THE REVOLVING DOOR

Vevo, the music video website founded by Universal and Sony, has appointed former BBC Radio 1 controller Andy Parfitt as its head of content and programming. However, Vevo is reorganizing its product and engineering department, starting at the top. A spokesperson has confirmed that head of products David Rice is no longer with the company and that a "small number" of employees in the p&e organizations have been let go. The team now reports to interim CTO, Alex Nunes.

WayneLeading US-based CAA agent Cara Lewis has reportedly left the company. Lewis joined the firm from WME in 2012, represents artists including Eminem and Pitbull. She previously represented Kanye West before the rapper defected to UTA earlier this year. 

Its all change at End Of The Road Festival with Lauren Down, who was festival manager, now promoted to managing director after just one year with the event. Rosanna Dean has also been promoted to operations manager, while Anna Mears, previously of Inside/Out, has joined as head of communications. 

Sixth Media, the international live-focused music company that was newly formed earlier this year by former co-founder and CEO of MAMA Group Dean James, has acquired a strategic stake in Big New Year LLP, the parent company of leading London arts and music venues Oval Space and The Pickle Factory.

Mike Batt has decided to step down as Deputy Chairman of the BPI – a role he has held for nine years having served on the BPI Council for 10 years in total since joining in September 2005 as an independent label representative. 

R. Halper, a music industry veteran and member of the Nashville recording and arts community, has joined Cole Law Group as senior attorney and head of the firm’s Entertainment Law Practice Group.

London-based media and entertainment law firm Lee & Thompson LLP has merged with the specialist media and entertainment litigation business, Forbes Anderson Free.

Mash Media has announced that Emma Hudson has been promoted to the role of editor of Access All Areas. 

Apple is hiring a person to help create "original content and live projects" for several of its online services, including Apple Music, iTunes, iBooks, and the App Store, according to a job listing discovered by AppleInsider.

Universal Music Group (UMG) has hired Eric Berman as Executive Vice President of Public Affairs, effective immediately. He is known as an advisor to Bill Clinton.

Universal Music Publishing Group has appointed Luke McGrellis to the position of Vice President Creative reporting to Jody Gerson, UMPG Chairman and CEO, and Evan Lamberg, UMPG President – North America. McGrellis joins UMPG from Sony/ATV UK where he was A&R Director.


Max Hole is stepping down from his role as Chairman and Chief Executive of Universal Music Group International (UMGI), effective immediately. In January, Hole contracted encephalitis, as a result of which he has suffered some memory loss. While he is said to be making progress towards a recovery, a full resumption of his responsibilities is not possible at this time, said UMG.

Michael Nash, who has been acting as an adviser to the top tier of UMG rival Warner since June, joins Universal as EVP of Digital Strategy from November 2. And  Andrew Kronfeld, previously global marketing within Universal Music International, becomes VP Marketing for the whole group. UMG CEO Lucian Grainge said that that recent changes to Universal’s Executive Management Board, and the addition of Nash as EVP of Digital Strategy, represented “a bold new approach to a business that is both singularly global and regionally nuanced”.

Former Three Six Zero business affairs executive James Sealey is joining direct-to-fan start-up Bkstg as VP Business Development.

Haim have signed to booking agency WME for worldwide representation.

Ticketmaster UK has appointed PlayStation Music's Matt Webster as its new head of marketing operations. 

Industry trade magazine Music Week has announced a new editor in the form of veteran music journalist Mark Sutherland, who became Contributing Editor for the title at the start of the year.

Songs Music Publishing has appointed David Gold to the newly-created position of Head of Business & Legal Affairs in its New York HQ.

Jane Dyball has been confirmed as CEO at the UK's Music Publishers Association on a permanent basis.

Spirit Music Group has appointed Rak Sanghvi as Managing Director of UK/International, Spirit B-Unique in London. Sanghvi served as Managing Director of Sony/ATV Music Publishing (UK) from 2005 – 2012.

Eclectic music magazine The Wire,  has a new editor in the form of Derek Walmsley. The appointment comes as part of a number of editorial changes at the publication, Joseph Stannard and Emily Bick both become Deputy Editors, the former with a focus on new music releases, and the latter on events and books. Former editor Chris Bohn, meanwhile, becomes Editor In Chief.

James Heappey (pictured), MP for Wells in Somerset whose constituency includes the Glastonbury Festival and the Royal Bath and West Showground will spearhead the  All Party Parliamentary Group for Events. Heappey said he was “acutely aware of the value events bring to the economy”.

Alan McGee has announced his official return to the frontline label game with his new venture, Clark & McGee Ltd, run with ex- Soul II Soul and Leftfield A&R, Mick Clark. More from MBW here.

Midem organiser Reed MIDEM has announced that Simon Rhodes has joined the company as UK managing director. In his new position, Rhodes will oversee Reed MIDEM’s British-based business and take the UK sales lead on the company’s real estate portfolio.

Sony Music and the Artist Legacy Group have launched a new joint venture that provides artist brand management services, mainly for heritage artists, with the new enterprise sitting alongside the major label's catalogue division, Legacy Recordings.

Playlist service Bop.fm has been acquired by identity theft protection company LifeLock who will close its website entirely this Saturday. Staff will move to LifeLock. 

Pat Collins has been named Vice Chairman of SESAC effective April 1, 2016. Collins, who currently serves as President and CEO of SESAC Performing Rights, will now begin to transition to his new role as a Senior Advisor to the Company and Vice Chairman. xecutive Vice President Dennis Lord’s responsibilities will be expanded to include Creative as well as Business Affairs. In addition, Christos Badavas, currently Associate General Counsel at HFA, will be moving to a corporate role at SESAC as Senior Vice President and Associate General Counsel.

Music Glue is expanding with the announcement of three new staff appointments: Kat Morris, formerly Director of The Great Escape festival, joins as Global Marketing Director, Jon Chapman, a former major label A&R, as UK Head of A&R and Brian Pacris joins as US Head of Sales & Marketing.

Crowdmix, the soon-to-be-launched ‘social music’ app, has hired industry veteran Dick Wingate as President, Artist & Entertainment Services for North America.

Vania Schlogel, the former private equity executive who represented Tidal in public and to investors as its chief investment officer, has now confirmed that she left the company in the summer - some months ago.