Executive Turntable: New Appointments at BMG, Plus Moves at Spotify, Live Nation & More
New appointments at BMG, plus Moves at Spotify, Live Nation and more on this week's Executive Turntable.
BMG announced the hiring of Tom “Grover” Biery as EVP of recorded music to help lead its strong ambitions to scale its recordings arm.
The Los Angeles-based Biery, who will report to BMG US’ president of repertoire & marketing Zach Katz, will oversee the growth of BMG’s S-Curve Records, Rise Records and recently-acquired BBR Music Group. In joining BMG, Biery concludes his year-long career as SVP of streaming marketing at Concord Music Group. Prior to Concord, Biery served as EVP and general manager at Warner Bros. Records, where he relaunched the label’s vinyl business and helped the label become a founding sponsor of Record Store Day in 2007. In between his stints at WBR and Concord, he worked as an independent management and marketing consultant for companies like Artist Partner Group and Kobalt Label Services, and helped resurrect reggae artist Jimmy Cliff’s career as part of management company The Collective until it shut down in 2014.
“Grover is a heavy hitter with a wealth of experience navigating the new music business in both streaming and value-added physical formats,” Katz said in a statement. “We look to him to help guide our Los Angeles and New York teams to new heights as we pursue our strategy of giving proven talent the attention it deserves while also seeking breakout successes.”
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More moves in the ‘biz:
—Spotify has named Michael Krause as managing director of its operations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Up until last month, Krause was working for Deezer as their VP Central/Eastern Europe and CEO for EMEA. The Berlin-based exec has been brought on to supervise international markets across EMEA, with a particular focus on local partnerships and operations in German-speaking countries.?
—Live Nation Entertainment has announced Live Nation Latin, a newly formed department of the company the will be headed by Hans Schafer, who formerly was the director of AEG’s Latin Talent division. Schafer will be based out of Beverly Hills. Live Nation Latin will “focus on increasing the company’s presence in the growing Latin live events market in the United States, including touring, festivals, and artist development.,” according to statement from the entertainment giant.
–Synchronization and rights management company Riptide Music Group has named George Howard its chief innovation officer. Howard, a founder of digital distribution service TuneCore and former Rykodisc founder, will help oversee the company’s application of technology and overall business growth strategy. The appointment comes shortly after Riptide’s addition of entertainment industry executive Mark Ross as a partner.
—Lauren Funk has been named senior creative director at Big Yellow Dog Music. In her new role, Funk will lead the creative services team responsible for writer management and song plugging. Funk, who has served as BYDM’s creative manager since 2014, has helped secure and promote recordings by high-profile artists including LoCash, Blake Shelton and Tenille Townes.
—Bonneville International Corporation announced its promotion of “Jazzy” Jim Archer to program director for 99.7 Now (KMVQ-FM), San Francisco’s Top 40 radio station. Archer has served KMVQ, first as assistant program director then music director, since 2011. Archer was also program director for KYLD in San Francisco from 2005 to 2008.