PUBLISHING
Newly formed independent publishing company Big Deal Music taps Casey Robison as VP of publishing/management. With offices in Los Angeles, New York and Nashville, the new venture unites former Chrysalis Music colleagues Kenny MacPherson, Dave Ayers and James Cerreta with artist manager Michael McDonald and publisher Pete Robinson. “What’s unique about the music business right now is that there are opportunities for independent publishers like us to do creative and innovate deals that are service-oriented,” says Robison, who’ll be based in L.A. Previously, Robison was senior director of writer/publisher relations at BMI, where he worked with such acts and songwriters as Imagine Dragons, Foster the People and Bonnie McKee. Big Deal has an administration deal with BMG for North America and parts of Europe. The company’s roster includes My Morning Jacket, Jim James, the Black Angels, Ethan Johns, Missy Higgins, FIDLAR, the Walkmen and Korey Dane, and songwriters Brad Tursi and Lee Anna McCollum.
RECORD COMPANIES
Warner Music Group appoints Aton Ben-Horin director of worldwide rhythm and pop A&R, and Latoya Lee manager of worldwide urban A&R. Ben-Horin was owner/CEO of Plush Recording Studios, and Lee previously worked in A&R at ÂBuVision/Def Jam.
Southern Ground Artists names Ken Robold president. He was executive VP/GM of Universal Music Group Nashville.
RCA Records taps Kim Rappaport as senior director of business and legal affairs. She served in the same role at Sony Music Entertainment.
TV/FILM
20th Century Fox Film ups Danielle Diego to executive VP of Fox Music. Diego was previously Fox Music’s senior VP, and acted as music supervisor for a number of recent studio releases.