Executive Turntable: Moves at Sony/ATV, SoundCloud, AWAL & More
A list of moves and shakes across the music business, including Sony/ATV, Big Cartel, AWAL, SoundCloud and more.
Sony/ATV Music Publishing announced Thursday (May 16) that David Ventura and Tim Major will head the company’s U.K. operations. Both will report to the company’s chairman and CEO Jon Platt, effective immediately.
“This new role is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I am grateful to Jon for the confidence and trust he has placed in me,” Ventura said in a statement. “I am very lucky to be entering into this new chapter with Tim Major who is incredible as my partner. I believe we complement each other very well and our dynamic is without doubt a motivating force. We are so privileged to work with extraordinary songwriters and family here at Sony/ATV. I am ready to get started!”
“Our UK company is critical to the global success of Sony/ATV, so I am delighted to have two exceptionally experienced and talented executives leading it,” Platt added. “David Ventura has a rare gift for A&R that brings out the best in our songwriters and builds enduring, successful careers. David’s abilities are complemented by Tim Major’s incisive legal skills and business acumen. I am confident that our UK team will deliver our strategy of making Sony/ATV the ultimate home for songwriters.”
Daniel Stuart has been hired as senior vp, business affairs for the U.S., AWAL, Kobalt’s recorded music company, announced May 16. Based in AWAL’s Los Angeles office, Stuart will oversee the company’s U.S.-based legal affair activities, which includes negotiating agreements with clients, distributors and vendors, and implementing new business affairs initiatives.
“We spent significant time looking for the right person to lead AWAL’s U.S. BA team,” said AWAL’s CEO Lonny Olinick in a statement. “Daniel’s impressive background representing music industry talent and his artist-first approach made him the perfect fit to support our mission of putting artists at the center of today’s music industry. We’re proud to welcome him to the team.”
On May 15, SoundCloud announced it appointed Josh Nicoll to head of independent label services. In his new role, Nicoll will support existing relationships and expand SoundCloud’s connections throughout the music industry, placing a focus on indie partners.
Nicoll comes to SoundCloud from independent label and distributor [PIAS] where he helped deliver campaigns for artists including Flume, Father John Misty, Circa Waves and Two Door Cinema Club.
“It is great to be joining SoundCloud at such an exciting time for the company, working alongside Lisa Ellis, global head of music, artist relations and label services to keep what’s new, now and next in music on SoundCloud first, and grow opportunities on the platform within the independent music community,” Nicoll said in a statement.
Joe Litvag has joined Blackbird Presents as a partner and the president of live entertainment, the company announced May 16. In the newly created position, the industry veteran will oversee Blackbird’s live entertainment projects and lead the development of new live event ventures for teh company.
“Joe’s deep experience in creating, building and executing a range of business plans and projects in the live music industry is extraordinary. The respect and admiration he has across our industry makes him the ideal person to lead Blackbird Presents in our next phase of growth,” said Blackbird Presents’ CEO Keith Wortman in a statement. “I’m thrilled to welcome him to the team.”
Big Cartel has named Anna Brozek its new CEO, the company announced May 16. Brozek, who previously served as the company’s operations director, will be Big Cartel’s first non-founder CEO.
Brozek joined Big Cartel seven years ago after owning and operating a record store named Slowtrain with her husband in Salt Lake City’s gallery district. Starting out on the community team, Brozek was promoted to operations director two years ago where she has made significant improvements to the company.
On May 13, Modern Drummer magazine announced David Frangioni will become its new publisher.
“I can’t wait to steward Modern Drummer into the new era,” said Frangioni in a statement. “I am going to use all my thirty-plus years of experience in a wide selection of music fields so that Modern Drummer can offer the most complete and…well…modern resource for drums, drummers, and drumming!”
“We are thrilled to have David join us in growing the Modern Drummer brand that my husband started forty-four years ago,” Modern Drummer CEO Isabel Spagnardi added. “David’s vision, drive, and understanding of our storied history ensures that the magazine and our new ancillary programs will be developed and grown as far as we can take them. With that, Modern Drummer will remain the world’s number-one drumming magazine.”