THE REVOVING DOOR

IQ reports on a potential rejig of the management team at Live Nation's UK and Ireland division, with veteran promoter Denis Desmond tipped for a top role, according to IQ magazine. The rejig follows the recent departure of long-stranding Live Nation UK COO John Probyn, who left the live music major to work on a new sports event in Birmingham. It is thought that Melvin Benn, boss of Live Nation UK subsidiary Festival Republic, will also have an extended role overseeing other festivals owned by the firm.

Randy Phillips has left his position as CEO of Ashley Tabor’s Global Entertainment after just seven months. Phillips was CEO of AEG Live for 13 years before being named boss of Global Entertainment in February. Whilst leaving the CEO role at the label, publishing, artist management, promotion, live concerts, events, touring, branding, sponsorships and marketing group, Phillips is to be appointed to a new role on a ‘specific project to be announced in due course’.

Pandora appears close to a deal to buy Ticketfly, a ticketing agency that specializes in smaller venues, for around $450 million. If the acquisition goes through, it will mark a significant bet on diversification for Pandora, which until now has generated all of its revenue from its Web radio service.

Up to 30% of staff at US mechanical rights firm the Harry Fox Agency will go, according to Billboard's sources, following the company's acquisition by performing rights body SESAC.

Ticketscript has appointed Charlie Sefi as its new Director for the UK and Ireland. He joins from event discovery app YPlan, of which he was a co-founder.

MTV President Stephen Friedman has exited the broadcaster, with Discovery's Sean Atkins Taking over his role. Atkins will report to Doug Herzog, president of the Viacom Music and Entertainment Group. MTV programming co-heads Mina Lefevre (exec vp and head of scripted) and Lauren Dolgen (head of reality and exec vp series development) will report directly to Atkins.


Dave Kaplan, a 13-year veteran of The Agency Group (TAG) has left the company for rival Paradigm. TAG was acquired by United Talent Agency (UTA) last month. 

Adam Velasco (Cherry Red Records), Ben Rimmer (Believe Digital), Harry Martin (Domino Recording Co) and Vincent Clery-Melin (Kobalt Label Services) have all been elected to the Board of the Association of Independent Music (AIM). These replace the following retiring AIM Board Members: Chris Goss - Hospital Records,Doug D’Arcy - Faith & Hope Records, John Dyer - Domino Recording Co and Sharon Dean - Respect Music.7

The Music Business Association in the US has also announced three new board members: Sony Music's Bob Garbarini; Entertainment One's Michael Healy; and Big Machine's Kelly Rich.

Lisa Brown, formerly Senior Ticketing Manager at AXS, has joined The Ticket Factory, the Birmingham-based ticketing business of Midlands venue operator the NEC Group.

Management firm Three Six Zero Group yesterday announced that London-based artist manager Adrian Karvinen has joined its LA operation, bringing with him his current roster of artists Say Lou Lou, Miamigo, Crystal Fighter's singer Kyiki and young Australian producer James Malone.

The Australian arts community has applauded the removal of Attorney General George Brandis from the Arts Ministry and called on his replacement to "undo the damage" inflicted on the industry. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull appointed Senator Mitch Fifield as Minister for Communications and Minister for Arts on Sunday. It ends the controversial reign of Senator Brandis, who oversaw huge cuts to the Australia Council in favour of his own funding body. Brandis also loses responsibility for copyright and content classification, which migrates from his office to Fifield.

Notting Hill Music Group has expanded its company’s operations into Nashville through the addition of Ginny Johnson to the company’s global team. The move means that Notting Hill now operates three Transatlantic offices: in London, Los Angeles and Nashville.

The General Manager of Americana label New West Records (Ben Folds, Steve Earle), Michael Ruthig, has resigned after eight years at the company.

Keith Harris OBE is departing the UK record industry's collecting society PPL, where he has been Director Of Performer Affairs since 2006, though he will continue to consult for the rights organisation. Harris is also Stevie Wonder's European manager.

•US collecting society BMI has  announced the appointment of Jodie Thomas to the role of Executive Director, Corporate Communications And Media Relations, reporting into VP Of Corporate Comms Liz Fischer.

Warner Music Group’s Alternative Distribution Alliance (ADA) Worldwide has promoted a duo of execs in the US. David Orleans has been promoted to President of Sales and Label Management; Kenny Weagly has been promoted to President of A&R and Label Services.

Warner Bros. has appointed Larry Mattera as EVP, Commerce, Digital Marketing & Strategy, reporting to label chairman Cameron Strang. Mattera was previously SVP, Head of Global Digital Accounts at WMG.

In the US music publishing world, ‘Big’ Jon Platt, will become the CEO of Warner/Chappell Music next month, replacing Cameron Strang in the CEO role. Strang will continue in his role as Chairman & CEO of Warner Bros. Records (WBR), as well as serving as a member of the Warner Music Group Corp. Board of Directors.

Universal Music has confirmed plans to move its London HQ to Pancras Square in Kings Cross. The new base will house Universal's music publishing business and sister company See Tickets as well as all UMG labels - and very close to the new PRS for Music headquarters. 

Universal Music UK has appointed Jack Fryer to the new role of Director of Audience Research & Planning. Fryer joined Universal Music UK in October 2013 as Head of Insight, having spent two years in the same role at EMI Records.  He was previously a strategist at marketing agency FRUKT.

Universal Music Group has appointed Nicola Levy as Global Head Of Business Affairs for Digital. She will move from the firm's London office to Santa Monica. And Universal Music Publishing has announced a trio of senior executive promotions within its UK A&R team. Caroline Elleray becomes VP of A&R, Frank Tope becomes Senior Director of A&R and Mark Gale becomes Director of UK A&R / Director of International A&R.

Rob Wells, former Universal Music Group executive has joined the UK startup CrowdMix which has raised £14m ($21m) this year alone to fund the music-focused social network which is preparing to launch a public-facing service next year. Former Vodafone CEO Arun Sarin has taken a minority stake in Saavn, and will also act as a strategic advisor to the Indian streaming service.

Nonesuch Records President Bob Hurwitz has announced he is to step away from the day-to-day running of the Warner-owned label after 31 years at the helm.

BMG has promoted Keith Hauprich to Deputy General Counsel. Based in New York and reporting to Mark Robinson, SVP & General Counsel, Hauprich (pictured) has served as Vice President, Business & Legal Affairs & A/V Business Development for BMG since 2010.