Congratulations! You've opted in to view the latest edition of Executive Turntable, Billboard's comprehensive(ish) roundup of promotions, hires, departures and firings — and everything in between — across music.
Read on for mostly good news, and don't forget to nominate an impressive executive for the Power 100 Players' Choice Award, plus check out our weekly interview series featuring a single c-suiter and our helpful calendar of notable industry events and lineups .
Lekeisha Irion is the new head of A&R at Warner Chappell Music Benelux — a fancy portmanteau for Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. Based in Amsterdam, Irion will report to Niels Walboomers, president of records and publishing in the tri-nation region. Since joining A&R Manager last year after a stint as an office manager at Sony Music Publishing, Irion has influenced Dutch pop and hip-hop, working with artists such as Roxy Dekker, who has slapped four No. 1 in the Netherlands this year, Dutch singer-rapper Antoon. Known for its collaboration with Warner Music Benelux's recorded music group, Irion has helped secure publishing and recording deals for a number of artists. Walboomers and Shani Gonzales, WCM's head of International A&R, praised Irion's early success and strong instincts for new talent. “She understands how genres and scenes are evolving in different markets and identifies opportunities for her writers to engage in collaborations,” Gonzales said.
Sony Music Publishing elevated Rachel Conte to the vice president of sample clearance, legal and business affairs. In her new role, Conte will lead the US sample clearance team, streamline operations and develop strategies to expand sampling opportunities for SMP's songwriters and catalog. He will also work with international offices to streamline sample approvals for US-based work, reporting directly to Peter Brodsky, business and legal affairs representative and general counsel based in New York. Conte joined SMP in 2006 and has held various roles, most recently assistant manager of sample clearance. “Racheal's contributions have been key to the success of SMP's songwriters and catalogs, and it has been rewarding to watch her grow as a leader throughout her tenure with the company,” said Brodsky.
RADIO, RADIO: iHeartMedia Dozens — hundreds, according to reports — of employees from radio stations across the country were laid off. Among those affected by the sweeping cuts are regional presidents Matt Scarano (Chicago), Clyde Bass (Texas/Arkansas), Alan Chartrand (Boston) and Michael Berger (Raleigh), among others… Back at the home office, iHeart up Jordan Fassbender from general counsel to chief legal officer, with the former 21st Century Fox executive retaining her other titles of EVP and company secretary… Audacity hired a senior research and insights executive Ray Borrelliwho arrives after serving as vice president of Warner Bros. Discovery of ad sales research.
Emily Kruseformerly vice president of brands and sync at Warner Music Australia, has joined Second Level Music as head of partnerships. She brings extensive experience in syndication licensing and artist-brand partnerships from her time at Warner and, prior to that, Universal Music. The Sydneysider said she was delighted with Level Two's dynamic and thoughtful approach to music supervision, while managing director Jen Taunton praised Crews' ability to “navigate often complex and multi-layered deals, always managing to find the 'sweet spot'”.
based in Nashville Reliant Talent Agency has announced a round of promotions and hires, with a former Paradigm music executive Keith Richards joining the festival section of the RTA. Reliant has also promoted Ron Kaplan and Gary Buck in executive vp roles, while Kailey Edgerton, Cole Speed and Robert Baugh have been promoted from coordinators to agents. In addition, the agency moved its headquarters to a new office space at 1610 West End Avenue in Nashville. –Jessica Nicholson
NASHVILLE NOTES: Kelli Wasilauski resigned as Oriel Co. director of Nashville operations, completing her one-year term on Oct. 28… Keller Turner Andrews & Ghanem expanded with three new lawyers. J. Rush Hicks joins as Of Counsel, adding decades of experience and prior leadership to Belmont's Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business. New partners Cheshire Rigler and Alyssa Johnson they also bring experience from other Nashville entertainment law firms.
Los Angeles Marketing Office Game Over Media was named Gabriel Chavez as chief operating officer. Chavez will oversee operations at Game Over Studios, Game Over Agency, Game Over Records and the new GameTune platform. Her role focuses on expanding the reach of next-gen communities and strengthening fan engagement at the company, where recent projects include campaigns for Big Sean, Childish Gambino, Imagine Dragons and Tyla. Chavez previously worked at Scopely, where she led product marketing for the popular game Monopoly Go!and before that he was a creator strategist at TikTok, where he launched the TikTok Shop and fostered partnerships between game brands and creators. Founder Anthony Pisano said Chavez's experience at Scopely and TikTok aligns with Game Over Media's vision, adding that “Gavi's expertise will also be invaluable as we scale GameTune, our new cutting-edge AI platform that delivers enabling record labels, brands and game publishers to reach audiences through strategic data-driven marketing.”
Kuke Music Holding Limiteda NYSE-listed classical music service based in China, announced that its president, Lee Sunresigned in July. The company, which provides classic content to educational resources and has a library of about 3 million audio and video tracks, clarified that Sun's departure was amicable, with no disputes over operational or policy issues. Following her resignation, CEO and chairman He Yu oversees the company.
ICYMI:
Azu Olvera
