Recent Music Industry Moves

Maureen Kenney joins the A&R department at Atlantic from Universal/Republic while Dan Chertoff joins the A&R department at RCA from Canvasback. In other Atlantic Records news, A&R executive Brandon Davis moves from the New York office to the Los Angeles office. Tunji Balogun joins the A&R team at Interscope, Izabelle Wilson joins Epic (CA) as an A&R consultant while A&R veteran Mollie Moore joins her old alma mater, Atlantic. Allyson Coff and Travis Rosenblatt join 300’s A&R team in New York, Taylor Testa and Candace Campbell exited Epic, and Adam Herzog, Jackie Winkler, Jaime Neely, and Nick Haussling all exited Warner Bros. Several labels have also move to brand-new locations including 300, Atlantic (NY), Schoolboy, Warner Bros. (NY and UK) as well as Warner Music (UK). Dickon Stainer, longtime head of Decca Records Group, was appointed President and CEO of Global Classics to spearhead all things classical at Universal Music Group International. Def Jam Recordings promoted Rob Caiaffa to VP, Marketing, Sony Music Nashville has appointed Fount Lynch as VP, Media, and The Madison Square Garden Company announced Scott Henry as EVP and Chief Technology Officer. Dion ‘No I.D.’ Wilson was promoted to EVP of Def Jam Recordings where he will oversee all A&R activities at the label and Nina Webb and David Grant were appointed as VP/Co-Heads of Atlantic Records Pop and Rock Marketing department. New West Records appointed John Allen as their new President, New West Independent Music Publishing and the label’s artist imprint, Normaltown Records. Republic Records announced the promotion of Rob Harvey to VP of Top 40 effective immediately. Black Box, a new artist development company, has announced plans to officially launch next year. The company’s founder is Livia Tortella, former Co-President and COO of Warner Bros. Records. New hires include Rob Farina as COO, Brian Popowitz as VP of Marketing and Business Development and Abbe Cohen as Sr. Director of Brand Partnerships. The Blues Foundation CEO Jay Sieleman has announced he is stepping down from the position next year, a position he has held since 2003. Warner Music Asia Pacific President Lachie Rutherford is retiring next month and we hear that Warner Music UK COO/CFO Simon Robson will take over Rutherford’s position and Peter Breeden will take over Robson’s position. Def Jam Recordings has promoted Scott Maness to VP of Rhythm Crossover Promotion and Sony/ATV has promoted Rich Christina to SVP and Head of East Coast A&R. And, Rhapsody, after being without a CEO since 2013, has announced that David Hose will serve as an interim CEO.

We are sad to report that we have lost two industry executives recently. Long-time A&R executive at Warner Records Craig Aaronson passed away as a result of cancer and music publishing executive Linda Komorsky Liker, President of International Music Services, passed away after being struck by a call. Our heartfelt condolences and prayers go out to their families, friends and colleagues they leave behind.

Source: A&R Registry