THE REVOLVING DOOR

German promoter and festival organiser FKP Scorpio has appointed veteran artist manager Freddie de Wall to the newly created position of chief operating officer (COO). De Wall was most recently co-owner and managing director of Hamburg-based management firm Heinrich & de Wall. He began his career as a road manager and booker with now-defunct concert promoter Sunrise, then spent two decades in the label business, working at Phonogram, WEA Records, Metronome, BMG (where he rose to become MD of BMG Denmark) and Edel Music.

Venue management specialist VMS Live has made two new appointments to its promotions division as it plans to expand its outdoor events concept, Inner City Live.  The company has brought in former Live Nation promoter Isla Miskelly as commercial manager to work alongside commercial director Carl Bathgate and promoter/booker Joff Hall. Also joining the team as promoters’ assistant is Sarah-Louise Jones, who was most recently events management assistant for the 1,200-capacity William Aston Hall, based at Wrexham Glyndwr University. 

UK Music has appointed Michael Dugher as the organisations new chief executive of the UK music industry's cross sector trade association.  Dugher is a British Labour politician who was elected as the Member of Parliament for Barnsley East at the 2010 general election.  he replaces outgoing chief executive Jo Dipple. and will take up the role in May 2017

Spotify has appointed the Director of IFPI’s European Regional Office, Olivia Regnier, as Legal Director, EU Regulatory Affairs. Regnier leaves behind 20 years at the recorded music trade body.

Mark Robinson, the former General Counsel at BMG has been named head of business and legal affairs at 300 Entertainment. In his new role, he will be reunited with several colleagues with whom he worked during a decade as vp/senior counsel at Warner Music Group, including former WMG evp and current 300 co-founder/CEO Kevin Liles.

Jon Webster, is stepping down from the Music Managers Forum (MMF) after nearly a decade with the organisation, most recently as President. Amongst other projects, he'll be writing a book about his time at Virgin Records.

The UK's recordedmusic trade group the BPI appoints Intellectual property specialist and solicitor Zain Ali to its legal team.  

BMG has appointed German media lawyer Ama Walton as SVP Business & Legal Affairs and General Counsel Europe. The exec previously worked at Constantin Film. And BMG has promoted Keith Hauprich to General Counsel & Senior Vice President, Business & Legal Affairs, North America. Hauprich moves up from his role as Deputy General Counsel. 

After serving as Kobalt President since 2012, Richard Sanders is leaving the firm next month. 

TIDAL has lost another CEO, aS Jay Z's firm confirm that former SoundCloud executuve Jeff Toig has left the business. “As part of Tidal’s continued expansion this year we will be announcing a new CEO in the coming weeks,” TIDAL said in a statement. “We wish former CEO, Jeffrey Toig, all the best in his future endeavors.”

And  SoundCloud is parting ways with its Chief Content Officer as another senior figure to leaves the digital company. Stephen Bryan joined the streaming platform in 2014, moving across after serving 17 years at Warner Music Group.

Big Machine Label Group has appointed Nicola Csabai as VP, Revenue & Sales. She previously served as Director of Revenue for Interscope Records. 

The UK's Agents' Association has a new name, the Entertainment Agents' Association, and a new President, Neil Tomlinson, director of Sheffield-based The Act Store. 

Rebecca Allen has stepped up to become President of Universal's Decca Records Group UK. She will report to David Joseph and Dickon Stainer.

Interscope Geffen A&M has promoted Joie Manda from President of Urban Music to Executive Vice President. He reports into the label group's boss John Janick. 

The President of music media brand Pitchfork, Chris Kaskie, is leaving the company in July after 14 years. Conde Nast acquired the title in 2015.