A&R moves 27 August 2014

SpinMedia has named Stephen Blackwell their new CEO. Blackwell is the founder of Death and Taxes, which SpinMedia acquired in July. Xaxis‘ Director of Product Development  Mike Finnegan has been hired away by Live Nation. Finnegan is now Live Nation’s VP of Programmatic and Product Innovation. McDonald’s recently hired their first VP of Digital, Julia Vander Ploeg. Previously, Ploeg was on the digital team at Ticketmaster. Various job postings hint that McDonald’s is expanding further into the digital and music spaces. Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment has announced the departure of their President and CEO, Tim Leiweke. Leiweke, previously President and CEO at AEG Live, announced in a statement that it was time he began ‘the transition from sports and entertainment executive to entrepreneur.’ Island Records has promoted veteran A&R man Steve Yegelwel to Senior VP at the Universal Music Group imprint. Eighteen months after being named Senior Vice President of Sales at Capitol Music Group, Ron Spaulding has exited the label. A statement released named Vince Szydlowski, Senior Vice President of Label Sales for Capitol Music Group, reporting to executive vice president Greg Thompson. Following reports that All Def Digital had secured a new round of funding, the company has announced the addition of former Machinima executive Sanjay Sharma along with veteran marketing executive Liz Hausle, who most recently served as a Vice President at Roc Nation, will join the All Def Music staff as Executive Vice President Marketing. Meanwhile, Co-Founder of Title 9 Music Publishing and Founder and Co-CEO of Title 9 Productions Carmen Murray will fill a General Manager role focusing on artist development and label relations. Longtime film and TV licensing executive Debra Delshad has joined independent publisher Angry Mob Music to head its synchronization and licensing department. Adding to her duties as EVP of Publicity at RCA Records, Mika El-Baz is relocating from New York to LA adding EVP West Coast to her title and duties. And, Brian Monaco has been promoted to executive VP, worldwide head of advertising, film and television at Sony/ATV Music Publishing.

Source: A&R Registry