In one of early September’s music industry hires and promotions, Downtown Music Holdings elevated David Driessen (pictured) to chief commercial officer. Photo Credit: Downtown
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:
- Amazon Music principal music curator Emily Cohen
- Beasley Media Group chief content officer Justin Chase
- UMG Nashville EVP and COO Michael Harris
- Shazam music partnerships head and Apple Music for Artists global head of artist strategy Debra Herman
- Riser House Records president Jennifer Johnson
- iHeartMedia/WFUS program director Ashley Morrison
- Opry Entertainment Group director of artist relations and programming strategy Jordan Pettit
- Hubbard programming EVP Greg Strassell
- Cumulus Nashville VP/market manager Allison Warren
- Warner Music Nashville SVP of radio and commercial partnerships Kristen Williams
- Country Aircheck president/COO Chuck Aly
- Triple 8 Management founder George Couri
- iHeartCountry’s Gator Harrison
- Sony Music Nashville EVP of promotion and artist development Steve Hodges
- Big Machine EVP of label operations Clay Hunnicutt
- Albright & O’Malley & Brenner consulting partner Kenny Jay
- BMG president of frontline recordings for North America Jon Loba
- McVay Media Consulting president Mike McVay
- Curb Records SVP of promotion RJ Meacham
- KUZZ program director and on-air personality Brent Michaels
- Apple Music programming team head Charlie Morgan
- iHeartCountry programming strategy EVP Rod Phillips
- Country radio programming consultant Joel Raab
- The Familie EVP Royce Risser
- Audacy country format VP Tim Roberts
- 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:
- Farris, Self & Moore partner Catherine Moore
- Delgado Guitars owner Manuel Delgado
- Gospel Music Association president Jackie Patillo
- Galante Entertainment chairman and Pinnacle Financial Partners board member Joe Galante
- Maverick Management marketing VP Beville Darden Dunkerley
- Country Music Hall of Fame external affairs EVP Lisa Davis Purcell
- TNDV: Television founder Nic Dugger
- Cumulus VP/market manager Allison Warren
- Amazon Music head of country music Michelle Tigard Kammerer
- Recording Academy managing director Tera Healy
- Flood Bumstead McCready & McCarthy business manager David Boyer
- CAA agent Brad Bissell (who’s also secretary)
- WME agent Lane Wilson
- Spielberg Entertainment and Consulting owner Neal Spielberg (president-elect)
- Big Machine president Andrew Kautz
- That Sounds Fun Network and Hsquared Management co-owner Kelli Haywood
- Onsite Workshops VP of entertainment and specialized services Debbie Carroll
- Ninthnote Music owner Phil Hughley
- WMG Nashville SVP of strategic marketing and analytics Victoria Mason
- AEG Presents SVP of global touring and talent Adam Weiser
- RIAA head Mitch Glazier
- Wiles+Taylor & Co. business manager Steven Eggart (treasurer)
- Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee senior entertainment and donor relations liaison Rondal Richardson
- Battery Lane Music owner Scott Gerow (president)
- One Spark Entertainment owner and Born to Fly label president Craig Dunn
- BMI assistant VP for creative Mason Hunter
- Country Music Association VP of business strategy and operations Emily Evans
