Dualtone, Kobalt, Downtown, Avex, Payday Music

It’s time to drop the needle on one other Government Turntable, Billboard’s weekly compendium of promotions, hirings, exits and firings — and all issues in between — throughout the music enterprise. There’s been a little bit of staffing information this week, so let’s hop to it.

Whitaker Elledge stepped into the lead position at Nashville-based label Dualtone, following the passing in December of former president Paul Roper after a battle with most cancers. Elledge will stay based mostly in Nashville and can report back to MNRK Music Group’s COO Chris Moncada. Since becoming a member of Dualtone in 2018, Elledge has held a number of roles in A&R and artist improvement, earlier than being promoted to common supervisor/senior vp in 2023. Dualtone was based in 2021 and has a present roster that features The Lumineers, Langhorne Slim, Shovels & Rope, Gregory Alan Isakov and Kathleen Edwards. The Dualtone crew additionally contains Daniel Higbee (vp, synch), Julie Muncy (senior vp, promotion), Joey Luscinsky (senior vp, manufacturing & design), Alyssa Austin (senior director, eCommerce + technique), Dana Murray (director, artist improvement), Emily Allen (senior supervisor of operations and advertising), and Sidney Campbell (supervisor of operations & advertising). —Jessica Nicholson

Kobalt appointed music business veteran Jason Feinberg as senior vp and head of KOSIGN, its new platform designed to help the creator center class. Feinberg brings a robust background in artist-focused expertise and advertising, beforehand serving as managing accomplice at 138 Strategic, svp of promoting at Common Music Group, and head of artist advertising at Pandora AMP. KOSIGN additionally promoted David Waite to operations lead and Jacob Paul to vp of platform progress and model technique. Launched earlier this yr, KOSIGN allows artists, songwriters and producers to gather publishing royalties with flexibility and transparency. Constructed on Kobalt’s international infrastructure, KOSIGN gives international royalty assortment, real-time transparency and an 80/20 royalty break up in favor of writers. “I’m keen about all the pieces that KOSIGN stands for,” mentioned Feinberg. “The platform empowers artists to gather their publishing income all over the world, offering them the liberty and help they deserve.”

Henri Lanz gave Sony the slip and joined Warner Music Nordics because the label’s new senior worldwide A&R and artistic advisor. Identified artistically as MGI, Lanz beforehand based M-Eazy Music and served as CEO of Sony Music Finland and Sony Music Baltics from 2019 to 2024. (Over the previous yr, he has labored as chief inventive advisor at Sony Music Finland.) In his new position, Lanz goals to raise Warner Music Nordics’ worldwide repertoire by fostering artist partnerships and leveraging the corporate’s inventive and international community. Through the years he has collaborated with 50 Cent, French Montana, Justin Bieber and Sia, and performed a pivotal position within the careers of Finnish stars like Cheek and Evelina. Warner execs praised Lanz’s talent-spotting potential and international imaginative and prescient, highlighting his potential to strengthen Warner Music’s inventive edge throughout Nordic and worldwide markets. “With entry to our whole Nordic and international A&R community, Henri provides a contemporary inventive edge and additional strengthens our place,” mentioned WMF managing director Ramona Forsström.

Downtown Music’s artist direct distribution and music companies platform CD Child named Sean Hallarman as senior vp of product, and Craig Might as senior vp of artist and fan improvement. Each roles report back to CD Child president, Molly Neuman. Hallarman beforehand held roles at Sonos, Meta and Amazon Music, and in his new position will lead product imaginative and prescient and execution. Might beforehand served as senior vp of worldwide advertising companies at FUGA, and in his new position will oversee artist and fan improvement initiatives. —J.N.

Avex Music Group promoted Justin Hunter to vp, the place he’ll help firm operations and work intently with CEO Brandon Silverstein to information management throughout Avex and S10. Hunter started his profession in 2018 as an assistant to Endeavor exec Patrick Whitesell earlier than becoming a member of S10 Leisure, the place he served in a number of roles, together with chief of employees and head of S10 Data. Based mostly in Los Angeles, he’ll assist drive Avex’s U.S. technique following the Japanese leisure firm’s expanded funding in S10 and appointment of Silverstein as CEO in March. Silverstein praised Hunter’s entrepreneurial mindset and business relationships, calling him “the right candidate to assist execute AMG’s technique within the U.S. and past.”

Liz Gateley, a veteran TV producer who created MTV’s Laguna Seashore and government produced its spin-off The Hills, left Spotify in late 2024 to launch Damsel Media, a manufacturing firm concentrating on Gen Z ladies. At Spotify since 2019, Gateley led the creation of authentic podcasts, together with the award-winning Wind of Change. She managed the Warner Bros./DC partnership, collaborated with Kim Kardashian and initiated Spotify Footage, adapting podcasts into visible media, together with RapCaviar Presents for Hulu. Previous to becoming a member of Spotify, Gateley was a programming government at Lifetime, overseeing Unreal and Surviving R. Kelly. Her intensive expertise in streaming and community tv positions her to supply content material for varied platforms, together with manufacturers and AVOD platforms. Based mostly in Los Angeles, Damsel Media will give attention to creating premium content material for younger grownup feminine audiences, leveraging the culture-defining storytelling that Gateley is thought for.

Payday Music Publishing expanded its Los Angeles-based sync crew with the hires of Jamey Sussman and Desiree Autobee, each reporting to founder & CEO Patrick Moxey. Sussman, previously with Rating A Rating, joins as synch director of trailers and advertisements, whereas Autobee, beforehand at MNRK Music Group, will function synch director, TV and movie. Based mostly in Santa Monica, they’ll give attention to securing media placements for Payday’s roster throughout movie, tv and promoting. Sussman brings expertise from initiatives like Babylon and season two of The White Lotus, whereas Autobee has contributed to main syncs for Hulu, ESPN and Netflix. Payday has additionally expanded its L.A. studio presence and not too long ago landed placements with manufacturers reminiscent of Vary Rover and Nissan, in addition to TV exhibits together with Gray’s Anatomy and Abbott Elementary. Current signings embrace Reo Cragun and Gaidaa, who’ve labored with artists like David Guetta and Marshmello.

Crypto.com Enviornment promoted Michael Becker to the place of vp of occasion companies and manufacturing. In his new position, Becker will oversee  Crypto.com Enviornment’s occasions crew and act as a liaison between the Los Angeles Lakers, LA Kings and Los Angeles Sparks and facilitate the handfuls of live shows and different particular occasions happening inside the enduring Downtown Los Angeles area every year. Becker got here to the sector in 2010 as a visitor companies supervisor, quickly studying the ropes earlier than transitioning to the occasion companies division as an occasion supervisor.  –Dave Brooks

Reed Smith welcomed David Lengthy-Daniels as a accomplice in its labor and employment group, based mostly within the agency’s Atlanta workplace. Beforehand with Squire Patton Boggs, Lengthy-Daniels is thought for dealing with high-profile litigation and has represented a variety of artists together with Steven Tyler, Greg Allman and Cissy Houston. He has tried over 90 jury trials and 20 bench trials, representing purchasers in industries like leisure, hospitality, and meals and beverage. Lengthy-Daniels cited Reed Smith’s sturdy trial repute and international platform as key causes for becoming a member of. His addition helps the agency’s progress in Atlanta, the place the workplace has expanded to almost 40 legal professionals since its January opening. Cindy Schmitt Minniti, chair of the agency’s labor & employment group, marveled at how Lengthy-Daniels is “usually requested to parachute into bet-the-company litigation simply weeks earlier than a case is ready for trial” and that “he joins a gaggle of Reed Smith legal professionals well-known for that very same ability set.”

Symphonic Distribution expanded its presence in Asia by appointing a brand new crew of A&R consumer improvement leads throughout key territories. The crew contains Christine Su for Larger China and Taiwan, Eleanor Phan for Vietnam, Twinky Lagdameo for Southeast Asia and Jay Choe for South Korea and Japan. Fiona Comendador joins as consumer supervisor for the APAC area. Reporting to territory supervisor Guji Lorenzana, the crew will work with native artists and labels, offering market-specific methods and help. The brand new hires convey loads of expertise: Su has led worldwide music initiatives just like the Golden Melody Awards; Phan managed label partnerships at The Orchard and MMUSIC; Choe has expertise in Ok-pop group debuts (PIXY, from20) and songwriting (for EVO and Uki Satake); and Lagdameo has over twenty years in artist improvement, advertising and publishing at corporations like MTV and EMI. Comendador, previously with Virgin Music and Kumu, will oversee consumer relations and challenge execution throughout APAC. This growth follows current signings, together with DYNA Music Leisure and Kafka By The Sea, aiming to help artist improvement throughout Asia.

Berklee has appointed Edward J. Lewis III as its new senior vp of institutional development, efficient Might 15. With over 20 years of expertise in larger training and the performing arts, Lewis will work with senior management to boost Berklee’s international fundraising and engagement methods. Beforehand, he was president and CEO of the Caramoor Heart for Music and the Arts, the place he launched the middle’s first main presents program and led a strategic plan via the COVID-19 pandemic. “Berklee’s mission to teach and empower the following technology of artists and artistic leaders deeply resonates with me, each personally and professionally,” mentioned Lewis, who like many Berklee staffers can also be a musician. “I sit up for working with this whole group to construct help for Berklee.”

ALL IN THE FAMILY: The Hollywood Reporter introduced the addition of Ada Guerin as inventive director and Tony Maglio as tv editor to its editorial crew. Guerin, who beforehand served as inventive director at Los Angeles Journal and TheWrap, will handle the visible points of THR’s editorial properties, together with the print magazine and web site, from Los Angeles. Maglio, most not too long ago government editor of stories and enterprise at IndieWire, will oversee THR’s tv protection from New York Metropolis.

ICYMI:

Apple Music named Ole Obermann and Rachel Newman as the corporate’s new co-heads … Penske Media government Jenny Connelly was appointed director accountable for SXSW … Leslie Fram, former svp of music and expertise for CMT, launched FEMco, a Nashville-based consulting firm … and Mike Van was elevated to the position of CEO of Billboard — the primary time anybody has held the position. [Keep Reading]

Final Week’s Turntable: UCLA’s Herb Alpert Faculty Hires New Brass