It’s time for the pre-holiday madness edition of Executive Turntable, a compendium of the promotions, hirings, exits and firings of the Billboard music industry and everything in between.
Read on for better people news than ever, and don’t forget to check out WMG CEO Robert Kyncl’s end-of-year note to employees for an in-depth look at all our end-of-year business content, plus peruse our weekly interview series, Highlights Follow a single C-suite executive and our daily calendar of noteworthy events.
Luke Armitage Appointed Senior Vice President of Global Marketing Warner Recordswho will be responsible for international marketing for the brand’s U.S. roster. Based in Los Angeles, he reports to Warner Music chief marketing officer Jessica Keeley-Carter and works with Warner Records co-chairmen Tom Corson and Aaron Bay-Schuck. Prior to joining Warner, Armitage spent six years at Astralwerks Records, a division of Capitol Music Group, where he led global marketing for artists including Marshmello and Katy Perry. He has also contributed to projects such as The Chemical Brothers, FISHER and Meduza. Prior to joining Astralwerks, Armitage worked at Universal Music London International, Metropolitan Studios and Universal Music Publishing.
Abex America promotion Ryusuke Kamada(Ryan) Appointed as Financial Officer, recognizing the key role he has played in the development of the company since its inception in 2020. Ryan joined Avex in 2018 and relocated from Avex Japan headquarters to Avex USA, where he leveraged his global finance and legal expertise to expand the business in North America. He developed Avex USA’s corporate strategy, co-managed the Music Future Fund, and led partnerships with S10 and Roc Nation, among others. In Japan, Kamata is the chief producer of Avex Investment Group, leading M&A and corporate venture capital investments. Prior to joining Avex, he worked in JPMorgan’s Tokyo office. The Penn State graduate began his career in Toyota’s legal department, handling major litigation and congressional hearings in the United States. Avex USA CEO Naoki Osada praised Ryan’s strategic vision, financial acumen and “genuine respect and passion for songwriters that are integral to the company’s culture.” Since its founding in Los Angeles in 2020 , the U.S. arm of the Tokyo-based music and entertainment company, has established a publishing arm, a music startup investment program and a record label.
Sphere Entertainment appointment Marcus Ellington As Executive Vice President of Advertising Sales and Sponsorships, effective immediately. Ellington will develop and lead an advertising sales and sponsorship department to maximize revenue from Sphere properties, which includes the Vegas venue’s unique look and feel known as the Exosphere. He will also drive brand-focused opportunities and broader marketing partnerships. Ellington is based in New York and reports to Sphere President and Chief Operating Officer Jennifer Koester. Ellington joins Sphere from Google in various sales and partner roles, most recently as Director of Partner Solutions for the Americas. His experience includes overseeing relationships and advertising revenue for Google’s largest media and entertainment partners. Prior to joining Google, he worked at Interactive One and CBS, winning industry awards and serving on multiple boards over the years. Koester praised Ellington’s innovative leadership and track record of working with top brands across multiple industries, “which will be an asset as we continue to evolve how brands work with Sphere to create impactful experiences unlike anywhere else.”
Melanie Santa Rosa
third side music named Melanie Santa Rosa as its new head of copyright, based in New York. Reporting to co-founder and CEO Patrick Curley, Santa Rosa will lead the rights department with a focus on transparency, efficiency and maximizing value for an extensive list of independent publishers, including Kurt Vile, SOFI TUKKER, Future Island, Sky Ferreira and more. Santa Rosa brings extensive experience to the position, having previously served as executive vice president of global digital rights management for Word Collections, where she managed global rights and royalty management. She also spent 12 years at Spirit Music Group, rising to senior vice president of global management, and spent 10 years at BMI, working with songwriters, publishers and performing rights organizations. Santa Rosa is an advocate for creators, serves on the AIMP New York Chapter Board of Directors, and is active in multiple industry organizations. Patrick Curley praised Santa Rosa’s expertise and reputation: “She is exactly the person we need to lead the operations and development of Third Side Music’s global collection platform in the coming years,” he said.
infinite realityLeader in digital media and e-commerce leveraging spatial computing and artificial intelligence named Drew Wilson As Chief Operating Officer. Wilson, who most recently served as SoundCloud’s chief operating officer and chief financial officer, will manage business operations, grow revenue and advance iR’s strategic vision. Under his leadership, SoundCloud became profitable for the first time in the company’s history, driving significant revenue growth, margin improvement and product innovation. He also held key roles at First Look Media, AwesomenessTV, RLJ Entertainment and Warner Bros. Discovery, where he contributed to revenue growth and digital transformation. iR co-founder and CEO John Acunto praised Wilson’s proven ability to scale digital media businesses and his expertise in technology and fan engagement.
AEG presents promotion Evan Marks Talent buyers in the Rocky Mountain region. Marks, who previously served as an assistant in this position, will now oversee bookings for such prestigious venues as the Mission Ballroom, the Ogden Theatre, the Gothic Theatre, the Bluebird Theater and several outdoor venues called Red Rocks. He will be based in Denver and report to Don Strasburg, president of the Rockies and Pacific Northwest region. Max is a Houston native who has been active in the Colorado music scene for nearly 15 years. After graduating from CU Boulder, he began his career at Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom in 2017 before joining AEG Presents Rocky Mountains in 2022. Passion and dedication to music, emphasizing his deep musical knowledge and strong executive skills. “Evan’s extensive musical knowledge and executive abilities will meet and exceed the lofty expectations of our music community.”
Eddie Kresser has been appointed as a partner why and howa management company founded by Bruce Kalmick. Kloesel joined the company at its inception in 2020 as vice president of touring and sponsorships and was later promoted to executive vice president, where he played a key role in setting the company’s strategic goals. He has led brand partnerships, touring strategies and album releases, contributing to the success of clients such as Whiskey Myers and Chase Rice. Kloesel has a music industry career spanning nearly two decades, starting in 2005 as Brandon Rhyder’s day-to-day tour manager, joining Triple 8 Management in 2011 and later becoming a member of the founding team of WHY&HOW. Kamik called Klesser a “trusted strategic thinker who approaches his clients’ businesses like an entrepreneur,” adding, “He always thinks outside the box and brings opportunities that not only benefit our Customers bring profits and are unique in the industry.
supreme music Receive exclusive services from a renowned sound designer Marcus StemmlerBest known for his Academy Award-nominated and BAFTA-winning work on All Quiet on the Western Front. The partnership enhances Supreme Music’s sound design and audio post-production capabilities for advertising and brand content. Stemler, known for projects like The Matrix Resurrection and Cloud Atlas, brings expertise in dialogue editing, ADR, foley and re-recording mixes. His most recent works include Tides (2021) and Perfect Days (2023). With Supreme Music, he has contributed to standout events such as “Penny’s Wonderful World” and “American Red Cross’ Mom,” showcasing his exceptional artistry and versatility.
Hong Kong View Equity Partners Cooperate with culture shocker Lead its brand, marketing and PR efforts. Founder of CultureShaker, Lucinda Martinezwill now serve as chief marketing officer of the investment firm, and will be joined by: Deborah Renteria Serves as Vice President of Brand and Content Strategy. Martinez is known for award-winning events such as game of Thrones and insecuritybringing a quarter of a century of experience to Netflix, HBO and Comedy Central. Renteria brings commendable expertise in content development and audience engagement from roles at Lionsgate, Facebook and HBO. HarbourView CEO Sherrese Clarke Soares praised the team’s cultural and strategic insights, which have been critical to the company’s rapid growth, adding: “CultureShaker is the first operating partner under our Create platform, further strengthening our Our position as a valued partner to artists, content creators, and investors continues to drive ROI as we expand our reach and deepen our focus on the entertainment and creative ecosystem.
roadside concertA Canadian company that produces roadside concerts gains popularity Tracy Posadowski and Tom Yates Serves as Managing Director Sales and Marketing. Posadowski and Yeates, co-founders of ATTCo Global Services, have extensive revenue management experience and aim to expand the company’s presence in Canada, enter the U.S. market and explore new business avenues. Curbside Concerts was founded by Matt and Amanda Burgener during the COVID-19 pandemic to support struggling musicians. .
Different World Recordsis a joint venture with Broke Records, launching in August 2024 Ivan Jenkins, Jack Mangan and RJ Pashindesigned to be artist-friendly. E2J Artist Management co-founders Jenkins and Mangan gained recognition in 2023 by managing Pasin, who grew his TikTok followers from 10,000 to 2.8 million and Spotify listeners to 7.5 million monthly. Isekai Records uses their expertise to support emerging talent. Their debut album Embrace It, written by Ndotz, marks their entry into the global market and their commitment to artist-centered music production.
Isimi:
Hugh Forrest
Board of Directors agricultural aid appointment Charlotte Ammons and Jennifer Fay Leading non-profit organizations, effective January 1… Hugh Forrest Promoted to president south by southwestwho will continue to oversee programming and overall lead an organization. Jane BaskettThe current co-president and chief brand officer is preparing to step down on New Year’s Eve.
