Downtown, BPI, Warner Music, More

Here’s a recap of recent music industry hires and in-house promotions as of September 3rd, 2024.

If you have a job shuffle to share, we’re all ears. Send us a note to news@digitalmusicnews.com. If you’d like to post a job on our Job Board, just send us a request to noah@digitalmusicnews.com. And, keep track of all the latest music industry hires here.

Downtown Music Holdings

Downtown has promoted David Driessen from chief business officer to chief commercial officer.

BPI

The British Phonographic Industry has brought on former Google music partnerships exec Gemma Cropper as its first senior events manager.

Country Radio Broadcasters (CRB)

CRB has announced its 2024-25 board and returning officers, with the latter including Townsquare Media’s Kurt Johnson as president, Country’s Radio Coach owner John Shomby as VP, and Beverlee Brannigan (who operates a namesake creative coaching company) as secretary.

Meanwhile, a number of non-officer directors have also been confirmed:

1. Amazon Music principal music curator Emily Cohen
2. Beasley Media Group chief content officer Justin Chase
3. UMG Nashville EVP and COO Michael Harris
4. Shazam music partnerships head and Apple Music for Artists global head of artist strategy Debra Herman
5. Riser House Records president Jennifer Johnson
6. iHeartMedia/WFUS program director Ashley Morrison
7. Opry Entertainment Group director of artist relations and programming strategy Jordan Pettit
8.  Hubbard programming EVP Greg Strassell
9. Cumulus Nashville VP/market manager Allison Warren
10. Warner Music Nashville SVP of radio and commercial partnerships Kristen Williams
11. Country Aircheck president/COO Chuck Aly
12. Triple 8 Management founder George Couri
13. iHeartCountry’s Gator Harrison
14. Sony Music Nashville EVP of promotion and artist development Steve Hodges
15. Big Machine EVP of label operations Clay Hunnicutt
16. Albright & O’Malley & Brenner consulting partner Kenny Jay
17. BMG president of frontline recordings for North America Jon Loba
18. McVay Media Consulting president Mike McVay
19. Curb Records SVP of promotion RJ Meacham
20. KUZZ program director and on-air personality Brent Michaels
21. Apple Music programming team head Charlie Morgan
22. iHeartCountry programming strategy EVP Rod Phillips
23. Country radio programming consultant Joel Raab
24. The Familie EVP Royce Risser
25. Audacy country format VP Tim Roberts
26. Center for Sales Strategy CEO Matt Sunshine

Warner Music Japan + Asia

Kenji Kitatani, chairman of Access Industries’ DAZN Japan, has been tapped to serve in the same role at Warner Music Japan.

Additionally, Warner Music Asia has hired Hong Kong-based Oscar Scivier, previously Digital Arts and Sciences’ head of music, as senior director of A&R for Asia.

Top Drawer Merch

Top Drawer has elevated operations director Robbie McPhail to VP of sales.

Big Noise Music Group

Big Noise has boosted Adam Muhlbaum to GM, and in the role, the over six-year higher-up “will focus on business development in licensing and brand partnerships while also overseeing administration and royalties.”

In transitioning to GM, Muhlbaum is handing off day-to-day management duties to five-year Big Noise team member Heather Castillo (VP of marketing) and two-year employee Josh Cohen (label operations manager).

BMG

Former UMG EVP of commercial innovation and artist strategy Celine Joshua has signed on as BMG’s first EVP of global marketing.

Sheppard Mullin

Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton’s business trial practice group has added former Brown Rudnick partners Camille Vasquez, Leo Presiado, Andrew Crawford, Jessica Meyers, and Samuel Moniz.

The attorneys previously repped Johnny Depp in his much-publicized defamation trial against Amber Heard.

Leadership Music

Nashville-based Leadership Music, which in June revealed its newest class, has announced its 2024-25 board:

1. Farris, Self & Moore partner Catherine Moore
2. Delgado Guitars owner Manuel Delgado
3. Gospel Music Association president Jackie Patillo
4. Galante Entertainment chairman and Pinnacle Financial Partners board member Joe Galante
5. Maverick Management marketing VP Beville Darden Dunkerley
6. Country Music Hall of Fame external affairs EVP Lisa Davis Purcell
7. TNDV: Television founder Nic Dugger
8. Cumulus VP/market manager Allison Warren
9. Amazon Music head of country music Michelle Tigard Kammerer
10. Recording Academy managing director Tera Healy
11. Flood Bumstead McCready & McCarthy business manager David Boyer
12. CAA agent Brad Bissell (who’s also secretary)
13. WME agent Lane Wilson
14. Spielberg Entertainment and Consulting owner Neal Spielberg (president-elect)
15. Big Machine president Andrew Kautz
16. That Sounds Fun Network and Hsquared Management co-owner Kelli Haywood
17. Onsite Workshops VP of entertainment and specialized services Debbie Carroll
18. Ninthnote Music owner Phil Hughley
19. WMG Nashville SVP of strategic marketing and analytics Victoria Mason
20. AEG Presents SVP of global touring and talent Adam Weiser
21. RIAA head Mitch Glazier
22. Wiles+Taylor & Co. business manager Steven Eggart (treasurer)
23. Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee senior entertainment and donor relations liaison Rondal Richardson
24. Battery Lane Music owner Scott Gerow (president)
25. One Spark Entertainment owner and Born to Fly label president Craig Dunn
26. BMI assistant VP for creative Mason Hunter
27. Country Music Association VP of business strategy and operations Emily Evans