Veteran UK live music promoter Rob Hallett has joined Live Nation, taking his Robomagic company with him. Although neither firm has yet given an official statement on the deal, Live Nation boss Michael Rapino last night tweeted a link to a report on it, saying: "Great news for us. Finally we work together".
After serving two years as EVP International Artists at BMG, Alistair Norbury has been promoted to the top UK job as President, Repertoire & Marketing. He replaces Alexi Cory-Smith who exited the company after seven years in December. In his new role, Norbury will be responsible for both music publishing and frontline recordings in the region. (MBW).
London-based booking agency Coalition has hired Anthony Norris as its new Managing Director and Owen Kent as Creative Director. The duo will report to Coalition Agency founder and CEO, Guy Robinson. Former Coda Agency MD Claire Horseman has also joined the live events and talent representation company in a non-executive role.
Sebastian Carlomagno, MD of Move Concerts Argentina and formerly of T4F and Ocesa, has been promoted to COO of the leading Latin American promoter.
Def Jam Recordings has promoted three of its promotion executives, Nicki Farag, Noah Sheer and Keith Rothschild. Farag moves up to EVP and Head of Promotion, making her the first woman to have the title in Def Jam's 34-year history. Sheer is now EVP/Rhythm & Lifestyle Promotion and Rothschild has been upped to SVP/Promotion (MBW).
Despite Jimmy Iovine's insistence that he's with Apple Music for the longhaul, rumours that the record industry veteran and Beats co-founder is exiting the tech giant persist. The Wall Street Journal reported that he will shift to a "consulting" role in August this year.
FremantleMedia CEO Cécile Frot-Coutaz is leaving the company in order to become Google's Head Of YouTube for Europe, Middle East and Africa.
SoundCloud has hired Antonious Porch as its new General Counsel where he'll lead the music platform's legal affairs and public policy strategy, and its global team of legal experts. The exec joins from London-HQ'd Shazam where he also served as General Counsel. In his new role, Porch will be based in New York and reports to COO Michael Weissman.
Artist Management company C3 Management has expanded into Los Angeles and London and added some established talent managers to its team. Chris Gentry, Simon White and Matt Sadie bring the likes of Phoenix, Hudson Mohawke and The Lemon Twigs to the company, while Martin Anderson arrives at C3 with French duo Justice.
Lauren Lytle has joined Event Genius. Lytle, formerly of Ticketmaster's Front Gate Tickets, joins the Leeds-based ticketing and event technology company as head of technical operations.
Celine Joshua is joining Universal Music as General Manager, Commercial, Content and Artist Strategy. In her most recent role as SVP Commerce for Epic Records and Sony Music, Joshua started up a roster which saw her sign online 'influencers' as content creators.
And Universal Music Group has made significant changes to its international structure, with recent recruit Adam Granite becoming responsible for Greater China, India and other territories. MBW reports that Adrian Cheesley, SVP of Universal Music Group International, will be leaving the company as a result.
Over a month after The Grammys took place, the Recording Academy's much-mooted 'Task Force' is starting to take shape. The group, which will be partly tasked with ensuring diversity can thrive at the awards event, is being headed up by Tina Tchen, former Chief Of Staff for the ex-First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obam
Paul Rothenberg, Jeremy Mohr and Joshua P. Binder have announced their partnership as Rothenberg, Mohr & Binder LLP, a full-service music and entertainment law firm. The firm has offices in Beverly Hills, New York and Miami and brings together the partners' combined 50-plus years of experience ...
London-based blockchain ticketing platform Aventus Systems has hired Andrew Ford as chief marketing officer. Ford – a tech industry veteran who has held senior roles at Norton/Symantec, Dell, BT, HP and data analytics firm Pitney Bowes – will work alongside Aventus co-founders Annika Monari and Alan Vey, CTO Andy Grant and their team to prepare for the upcoming launch of the the Aventus Protocol.
Entertainment PR firm Purple has announced that it has hired Claire Coulton as a new Senior PR. Claire has worked in a number of music PR roles, most recently at Murray Chalmers. She takes up the new position next week. Her roster will include Lewis Hamilton, Alicia Keys, Adwoa Aboah's Gurls Talk, Karryn, Ama Lou and Keir.
Icelandic promoter Sena Live says Iceland Airwaves long-serving festival director Grímur Atlason has left after eight years saying “it’s time to move on”, adding: “It’s been a privilege and pleasure working for this great festival with all my marvellous co-workers over the years.”
Well-regarded British A&R specialist Nick Huggett has joined Because Music as the Chief Creative Officer, based at its UK company. The London-based exec is best known in industry circles for signing the likes of Adele and Dizzee Rascal to XL Recordings. He has also worked at Columbia, Island and Parlophone, which he joined in 2016.
Tuma Basa, head of hip-hop programming at Spotify since 2015, and who has led RapCaviar to become one of Spotify's Top 5 playlists worldwide has left the company. The news of Basa's exit comes just one day after Spotify filed to float on the New York Stock Exchange and follows departures by Kevin Brown (Head of UK/International Artist & Label Services), Stefan Blom (Chief Content Officer), Rob Harvey (Head Of US Label Relations) and Tom Calderone (Head Of Video) and Pat Shah (Head of Original Content Licensing). But Spotify has appointed Tom Connaughton as Head of Artist & Label Marketing, UK. Connaughton will join Spotify next month after seven years with Vevo, where since 2016 he worked as SVP of Creative Content & Programming out of the firm's New York office.
RCA Records has promoted Karen Lamberton to Executive Vice President, Soundtracks and Film & TV Licensing. She moves up after spending over 15 years at Sony, where she's had a hand in multiple Grammy nominated singles and secured partnerships between NFL and Pentatonix, Miguel and Tinashe, as well as sync deals for ZAYN and P!nk. (MBW)
Timothy Xu, who was until 2016 CEO and Chairman of Sony Music Entertainment in Greater China, has been named President and CEO of Taihe Music Group. The largest owner of Chinese music in the world, TMG merged with digital platform Baidu Music in 2015. Today, the company estimates that it reaches 500m users online.
Live Nation had another record year in 2017 for the full year ended on December 31. Revenue were up 24% to $10.3 billion; attendance at the company’s concerts was up 21% to 86 million; and sponsorship and advertising revenue was up 18%. The company’s Ticketmaster unit showed strong growth as well, with its fee-bearing gross transaction value (GTV) up 15%. The company acknowledged a $202 million fourth-quarter loss from its $110 million settlement with Songkick, whose assets it acquired as part. Looking ahead into 2018, LNE confirmed arena, amphitheater and stadium shows through February 19 are up 7% compared to this time last year. CEO Michael Rapino said “Given our plans to further monetize our fan relationships, I expect this will translate into continued strong growth in concerts operating results in 2018.”
United Talent Agency (UTA) has hired Lyndsay Harding as its new chief financial officer, in an appointment the company says marks the first time a woman has served as CFO of a major booking agency.
Ticketfly founder Andrew Dreskin, now Eventbrite’s head of music, has been appointed to the Eventbrite board of directors.
Festival owner LiveStyle has announced NRG Productions founder Neil Ryan as its new Senior VP and Head Of North America Production. CEO Randy Phillips comments: "While running AEG Live, I had the pleasure of working with Neil and saw first-hand his depth of expertise in the live event/production space. He adds to LiveStyle's exceptional staff as we continue to bring on the best and the brightest".
Hollywood agency ICM Partners has promoted six agents to partner, bringing its total number of partners to 54. The new partners – three men and three women – include five booking agents based in its LA office and one in New York. Music agents newly elevated to ICM partners are Scott Mantell, the agency’s head of international touring, who joined as an assistant in 2003 and now represents acts including Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, D’Angelo and Cyndi Lauper, and Adam Ginivisian, who works across both comedy and concerts and becomes ICM’s youngest partner. Also promoted are comedy agent Ayala Cohen, literary agents Hrishi Desai and Kathleen Remington and physical production agent (representing ‘below-the-line’ clients such as costume designers and cinematographers) Lara Sackett (IQ)
UK record industry collecting society PPL has announced a number of promotions in its top team. Sarah Mitchell, formerly Head Of Member Services, becomes Director Of Member Services. Operations Director Christine Geissmar becomes Chief Operating Officer. Director Of Legal & Business Affairs David Harmsworth becomes General Counsel. And Finance Director Chris Barton becomes Chief Financial Officer.
Dasha Smith Dwin has been named Executive Vice President and Global Chief Human Resources Officer at Sony Music Entertainment. Dwin spent her early career in London and New York in a series of corporate associate roles for international law firms including Latham & Watkins, and Dwin joins Sony Music from global alternative asset management firm GCM Grosvenor, where she began working in 2011. Rob Stringer, CEO Sony Music said “We sought an innovative and visionary leader of our global Human Resources business. We found that person in Dasha."
Warner Music has placed Paul Samuels in charge of A&R at its East West Records UK label, concurrent to his role doing the same at Atlantic UK. And Warner Music has appointed Marcela Vaccari as Vice President, Business Development, Latin America and Spain. She will be based in Miami and reports to Iñigo Zabala, President, Latin America and Iberia, Warner Music. And Warner Music has promoted Briony Turner and Alec Boateng to become Co-Heads Of A&R at its Atlantic Records UK label.
Warner/Chappell UK has announced the promotion of Paul Smith to the all new role of Creative Director. He joined the Warner music publisher in 2016 as Senior International Creative Manager.
Beggars Music has announced Amy Morgan as its new Managing Director. Previously Creative Director, she will take over the day-to-day running of the Beggars Group music publishing company from Andy Heath, who will remain its Chair.
Ed Sheeran's manager Stuart Camp has parted company with Elton John's Rocket Man artist management firm after more than a decade. The move sees the joint venture he launched with Rocket Man - Grumpy Old Management - go independent with Sheeran its headline artist. Image: Mark Potter.
US-based Symphonic Distribution has hired the former Senior Label Manager of Beatport, Peter Wohelski, as Content Development Specialist. Wohelski brings over 25 years of experience in the electronic music space after starting out as a DJ in the '90s.
Dougie Bruce, who signed Adele during his first stint at Universal Music Publishing's UK office, has returned to the company, MBW understands. Respected A&R specialist Bruce has been hired by UMPG's UK boss Mike McCormack. Bruce's history has seen him work at the likes of XIX Entertainment, and he's a former MD of Epic Records UK. (MBW)
Interscope Geffen A&M has appointed Nicole Wyskoarko as Executive Vice President of Urban Operations in Santa Monica. She joins IGA from law firm Carroll, Guido & Groffman.
Another senior Spotify executive has departed. Pat Shah,Spotify's head of original content licensing. Los Angeles-based Shah is the latest high-profile exit from the firm following the likes of Stefan Blom, Rob Harvey and Kevin Brown out of the door.
And another senior executive at Sony Music Germany has exited the firm with SVP of International Stefan Goebel stepping down after 19 years, MBW has revealled. His departure follows that of Sony Music GSA CEO Philip Ginthör who also left after 18 years in January.
UK based content protection and data insights firm MUSO has hired ex-Universal executive Russel Coultart as Global Head of Music Partnerships. At Universal, Coultart served as Global Head of D2C, overseeing and growing the major label's direct to consumer business worldwide, before leaving in 2016.
Jenna Andrews, the songwriter/producer who has collaborated with the likes of Drake and Dua Lipa, has signed up as an exclusive A&R consultant for Barry Weiss-led label RECORDS.
Katie Malcolmson is to head up the new UK office of US music PR firm Brixton Agency. Currently Head Of Press for indie label One Little Indian, she will continue to represent the company in her new role.
After stepping down as President of Warner Bros. Records in California last year, veteran music exec Dan McCarroll has joined Amazon Music as Global Head of Originals and Artist Relations. In his new role, McCarroll will be leading the team that produces exclusive global programming while working closely with artists and labels to elevate new releases.
Beggars Group founder Martin Mills has been appointed as non-executive Chair at the Worldwide Independent Network – the trade body which works in the interests of the independent music sector on a global basis. Mills, who stepped down as Chairman of Merlin earlier this year, said he was "honoured" to takes up the new position at WIN.
Dolores O’Riordan, the lead singer with the multi-platinum selling band the Cranberries, has died aged 46. O’Riordan had been in London for a recording session. A statement described the death as sudden, and added: “Family members are devastated to hear the breaking news and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.” A Metropolitan Police statement said that O’Riordan’s body was found at a Park Lane hotel. Family and close friends accompanied her body to her home town church in Co Limerick ahead of her funeral. Candles lit the streets as her coffin was brought to the Church of Saint Ailbe in Ballybricken. O’Riordan, who had suffered from depression throughout her career. The star had three children, son Taylor, 20, and daughters Molly, 16, and Dakota, 12 with her ex-husband Don Burton. The children live in Canada with their father, a former tour manager for Duran Duran. Ronan Keating told of his sadness at the “loss of an incredible talent and a lovely soul”, while singer Brian McFadden said he was “in shock”. “Iconic vocalist and a lovely woman too.” Duran Duran wrote on Twitter: “We are crushed to hear the news about the passing of Dolores O’Riordan. Our thoughts go out to her family at this terrible time.” Talk show host James Corden spoke about meeting the singer when he was 15 and she signed his train ticket. “I got her autograph and it made my day,” he wrote. “She had the most amazing voice and presence.” Her Her mother and six siblings were in attendance at the funeral, and her Cranberries bandmates left a floral tribute beside her coffin which read ... "The song has ended, but the memories linger on."
The Zombies bassist Jim Rodford has died aged 76 just days after his final performance. The musician, whose career spanned six decades and included 18 years with the Kinks, died on Saturday after a fall on the stairs, his cousin and the band’s frontman Rod Argent confirmed. Following the break-up of the Zombies in 1968, he joined Argent’s new band, the eponymously named Argent – with gold records and chart success following as they released Hold Your Head Up and God Gave Rock & Roll to You. Rodford had just returned home to England after completing a short tour in Florida with the Zombies with his final on-stage appearance coming on the 14th January. "Jim was not only a magnificent bass player, but also from the first inextricably bound to the story of The Zombies. An enormous enabler for us," Argent wrote in his long tribute to Rodford. "To the end, Jim's life was dedicated to music. He was unfailingly committed to local music - an ever present member of the local scene in St.Albans, where he had spent his whole life." The Kinks' Dave Davies tweeted "I'm devastated Jim's sudden loss I'm too broken up to put words together it’s such a shock I always thought Jim would live forever in true rock and roll fashion - strange - great friend great musician great man - he was an integral part of the Kinks later years."
Veteran US concert promoter Jack Boyle of Cellar Door Productions in Washington DC and Fort Lauderdale has died. He was 83 years old. With the 160-capacity Cellar Door Nightclub in DC as his trademark venue, Boyle was the major concert promoter from Baltimore to South Florida and promoted shows in venues ranging from clubs to stadiums with artistes such as the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Led Zepplin, The Who, U2, Madonna and Bruce
Legendary South African jazz musician Hugh Masekela has died at the age of 78 after a decade-long fight with cancer, Often called the “Father of South African jazz”, Trumpeter, singer and composer Masekela, affectionately known locally as “Bra Hugh,” started playing the horn at 14 and quickly became an integral part of the 1950s jazz scene in Johannesburg as a member of the Jazz Epistles. In the 1960s he went into exile in the United Kingdom and the United States, where he collaborated with American jazz legend Harry Belafonte and used his music to spread awareness about the oppressive system of white-minority rule in South Africa. He also scored an international number one hit in 1968 with “Grazing In The Grass.” He collaborated with many musicians including Paul Simon and Herb Alpert. He was married to South African singer and activist Miriam Makeba for two years. “A baobob tree has fallen,” Nathi Mthethwa, South Africa’s minister for arts and culture, wrote on Twitter. “The nation has lost a one of a kind musician . We can safely say Bra Hugh was one of the great architects of Afro-Jazz and he uplifted the soul of our nation through his timeless music.” Image by Maurice: Hugh Masekela playing at The Hague Jazz 2009.
Mark E Smith, frontman for The Fall, has died after a lengthy period of illness. He was 60. In a statement, the band's manager Pam Vander said last night: "It is with deep regret that we announce the passing of Mark E Smith. He passed this morning at home". Smith's continuing ill health led to the cancellation of various Fall shows in the UK, Europe and the US last year. Smith formed The Fall aged nineteen in 1976. His authoritarian approach to band leadership led to many changes in the outfit's line-up over the years, and a total of 66 different members passed through the group during their 40 year history, many fired by Smith. The band released 32 studio albums, most recently last year's 'New Facts Emerge'. There were an equal number of live albums, plus numerous other releases. Smith also found time for two solo albums, and various collaborations, including with Gorillaz and Coldcut.
David Zard, the pioneering concert promoter who was the first to bring some of the biggest names in rock music to Italy, has died aged 75. Born in Tripoli, Zard emigrated to Italy in 1967 and over the next five decades established himself as one of the country’s leading promoters, organising stadium tours by Cat Stevens, Elton John, Tina Turner, Lou Reed, Frank Zappa, the Rolling Stones, Genesis, Bob Dylan, Madonna, Michael Jackson and many more. Zard is survived by his wife, Patrizia Tomasich, and their son, Clemente, who now leads Warner Music Italy’s live operation, Vivo Concerti.
Icelandic composer Jóhann Jóhannsson, best known for his work in film soundtracks, has died. He was 48. Jóhannsson released his debut solo album, 'Englabörn', in 2002, featuring music written for a play of the same name. In 2014, he won a Golden Globe for Best Original Score for his work on Stephen Hawking biopic 'The Theory Of Everything', for which he also received an Oscar nomination. His score for 2016's 'Arrival' was one of his best received works and in the same year, he also released his final standalone album, 'Orphée', based on the Orpheus myth. He is survived by his parents, three sisters and a daughter
Eventbrite has strengthened its executive team with two new hires. Omer Cohen joins the ticketing tech giant as chief people officer, while Brian Irving has been named chief brand officer. Irving, formerly of Apple, Google and Airbnb, is tasked with “leading a cross-functional effort to codify the company’s global brand strategy, storytelling and positioning in the market”, Cohen had held leadership roles at the tech firms Lytro and DigitalThink, and also served as president of the Great Place to Work Inc., which ranks America’s workplaces.
Live Nation's recently-launched Latin division in the US market has hired Patricia Flores as its Vice President of Marketing. She joins the company from rival AEG/Goldenvoice and will report to SVP of Live Nation Latin, Hans Schafer - also an AEG alumnus (MBW).
Two of Austria’s best-known international hard rock agents, Dominik Meyer and Guenther Beer, have announced the launch of Cobra Agency, a new boutique booking agency that represents some of the biggest names in metal. Beer and Meyer – who had been with RTN (Rock the Nation) since 2005 and 2008, respectively – bring their full rosters, which include the likes of Sepultura, Sabaton, Danzig, Testament and Amon Amarth, to the new agency, whose offices are in Salzburg.
Ben Sharman has joined NEC Group Arenas as venue sales manager. Sharman – whose background in commercial marketing has seen him work on naming-rights agreements for both NEC arenas (the 16,000-cap. Genting Arena and 15,800-cap. Arena Birmingham, formerly Barclaycard Arena), as well as for Aston Villa Football Club and British Athletics – is tasked both with working with the arenas’ existing client base and bringing new business and event concepts to market.
AEG Presents has opened its first office in France, headed up by local concert promotion veteran Arnaud Meersseman who was previously MD of the MIALA/Fimalac Group. The creation of AEG Presents France follows AEG's recent investment in the Accors Hotel Arena in Paris, as well as its recent buyout of the Rock En Seine festival.
PRS for Music has hired Nigel Hall, formerly Managing Director at KPMG UK, as its new Chief Operating Officer, effective immediately. At KPMG UK, Nigel was Client Lead Partner and Lead Subject Matter Expert for a number of KPMG’s technology, media and telecoms accounts building on more than 20 years of experience including, leading the launch of Orange internationally and founding his own company, Interim-Consulting Ltd, to focus on his passion for start-ups. Robert Ashcroft, Chief Executive, PRS for Music, said: “PRS for Music celebrated a record-breaking year in 2016, in no small part thanks to our investments in technology and data, which are becoming ever more integral to the music business. It is therefore my pleasure to welcome Nigel to PRS for Music. We look forward to having his digital expertise on hand to steer us through a time of continuing growth and transformation, not just for us, but for the industry as a whole.”
Warner Music'S Jennifer Ivory has been named GM of Warner Bros Records UK. She moves up from her role as VP, Marketing after success with Dua Lipa, who ended last year as the most streamed female artist in the UK, and Royal Blood. And Tom Corson has made his first major hire since joining Warner Bros Records. Former Epic exec Laura Swanson has been named Executive Vice President of Media & Strategic Development at WBR, based at the label's Burbank HQ in the US. (MBW)
John Fleckenstein and Joe Riccitelli have been promoted to Co-President positions at RCA Records in New York, reporting into label boss Peter Edge. The news comes after former Co-Chairman and COO Tom Corson left the Sony company to join Warner Bros. (MBW)
Daniel Lieberberg has landed a top-level position at Sony Music in Europe. The Germany-based exec has been named President, Continental Europe and Africa, Sony Music Entertainment. He will oversee Sony Music’s operations across the two regions, with the exception of Spain and Portugal. And seven months on from the abrupt departure of CEO L.A Reid, Epic Records the Sony label run by Sylvia Rhone today confirmed that Rick Sackheim is joining as Executive VP and producer, songwriter and creative executive Ezekiel 'Zeke' Lewis is also joins as EVP of A&R at Epic Lewis leaves behind his role as SVP at Universal Music Group/Capitol Music Group's Motown label, where he spent the past six years. Jenifer Mallory has been promoted to Executive Vice President, International at Sony Music Entertainment after spending two years as SVP of International. During her time at the major label, Mallory has played a key role in worldwide marketing campaigns for artists including Harry Styles, P!nk, Camila Cabello and Khalid.
Vevo has parted company with its product head, Mark Hall. The news comes a month after the abrupt exit of the company's Chief Executive Officer, Erik Huggers. Hall joined Vevo when it bought his video aggregation startup, ShowYou. And Vevo's Senior Vice President of Creative Content and Programming, Tom Connaughton, is also leaving the company in the coming weeks. (MBW & Variety)
Kristen Burke is stepping up from her role as SVP of Marketing at Universal Music Canada to become EVP and General Manager. In her new position, she will report to CEO Jeffrey Remedios.
Molly Neuman, who has been Kickstarter's Head of Music for the past two years, has joined Downtown-owned publishing royalty admin platform Songtrust as Head of Business Development. The exec previously worked at indie trade body A2IM.
After 33 years at the label, Peter York has been promoted to lead Capitol Christian Music Group. In his new role, York will continue to manage the company's Label Group and publishing division. He takes over from founder Bill Hearn, who died last year. (MBW)
Demi Lovato and Nick Jonas manager Phil McIntyre has joined ABC series American Idol as executive producer representing CORE Media. "I understand the balance between artist development and making good television," he says. "I think we have the platform and the heritage brand to be able to do that [with Idol]". (Variety)
Rob Harvey, Head of Label Relations at Spotify in the US, has left the streaming service amid a handful of lay-offs at the company, MBW understands. MVW understands the mini-restructure is the result of a merger between Spotify's Artist & Label Services and its Artist Marketing teams.
One year after Pandora cut 100 jobs from its global workforce, it's once again taking an axe to headcount. The streaming music company has announced an 'organizational restructuring' which it says will 'shift resources to focus on ad-tech and audience development efforts while positioning the company for improved operating leverage over time'.
Loeb & Loeb LLP has announced that Josh Brackin has joined the law firm’s Nashville office as Senior Counsel, bringing more than 15 years of experience in various segments of the music and new media industries.
The winners of THE EUROPEAN FESTIVAL AWARDS 2017 have benen nnounced at the Awards Ceremony at the EuroSonic convention and festival Groningen, Netherlands last night - and those winners are:
BEST MAJOR FESTIVAL - Exit Festival
BEST MEDIUM SIZED FESTIVAL - Down The Rabbit Hole
BEST SMALL FESTIVAL - Ment Ljublana
THE BRAND ACTIVATION AWARD - The Miele Powerwash at Lowlands Festival
THE YES HEALTH AND SAFETY INNOVATION AWARD - Paleo Festival & Roskilde Festival for their hostile vehicle mitigation system
THE GREEN OPERATIONS AWARD - Pohoda Festival
THE TAKE A STAND AWARD - Roskilde Festival
AGENT OF THE YEAR - Alex Bruford (ATC Live)
PROMOTER OF THE YEAR - Goodlive
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR - Rag 'n' Bone Man
LINE-UP OF THE YEAR - Sziget Festival
BEST NEW FESTIVAL - Wacken Winter Nights
BEST INDOOR FESTIVAL - Ment Ljubljana
THE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE AND PASSION - Fruzsina Szép (Lollapalooza Berlin, and Sziget)
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD - Daniel Rosselat (Paléo Festival Nyon)
Motörhead guitarist “Fast” Eddie Clarke has died at the age of 67. His death was announced on Motörhead’s Facebook page. According to the post, Clarke died peacefully in hospital after suffering from pneumonia. After six albums with Motörhead and as part of the band's classic line up with Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister and Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor, Clarke left the band in 1982. Clarke subsequently formed the rock band Fastway with UFO bassist Pete Way. The band released seven albums and toured with AC/DC. The social media statement also contained tributes from later band members including guitarist Phil Campbell. He said: "Just heard the sad news that Fast Eddie Clarke has passed away. He will be remembered for his iconic riffs and was a true rock and roller, RIP Eddie."
Girlschool bassist Enid Williams posted a picture of her and Clarke and tweeted: “Goodbye Eddie and thank you for the memories. No words can do justice. Great guitarist, great man.” Saxon tweeted "We've just heard our good friend Fast Eddie Clarke has died.
Our thoughts go out to his loved ones and family. He will be greatly missed, but he's gone to join Phil and Lemmy. We have great memories of our times with him."
Metallica's Lars Ulrich tweeted:
Thank you for the riffs.
Thank you for the solos.
Thank you for the attitude.
Thank you for being in the coolest band.
Thank you for inspiring me to go down the same path.
We have lost a legend.
William Ray “Bill” Hearn, who led the Nashville-based market-leading Capitol Christian Music Group (CCMG) as its Chairman & CEO, has passed away earlier this week aged 58 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Jack Boyle, who built a small club in Washington D.C.’s Georgetown neighborhood into a regional promotions empire that became a key cog in the construction of Live Nation’s US success, has passed away at age 83 in California. According to his son, he passed due to complications from dementia.
French musician Johnny Hallyday has died, following a diagnosis of lung cancer. He was 74. Hallyday had a career spanning more than 50 years, and he was planning a new record and tour at the time of his death. In a statement Hallyday's wife Laeticia said: "Johnny Hallyday has left us. I write these words without believing them. But yet, it's true. My man is no longer with us". Selling over 100 milllion records, he made a knight of the French Legion of Honor by President Jacques Chirac in 1998. Current French president Emmanuel Macron said in a statement that "for more than 50 years, he was a vibrant icon", while Macron tweeted that "we all have a bit of Johnny Hallyday in us".
DJ Kaleb Freitas has been killed during the Atmosphere festival in Brazil after strong winds blew over part of the stage at the electronic music party in Rio Grande. An estimated 5,000 people attended the event which was in its fifth year, according to Colombian news outlet Publimetro, taking place in the city of Esteio, Metropolitan Region of Porto Alegre. The Festival issued a statement saying "“We're sorry, we lost a friend, an artist. Our priority is to assist the wounded and their families. We thank the military brigade and the fire department for all assistance.”
Brooklyn-based entertainment attorney Ed Woods has died. Social media tributes began pouring in for Woods, who has worked with some of the biggest names in the industry, including Diddy, Usher, Allen Iverson, DMX, Stephanie Mills, JAY-Z and Kelly Price. Woods left private practice in 2005 to become executive vice president of black music at Casablanca Records.
Richard Cousins, the chief executive of Compass Group, the world’s largest catering firm, was one of the five people who lost their lives in a plane crash in Sydney on new year’s eve. Cousins, 58, was killed along with his fiancée Emma Bowden, 48, her daughter Heather Bowden, 11, and his two sons Edward (23) and William Cousins (25) when their seaplane crashed into the Hawkesbury river on 31st December. The pilot, 44-year-old Gareth Morgan, also died. Cousins had led UK-headquartered Compass Group – which provides catering services to some of the world’s leading arenas, including The O2, Staples Center and SSE Arena Wembley, and has also held a 49% stake in AEG Facilities since 2011 – for the past 11 years.
Babymetal have paid tribute to their guitarist Mikio Fujioka, who has died after falling from an observation deck while stargazing on the 30th December. In a statement on Fujioka's Twitter profile, his wife said that the musician's condition had deteriorated on 5 Jan, and he had died with his two daughters beside him. He was just 36 Babymetal also confirmed the death of Fukioka, who had performed in their backing band since 2013, saying that he has "passed away in the metal galaxies" and was now "enjoying an epic guitar session" with his guitar hero Allan Holdsworth.
Audience reports that Geoff Meall, UK office MD of US booking giant United Talent Agency (UTA) is on the move to Coda Agency with his artistes. It is understood that Meall, whose roster includes Muse, Paramour and Foals has been placed on so-called gardening leave until the end of the year. Meall, who left his role as head of United Talent Agency (UTA)’s London office at the end of 2017, has now officially confirmed his move to Coda Agency, becoming the latest high-profile hire for the fast-growing UK agency. The Agency Group (TAG) was acquired by UTA in 2015. Meall joins other recent hires Natasha Bent, also formerly of TAG/UTA, and Clementine Bunel, most recently of ATC Live.
The UK's Digital Minister Matt Hancock has been promoted to the top job at the Department Of Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, a department he first joined in 2016.
TicketNews reports that Live Nation president and CEO Michael Rapino signed a contract to remain in the position through to 2022 in a deal valued at $9 million a year plus stock.
Wembley Stadium's partnership development manager for music and new events Danielle Russell is moving to London Stadium to become its head of events. She left Wembley at the end of November, having been there for five years.
London venue operator Really Useful Theatres Group has appointed Mike Hamer, formerly of Koko in Camden, venue manager of the London Palladium. The hiring of Hamer, who spent 11 years at Koko, follows the appointment of Dave Gaydon (ex-Roundhouse), who is tasked with presenting more live music at Really Useful’s venues.
Erik Huggers has announced that he is stepping down as CEO of Vevo. The music video platform's CFO Alan Price will take over until a permanent replacement can be found.
Ticketing firm The Ticket Factory has appointed Richard Howle as its Director Of Ticketing, Howle said he was thrilled to join The Ticket Factory "and to bring my experience of running in-house ticketing operations to the role .... It is a company I have long admired with a well-deserved reputation for delivering excellence".
Kevin Brown, the most senior industry-facing executive at Spotify outside the US, is leaving the company at the end of this year, MBW understands. Brown is Head of Artist & Label Services UK and International at Spotify, where he first arrived in early 2013.
And Spotify's Chief Content Officer, Stefan Blom, is leaving the streaming company in the coming weeks - amid the firm's attempt to float on the New York Stock Exchange. Blom joined Spotify in 2014 as Chief Strategy Officer, overseeing the platform's operations, markets and corporate development activities around the world. He stepped up to Chief Content Officer in 2015, succeeding Ken Parks.
Michael Alexander has been named EVP International across Republic, Island and Def Jam in New York. Alexander has spent his entire career at Universal Music Group, most recently as SVP, International. He will direct ex-US artist campaigns in his new role.
BMG has made Allegra Willis Knerr VP, Film & TV Licensing for the recorded music and publishing firm. Alexi Cory-Smith, is exiting BMG after nearly seven years with the company, MBW reports. Cory-Smith joined BMG in January 2011, initially as SVP of BMG Chrysalis UK before moving up to an EVP role in 2013. She was promoted to President, Repertoire and Marketing of BMG UK in January this year after six years with the firm's London office.
Jen Sullivan, who ran her own successful indie promotion outfit The Spin Project, has joined eOne as VP of Promotion, Music. She will take up the new role in January and will be based in New York.
Swedish music startup Amuse, co-founded by will.i.am, has announced that Edgar Berger, the former Chairman and CEO of Sony Music International, has joined its board. The news comes as Stockholm-based Amuse closes a €3.5m Series A funding round.
Kobalt has appointed Lonny Olinick as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of its recorded music division. Olinick will oversee artist services/distribution platform AWAL as well as the Kobalt Music Recordings operation. He will report directly to the founder and CEO of Kobalt Music, Willard Ahdritz.
Atlantic Records has promoted Ian Cripps to Vice President of A&R. Based in Los Angeles, Cripps reports to Atlantic President of A&R, Pete Ganbarg. Cripps has worked with the likes of Grammy-nominate DRAM and Sturgill Simpson (MBW).
Pandora has hired a new Chief Marketing Officer. Aimée Lapic joins from Gap Inc and succeeds Nick Bartels who left the company earlier this year.
Global Rights agency Merlin has today announced results of its biennial board elections – including the election of a new Chairman, with Dave Hansen, Epitaph’s SVP of Business Development, replacing Beggars Group founder Martin Mills, who is stepping down by rotation but remains a director. With Hansen moving away from his General Manager role, Epitaph has made some changes. Matt McGreevy is named GM of the label and Anti-, with Hope Selevan VP of Marketing and Digital Strategy.
Facebook has just poached a senior Warner Music Group executive to join its expanding music licensing team, MBW has learned. Perry Bashkoff is SVP, Global Content & Revenue Development at WMG in New York. He has worked for the major for over 15 years, and is understood to be joining Facebook in the new year. Bashkoff's move to Facebook comes after fJeremy Sirota left for the social media giant last month. Sirota previously held the role of SVP, Head of Business and Legal Affairs for Warner's WEA and ADA divisions.
New Def Jam CEO Paul Rosenberg has made the high profile hiring of Rich Isaacson as EVP/GM of the Universal Music label. He's best known for working with acts including Wu-Tang Clan and Mobb Deep at Loud Records alongside Steve Rifkind.
