Tamara Conniff, Billboard’s group editorial director, will be leaving the magazine next month to become president of music services for Irving Azoff’s Front Line Management Group.
Conniff has been with Nielsen/VNU for 10 years, having joined the company as music editor for the Hollywood Reporter and senior editor in charge of music for Amusement Business, before becoming the first female and youngest-ever executive editor of Billboard in 2004.
Billboard executive editor Bill Werde will assume Conniff’s editorial and management responsibilities in the interim.
At Front Line, Conniff will be charged with the company’s non-management operations, such as VIP ticketing, special events, merchandising and sponsorships.
Front Line Management Group represents a wide range of major artists, including the Eagles, Christina Aguilera, Neil Diamond, Van Halen, Steely Dan and Guns N’ Roses.