David Joseph, longtime chairman and CEO of Common Music UK, has been appointed CEO of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA), starting in September. Joseph brings over 17 years of management within the music business, having remodeled UMUK into a world power earlier than leaving the biz fully late final yr. Identified for his collaborative method, Joseph has additionally championed social impression initiatives, together with neurodiversity within the office by UMG’s “Inventive Variations” handbook and neighborhood advocacy as chair of the Grenfell Basis. He served as govt producer of the Oscar-winning Amy documentary and has produced the acclaimed BRIT Awards. Joseph succeeds Andy Haldane and can lead the 271-year-old nonprofit’s international mission to drive social progress by concepts and motion in schooling, the humanities, manufacturing and commerce. “David’s dedication to effecting social change, his compassion and his dedication to nurturing folks is exemplary,” mentioned Lloyd Grossman, chair of the RSA. “We’re thrilled that David will be part of us, understanding that he’ll foster a collaborative and caring tradition that speaks to our fellows, companions, workers groups and the broader world.”
Chrysalis Data, a part of the Reservoir group, bumped up Tina McBye to senior vice chairman of business music operations. Based mostly in London, she is going to report back to COO Alison Wenham and proceed main industrial music operations throughout the group, together with Blue Raincoat Music, Blue Raincoat Artists and labels like New State and Tommy Boy. Since becoming a member of in 2023, Tina has constructed a sturdy division supporting releases, catalog acquisitions and neighboring rights administration. With a background at PPL and PRS, she brings deep experience in neighboring rights. “Since [McBye] joined the corporate, she has made an unlimited and transformative contribution to the event of our operations functionality,” mentioned Alison Wenham, chief working officer, including that she’ll proceed specializing in the Chrysalis roster however may also take the lead in shaping and overseeing industrial music operations throughout the broader Blue Raincoat Group.
Rusty Gaston, the CEO of Sony Music Publishing Nashville, was named to the Nation Music Corridor of Fame and Museum’s board of officers and trustees. Jody Williams Songs founder Jody Williams was reelected as board chair, whereas different re-elected govt officers embrace Vince Gill (president), Al Giombetti (evp), David Ross (secretary) and Ernie Williams (treasurer). Ross, Ernie Williams and Jody Williams have been additionally reelected as trustees. Different returning trustees embrace Mark Bloom, David Conrad, J. William Denny, Rod Essig, Al Giombetti, Ken Levitan and Mary Ann McCready, whereas returning officers embrace Earl Bentz, Sara Finley, Becky Gardenhire, Lon Helton, Clint Higham, Cindy Mabe, Gary Overton, Jim Seabury, Invoice Simmons, Clarence Spalding, Chris Stewart, Troy Tomlinson, Jay Turner, Marcus Whitney and Tim Wipperman. –Jessica Nicholson
NASHVILLE NOTES: PR govt Krista Dykes launched the podcast reserving and publicity company She Laughs Media. Dykes most lately served as senior media relations supervisor at PLA Media and served as media relations supervisor on the Nation Music Affiliation from 2015-2023 … Large Machine Label Group employed director of digital advertising Sarah Bertrand. She spent the final three years with UMGN, the place she was a digital advertising supervisor … Ailie Birchfield joined MCA as a publicist, marking a return to the corporate. She served as director of media advertising when it was often known as UMGN, previous to a 2021 transfer to New York. She additionally runs the Nashville-based PR agency The Birchfield Group. (Need extra Nashville-centric business information? Subscribe to Tom Roland’s Nation Replace e-newsletter right here.)
WMA, a world digital advertising and artistic company, appointed Andy Saiker as head of PR, socia and advertising for the UK and Europe. Efficient instantly, the Londoner will oversee the PR and social groups and assist broaden WMA’s international advertising operations within the area. He brings expertise from Warner Music, BMG Manufacturing Music and most lately, TikTok, the place as senior partnerships supervisor for the previous few years he led profitable campaigns like Workforce GB x TikTok and StemDrop. “Andy’s deep understanding of music and digital tradition makes him an unimaginable addition to the company,” mentioned Crystina Cinti, international vp at WMA.
Sotaro Nishida is now govt officer and senior vp of audio at Yamaha Company of America (YCA), a newly established function by which he’ll lead each the patron {and professional} audio divisions, specializing in increasing the corporate’s presence within the U.S. market.Beforehand CEO of Yamaha Unified Communications, Nishida brings over 20 years of worldwide expertise, together with roles in Europe, Japan and Latin America. His management follows YCA’s 2024 integration of unified communications operations. Based mostly in Southern California, Nishida is predicted to drive progress within the U.S. market, constructing on Yamaha’s sturdy presence in reside sound, industrial and residential audio.
Wiles + Taylor, a Nashville-based leisure enterprise administration agency, elevated Lizzy Stone and Amy Gellick to account supervisor as a part of 5 inside promotions. Stone, who joined in 2018, is lively in a number of business organizations and was a part of the 2024 ACM LEVel Up Cohort. Gellick, with the agency since 2016, serves on the boards of the Girls’s Music Enterprise Affiliation and SOLID. Karla Stafford, a 20-year veteran of the agency, is now director of economic reporting and compliance, whereas David Zeigler and David Murray have each been promoted to enterprise supervisor. Zeigler joined in 2018 and is understood for his ardour for reside music and journey, and Murray, a CPA, has been with W+T since 2016.
Audacy is shutting down Pineapple Avenue Studios, its podcast manufacturing arm, as a part of a broader restructuring effort, leading to roughly 30 layoffs. Based in 2016 and bought by Audacy (then Entercom) for $18 million in 2019, Pineapple Avenue was recognized for producing authentic and companion podcasts for main streaming platforms, together with Home of the Dragon, Severance and The Final of Us. The closure follows earlier reviews of a possible sale and the February departure of co-founder Jenna Weiss-Berman, who has since joined Paper Kite Productions. Audacy will proceed choose Pineapple Avenue tasks underneath its newly fashioned Audacy Podcasts division, together with The Severance Podcast, now produced in collaboration with Purple Hour and Nice Scott.
Zebralution, a digital music distributor, introduced key management adjustments to assist its international growth. William Hallström has been promoted to move of worldwide enterprise growth whereas persevering with as svp for the UK, Eire and the Nordics. On this twin function, he’ll join international groups with the Berlin headquarters and strengthen worldwide operations. Hallström, who reviews to Michael Schick in Berlin, brings expertise from Common Music and Sony Music. Moreover, Harry Barrett joins as gross sales and advertising supervisor UK/Dance Shops, bringing experience from IDOL, whereas Zhenya Ivanova, previously a playlist editor at Spotify, turns into gross sales and advertising supervisor within the U.S., primarily based in New York. Each Barrett and Ivanov report back to Lisa Riepe, head of gross sales and advertising.
The California Copyright Convention (CCC) introduced its newly elected officers and board of administrators for the 2025–2026 season. Carolyn Soyars (Disney Music Group) will function president, joined by Jonathan Lane, Alexandra Guzman, Sarah Brockman and Janelle Hawkes in key officer roles. Re-elected board members embrace Kristina Benson, Reggie Calloway, and Cheryl Dickerson. New board members are Lily Kline-Koenig, Melanie Santa Rosa, Patrick Smith, and alternate Jack Mangikyan. A number of members are persevering with their second phrases. CCC, based in 1953, has over 300 international members and gives academic occasions and sources on copyright and music business developments.
