiber as music agents out of the agency’s Beverly Hills office.
Kim previously worked at CAA, where she booked artists at private/corporate events and at large-scale Pride festivals and LGBTQ+ events, consulted for companies including South Korea’s CJ ENM and worked with artists including Adam Lambert, DNCE and Jordin Sparks. Before becoming an agent, she worked as a tour manager on the road for bands.
Schreiber comes to UTA after a decade spent at WME, where he booked shows at venues ranging from clubs to arenas. He has worked with artists including Zhu, Chet Faker and SG Lewis.
The hires of Kim and Schreiber follow a series of new hires at UTA’s music group over the last 18 months, including Scott Clayton as co-head, global music and Jeffrey Hasson and Matthew Morgan as co-heads of the agency’s Nashville office.
Los Angeles-based songwriter, producer and artist management firm Nonstop Management promoted four core team members to new roles: Bianca Minniti-Bean was elevated from general manager to president, Christina Koblick was upped from manager to senior vp, Karissa Reynafarje rose from manager to senior manager and Christina Li was promoted from executive assistant/A&R coordinator to manager.
“Bianca, Christina, Karissa, and Christina have galvanized the growth and expansion of Nonstop Management,” said Nonstop Management founder and CEO Jaime Zeluck-Hindlin in a statement. “They’re indispensable to our success and evolution. It’s an honor to promote these four savvy and smart music executives who stand out among the industry’s next generation of female leaders.”
Nonstop Management’s roster includes songwriters and producers. Recent successes for the company’s clients include The Chainsmokers’ “High” (JKash, Nick Long and Naliya), Charlie Puth’s “Light Switch” (JKash and Jake Torrey) and Michael Buble’s “I’ll Never Not Love You” (Michael Pollack).
SoundExchange made two new additions to its 18-seat board of directors: Jon Glass of Warner Music Group (WMG) and Alasdair McMullan of Universal Music Group (UMG). Both will provide business development expertise and legal acumen to the organization as it focuses on technologies that simplify the business of music while making it more efficient and fairer for creators.
Glass and McMullan replace Jeffrey Harleston of UMG and Paul Robinson of WMG, who stepped down from the board of directors in December after 13 and 19 years with the organization, respectively.
Glass is senior vp and head, digital legal affairs at WMG, where he leads business and legal affairs efforts in support of the company’s major digital initiatives. At WMG since 2010, he previously worked at Sony Music Entertainment and law firms including Morrison & Foerster LLP. In 2021, he was named one of Billboard’s Top Music Lawyers.
McMullan serves as executive vp, business and legal affairs at UMG. There, he oversees a team of attorneys who are tasked with maintaining and supervising litigation globally on behalf of the company. He joined UMG after it acquired EMI Music, where he was executive vp, legal and business affairs for EMI Music North America. Also named a Billboard Top Music Lawyer in 2021, he previously worked as an attorney at the law firm of Cowan Liebowitz & Latman.
Warner Music Nashville’s senior vp, radio Kristen Williams revamped the structure within her radio department, with a model that supplements the traditional geographic method of securing airplay with an account-focused approach.
As part of this new structure, Anna Cage was promoted to vp, radio, overseeing the WEA, WAR and WMN teams, each of which will have three regional managers and designated coordinators. Stephanie Hagerty rises to national director, radio for the WEA team. Michael Chase will continue to lead the WAR team as national director, while Williams and Cage are seeking to fill the role of national director, radio for the WMN team.
Tom Martens will transition to the newly-created role of vp, radio accounts, and will manage three directors who will each oversee relationships with radio chains, as the accounts team focuses on securing airplay and curating marketing opportunities. Lou Ramirez, James Marsh and Shari Roth will each serve as director, radio accounts. The department will also add a radio-specific analyst to gather and interpret key data to support radio promotion efforts across the roster.
Warner Music Nashville’s executive vp/general manager Ben Kline said, “At Warner Music Nashville, we’re a collective group of music lovers who thrive on artistry but recognize the importance supporting our releases with research. Adding this critical resource to the radio department further emphasizes our commitment to radio by delivering them transparent and effective data.” – Jessica Nicholson
Artist and estate management firm Morris Higham Management promoted five staff members in the marketing department. The company’s client roster includes Kenny Chesney, Brantley Gilbert and Barbara Mandrell.
Dustin Stout rises to vp, marketing, while Emily Galloway rises to director, interactive marketing. Matt Zahn, who previously served as director, marketing for Morris Light and Sound, rises to director, digital marketing at MHM. Lily Smith was promoted to marketing manager, while former intern James Deaton was named marketing coordinator.
“The greatest strength of our company is the team working tirelessly for our roster behind the scenes,” noted MHM president Clint Higham. “I’m so proud of our marketing team and the value they bring to each artist on a daily basis.”
“We have one of the strongest marketing teams in the business,” added MHM general manager Kyle Quigley. “Their vision and strategy, alongside their ability to adapt to an ever-changing marketplace, positions our roster for continued success.” – Jessica Nicholson
The Oriel Company opened a new office in Nashville that will be run by Charlotte Burke Bass, who joins the PR firm from Beeline Agency, a PR and strategic communications company she founded in 2020. In the role, Burke Bas will oversee staff and lead multi-faceted media campaigns for The Oriel’s roster.
As part of the announcement, The Oriel also announced it has come aboard to represent the Stagecoach country music festival, which is slated to take place the weekend of March 29-April 1, 2022. The firm already represents AEG/Goldenvoice properties Firefly, Head In The Clouds and This Ain’t No Picnic.
In a statement, The Oriel Company co-founder Carleen Donovan commented, “It was a natural progression for The Oriel to find our own home in Nashville, and there is no better leader on the ground for that home than Charlotte, whose work I’ve admired from afar. She’s strategic, smart, and relentless in terms of passion, vision, and execution. With her background in music, television, film and the arts, she is a welcome addition to our multi-faceted team.”
Burke Bass boasts 15 years of strategic communications experience in music, television, film, sports and tech. She previously served as director, communications at Big Machine Label Group for five years. Prior to her move to Nashville, Burke Bass spent seven years at ID Public Relations in New York City.
Music distributor Symphonic hired Oz McGuire as vp, A&R and business development and general manager of the company’s Los Angeles office as it mounts an expansion there. McGuire is Symphonic’s first executive hire following the company’s $37 million Series B investment in January.
McGuire joins Symphonic from Ingrooves Music Group, where he spent several years advising labels including Stones Throw, Alpha Pup and Foreign Family Collective. As an A&R, he’s signed artists including Kelly Rowland, MF Doom and Tokimonsta. He also specializes in digital marketing, working on hit records by Big Gigantic, Stick Figure and Freddie Gibbs/Madlib.
The Americana Music Association hired Craig Shelburne as festival producer for the organization’s annual festival and conference AmericanaFest, which is set for September 13-17, 2022. Shelburne will report to Americana Music Association executive director Jed Hilly and will be responsible for producing the nighttime music showcases during the festival portion of the event.
Shelburne, who also serves as managing editor at the Bluegrass Situation, has written about roots music for more than two decades. His career has included roles as vp at Richlynn Group, as well as general manager at MusicRow Magazine. Shelburne also spent 13 years in an editorial role at CMT.com, where he launched a roots music blog, CMT Edge, and co-produced the online series Concrete Country.
Shelburne, a Belmont University graduate, has also written the script for the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Awards five times and co-produced the 2021 show in Raleigh, North Carolina. He has additionally written for the Academy of Country Music, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, the Grand Ole Opry and the Nashville Scene. He is also the author of an upcoming biography about country artist Don Gibson.
“I am thrilled that Craig is joining our team,” Hilly says via a statement. “His knowledge of the Americana world is unsurpassed, and his insight will elevate both the team in the office and the experience of AmericanaFest’s attendees.”
“Working with the team at the Americana Music Association has already been an exceptional experience,” Shelburne adds. “I have attended the festival every year since it started, and I’ve always been impressed with AmericanaFest’s blend of rising talent and music legends. I’ve spent my career in journalism, and to me, no other genre can tell a story better than Americana.” – Jessica Nicholson
Glenn Noblit joined Studio2Bee Entertainment as executive vp/general manager to contribute oversight and strategic alignment at the Nashville-based artist development company. Noblit previously served as director, national promotion at Garth Brooks’ Pearl Records. Noblit’s more than two decades in the music industry have included roles in publicity, radio promotion and more at Warner Brothers, Lost Highway, AristoMedia and Reviver Records.
“Glenn comes to us with an impressive resume, acute leadership skills and a magnificent professional demeanor,” Studio2Bee CEO Skip Bishop said in a statement. “He’s the ideal choice to lead Studio2Bee into the next level of growth.”
Noblit added, “I have been extremely blessed and grateful for the opportunity to work with my hero and the amazing Pearl Records’ family. This exciting new chapter with Skip, Butch, and our Studio2Bee team of exceptional music professionals now begins, allowing me to follow a life-long passion to develop talented artists. I’m ready to lead our team as we grow and discover more new modern strategies together.” – Jessica Nicholson
