Looks like another Executive Turntable, Billboard’s weekly compendium of promotions, hirings, exits and firings — and all things in between — across the music business. First and foremost, our thoughts are with the family of Sound Talent Group (STG) owner Dave Shapiro, who was among those killed in a plane crash in San Diego early on Thursday (May 22). Two other STG employees were also killed, Billboard has learned, though they were not named in order to notify their families. More on this tragedy here.
Earlier this week, we revealed our annual list of executives driving success for artists outside the United States. With that…
Big Loud Records elevated Tyler Waugh to senior vice president of radio promotion, effective immediately. A key player at the label for nearly a decade, Waugh has contributed to 30 No. 1 singles and helped deliver a historic add day with Post Malone and Morgan Wallen’s “I Had Some Help,” which earned support from all reporting country radio stations. Based in Nashville, Waugh was honored with the CRS Award for Director of National Promotion in 2023, and his team secured Country Aircheck’s Label of the Year for 2023 and 2024, as well as Billboard’s top Country Airplay Label. Before joining Big Loud in 2016, he held radio promotion roles at Blaster, Streamsound and Arista Nashville. EVP Stacy Blythe praised Waugh’s leadership and strategic vision in announcing the promotion. “The deep respect that he earns from the team speaks volumes,” said Blythe.
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05/19/2025Warner Music Nashville made two moves within its radio promo teams. Paige Elliott has been hired as national director for the WEA Radio Promotion Team, bringing nearly two decades of experience, including her most recent role as Columbia director of promotion at Sony Music Nashville. She also held regional promotion roles at Capitol Records Nashville and Capitol Music Group. Elliott steps into the position previously held by Stephanie Hagerty. Additionally, Kayla Burnett has been promoted to manager of radio for the WMN Team. Since joining WMN as a coordinator in 2020, Burnett has played a vital role in crafting radio strategies at the label. The announcement was made by Kristen Williams, svp of radio and commercial partnerships. They can be reached at Paige.Elliott@wmg.com and Kayla.Burnett@wmg.com.
Audio Chateau Records, a division of Audio Up Media, appointed Grammy-nominated producer Poo Bear to its advisory board. Reuniting with Audio Up CEO Jared Gutstadt, Poo Bear will co-write and produce the debut album for Randy Savvy, frontman of the Compton Cowboys. Known for his work with Justin Bieber, DJ Khaled and Nicky Jam, Poo Bear has a longstanding creative partnership with Gutstadt, including projects like Bear and a Banjo, featuring Bob Dylan. Also joining the board is Nathan Miller, CEO of Miller Ink, to enhance brand and media strategy. Randy Savvy and the Compton Cowboys will debut their album — which they’re dubbing as “street country” — on June 6 at CMA Fest’s “Been Country: Black Roots in Rhythm,” celebrating Black country music and cowboy heritage. “Poo Bear is a generational talent, and his involvement will add fuel to Audio Chateau’s creative engine, elevating our label and roster of artists to a new level,” said Gutstadt. “We’re ready to debut a bold new sound with Randy and the Compton Cowboys’ album—one that will redefine the crossroads of country and hip-hop.”
Molly DeMellier is ready to shine as chief operating officer Sundaze PR, teaming up with founder and CEO Sarah Jackson to scale the agency’s operations across the US and UK. With a background at Acast, where she was marketing and PR director in the US, the NYC-based exec brings deep experience in audio and creator tech to support Sundaze’s mission of providing strategic communications for B2B companies in the creator economy. Sundaze, known for its story-driven PR approach, already serves clients like Adelicious, Slipstream and Wondercraft. DeMellier will focus on helping creator-tech brands craft purposeful communications strategies that elevate their impact in content and community. “This next chapter is about doubling down on what we do best,” says Jackson, who founded Sundaze after leaving her role as global head of PR at Acast. “There’s a huge gap in quality PR for this space, and we’re building an agency designed to fill it.”
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05/20/2025NASHVILLE NOTES: BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville promoted Allan Geiger to senior director and Haley Wirthele to manager within the company’s content and creative department, both reporting to vp of global content creative Jen Morgan … Prescriptions Songs promoted Kelly White to A&R coordinator from assistant … Business management firm Harris, Huelsman, Barnes & Company made three staff moves, including the promotion of Amanda Goff to client manager from assistant. It also hired client manager Amanda Remo, who previously held the same role at Farris, Self & Moore, and junior business manager Ryan Spradlin, formerly of the Mechanical Licensing Collective … Nashville Public Radio named longtime public media executive Holly Kernan — ex-chief content officer at KQED/San Francisco — as its new president and CEO, succeeding Steve Swenson, and she will now oversee 90.3 WPLN News, WNXP 91.1 and Nashville Classical Radio.
Recognition Music Group, the Blackstone-owned catalog company formerly called Hipgnosis, launched a senior advisory group chaired by Matt Spetzler, former co-head of Europe for boutique investment bank Francisco Partners and now head of his own investment firm Jamen Capital. Top copyright and music assets lawyer Lisa Alter of Alter, Kendrick & Baron, and David Johnson, former Warner Chappell and EMI executive and Sony Music and Warner Music’s former general counsel, will also sit on the advisory committee. “We very much look forward to working with Matt, Lisa and David,” Recognition CEO Ben Katovsky said in a statement. “Their combined expertise and insight will be a powerful support as we continue to enhance and protect the legacy and value of the incredible songs in our portfolio.”
Berklee appointed Jonathan Mahoney as the new dean of its Pre-College, Online and Professional Programs (POPP) division, effective May 28. He brings nearly two decades of experience in EdTech, most recently serving as vp of online learning at the Recording Academy, where he launched GRAMMY GO — the organization’s first creator-to-creator learning platform. Before that, he spent over a decade at 2U, the technology and services provider behind edX. “Jonathan’s learner-first mindset and track record of scaling innovative programs align seamlessly with our mission,” said Debbie Cavalier, Berklee Online cofounder and CEO.
ICYMI:
Richard Grenell Due to a prolonged delay in the reopening of Brooklyn Mirage, Josh Wyatt is stepping down as CEO of its parent company, Avant Gardner. In the interim, day-to-day operations will be overseen by Gary Richards, Avant Gardner’s non-executive chairman of the board … Live Nation elected Trump devotee Richard Grenell to its board of directors. Grenell was recently appointed to run the Kennedy Center following a shakeup. Live Nation, currently navigating an antitrust lawsuit brought by the DOJ, donated $500k towards Trump’s inauguration. [Keep Reading] Last Week’s Turntable: Former BMG Exec Joins Armin van Buuren’s Armada Read More Details
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