Pandora poaches a top JPMorgan executive.
Brad Minor will serve as Vice President and Head of Brand Marketing and Communications at Pandora. He’ll work at Pandora’s offices in Oakland and New York. Minor will shape the brand’s identity for existing users and expand on brand activations and experiences. He previously served as Managing Director of Brand, Advertising, and Media at JPMorgan Chase and Co.
Columbia Records ups a VP and confirms a key appointment.
Lisa Sonkin will now serve as Senior Vice President of Triple A and Public Radio Promotion at Columbia Records. She joined the company in 2008 after four years at Epic Records, where she served as Vice President of Triple A Promotion.
Manos Xanthogeorgis will serve as Senior Vice President of Digital Marketing and Media at Columbia Records. He’ll oversee the development and execution of digital strategy, including consumer engagement, social media, and streaming marketing. Xanthogeorgis will also oversee advertising for artists. He’ll report to Jenifer Mallory, Columbia’s General Manager.
UMG names a top executive and poaches an SVP from the NFL.
Giles Martin will serve as Head of Audio and Sound at Universal Music Group (UMG). In the newly created role, he’ll lead the label’s exploration and adoption of emerging audio formats. Based in Abbey Road Studios in London, Martin will also inspire artist creativity.
Jaime Weston will serve as Executive Vice President of Consumer Marketing at Universal Music Group (UMG). In the newly created role, she’ll oversee targeted marketing strategy for artists globally. Weston will also develop marketing initiatives and consumer insights for UMG labels and businesses. She’ll report to Dave Rocco, Executive Vice President of Creative. Weston had previously served as the NFL’s Senior Vice President of Marketing. She had overseen brand strategy for the league and all 32 teams.
MTV announces a new hire for Digital Studios.
Lars Silberbauer will serve as Senior Vice President at MTV Digital Studios. In the newly created role, the former Lego executive will oversee creative, development, and production for digital originals. He’ll also lead MTV’s social channels, including ‘Crib,’ ‘Teen Code,’ and ‘TRL.’ Relocating from London to New York, Silberbauer will start on November 1st.
Warner/Chappell Germany announces a promotion and restructures its A&R team.
Natascha Augustin will now serve as Senior Creative Director at Warner/Chappell Music Germany. Per MBW, the promotion follows a recent restructure of the publisher’s A&R team.
Julien Weiss will serve as Creative Manager of Song Marketing. He’ll oversee the publisher’s Berlin office as well as pop co-writes.
Max Breinbauer will oversee international co-writes.
Frank Feiler will oversee co-writes and catalog marketing.
Another one gone at BBC Radio.
Simon Mayo has confirmed he will leave BBC Radio 2. The move comes several months after the BBC revamped his morning show. The exit also comes after two other BBC Radio DJs left the company – Charlie Sloth and Zane Lowe.
In a statement, Mayo said he wants to move on to other projects not related to broadcast radio.
“Obviously, I’m very sad to be leaving Radio 2 and my good friend Jo. However, 2019 looks like being incredibly exciting for me. I have a new two book deal with Transworld, my children’s series ‘Itch’ is being filmed for TV in Australia in early 2019, and I’m continuing to develop my novel ‘Mad Blood Stirring’ for a movie with screenwriter Jack Thorne.”
LASED makes four key hires.
Christy Castillo Butcher will serve as Senior Vice President of Programming at the Los Angeles Stadium and Entertainment District at Hollywood Park (LASED), a new venue and entertainment complex. She joins from AEG’s Staples Center and Microsoft Theatre, where she served as Senior Vice President of Booking and Events.
Kameron Durham will serve as Vice President of Guest Experience.
Skarpi Hedinsson will serve as Chief Technology Officer.
Joe Sesin will serve as Vice President of Finance and Accounting.
Per IQ Mag, Castillo Butcher, Durham, Hedinsson, and Sesin will report to Jason Gannon, Managing Director at LASED.
The LASED remains on track to open in 2020.
Snap poaches two executives from Amazon and The Huffington Post.
Following the abrupt departure of Imran Khan, the company’s Chief Strategy Officer, Snap has announced two key hires.
Jeremi Gorman, Amazon’s former Head of Global Advertising Sales, will serve as Chief Business Officer. He’ll lead Snap’s global business solutions, global online sales, customer operations, and business marketing.
Jared Grusd, The Huffington Post’s former CEO, has joined the company as its Chief Strategy Officer. Replacing Khan, he’ll oversee content, global strategy, partnerships, and corporate development.
Executive shuffle at AEG Europe.
Alex Hill, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer at AEG Europe, will succeed Tom Miserendino, current President and CEO effective January 1st, 2019.
Miserendino will retire on December 31st, 2018. He had served at the company since 2002.
Hill has served as CEO for six years and as CFO for eleven. He has driven AEG Europe’s commercial growth across Europe. Hill has also developed and executed the company’s corporate strategy. Hill previously served at FreMantleMedia, FlexTech Television, and KPMG.
Position Music names a new top executive.
Moira McCarthy will serve as Senior Directive of Creative, Advertising, and Marketing at Position Music. She’ll oversee creative across advertising and marketing. At Position, the ten-year executive has secured synch placements with Samsung, Google, Ralph Lauren, Jeep, and McDonalds. McCarthy previously served at Grupo Spiro, The Napoleon Group, and Audio Network. She also sits on the Board of Directors of Women in Music, acting as Events Co-Chair.
Longtime Canadian DJ to retire.
Roger Ashby, a 50-year Canadian radio show veteran, has confirmed he will retire. His final show will take place on December 5th.
Head of Greek Copyright Office steps down.
Irini Stamatoudi, the Head of the Greek Copyright Office (OPI), has resigned. The move comes amidst a government investigation into corruption in the country’s music rights sector.
In a resignation letter sent to Myrsini Zorba, Minister of Culture and Sports, Stamatoudi wrote,
” I am unable to remain in a position where there is no longer a way to exercise my statutory powers due to the merciless war on behalf of President Antoniades and the Board of Directors of OPI.”
What’s going on at Spotify?
Doug Ford, Senior Director and Head of Music Cultural & Editorial, will leave after five and a half years at Spotify. The company has confirmed Ford will exit the company, but declined to comment.
MHA makes a key appointment.
Caitlin Kennedy will serve as Executive Administrator at Music Health Alliance (MHA), an industry health advocate based in Nashville. She’ll support Tatum Allsep, CEO and Founder, and Shelia Shipley Biddy. Kennedy will also assist with day-to-day operations.
Dualtone Americana’s imprint has a new leader at the helm.
Ethan Hawke, Charlie Sexton, and Louis Black have launched SexHawkeBlack Records, a label based in Austin. Erika Pinktipps will lead the Dualtone Americana imprint as President. The new label has signed singer/songwriter Ben Dickey as its first artist.
BMG Nashville poaches an executive from Sea Gayle Music.
Jake Gear will serve as Senior Directive of Creative at BMG Nashville. He’ll work with BMG’s songwriters as well as sign and develop new talent. Gear previously served at Sea Gayle Music, CMT, and Magic Mustang Music. He’ll report to Kos Weaver, Executive Vice President.
Cox ups a lead executive.
Chris Eagan will now serve as Senior Director of Operations for Atlanta at Cox Media Group. He’ll oversee programming for B98.5 WSB-FM, 97.1 The River WSRV-FM, and Kiss 104.1 WALR-FM. Eagan will also lead radio promotions, digital productions, and commercial production in the Atlanta market.
Emmis announces a promotion.
Bethany Kent will now serve as Director of Marketing and Events at Emmis New York City. Per All Access, she’ll oversee marketing and events for Hot 97, 107.5 WBLS-FM, and 1190 WLIB-AM. Kent will also serve as Lead Producer for Emmis New York events, including Summer Jam and Circle of Sisters.
TuneIn adds a new team member.
Liz Hernandez will serve as Host of ‘Today’s Hits,’ an exclusive TuneIn station. The Emmy-nominated TV personality and journalist previously hosted iHeartRadio’s 104.3 MY/fm in Los Angeles and E! News Now.
Featured image by Brad Minor.