Executive Turntable: Sentric Hires North America Head, DistroKid Taps Product VP

Sentric has tapped Simon Perry as president and A&R head, North America, kicking off the independent publisher’s full entry into the U.S. market. He’ll report directly to Sentric CEO Chris Meehan.

In the roles, both newly created, Perry will establish Sentric’s operations in North America, hiring staff across offices in New York City, Los Angeles, Nashville, Atlanta, Miami and the Midwest. He will also be charged with expanding Sentric’s global footprint, building a network of industry executives in North America, growing the company’s client roster and helping strengthen Sentric’s tech-enabled artist identification and development capabilities.

Perry launched his music career as a BMG-signed artist. He later signed a publishing deal with Steve Mac and became a songwriter and producer for artists including Westlife and Echo and the Bunnymen, scoring three No. 1 albums and seven top 20 singles in the U.K., according to a press release. He continues to write and produce today.

As an executive, Perry founded the licensing initiative Archangel Media alongside Nettwerk’s Maria Alonte. He most recently served as CCO and A&R head at ReverbNation for eight years. While there, he oversaw all rights, licensing, brand and A&R initiatives and designed, built and led the company’s data-driven scouting-at-scale capability. Additionally, he designed and launched the company’s tech-enabled artist development program CONNECT, which boosted DSP streams from less than 5,000 to more than 30 million in 18 months across 300 previously unknown acts.

In a statement, Meehan said that with Perry’s experience as an artist, writer-producer and executive, “he brings with him a unique blend of tech expertise and a deep understanding of the creative needs of our writers and artists. I look forward to honing in on that skill set to strengthen our commitment to early-stage artist identification and development.”

Sentric creative director Peter McCamley added of Perry, “No one understands the space around tech-driven artist discovery quite like him.”

“I’m excited to be joining Sentric, particularly at this moment when technology is creating both challenges and opportunities in publishing,” added Perry. “As a company, Sentric seems uniquely equipped to address both of those.”

DistroKid named Matthew Ogle to the newly created position of vp, product.

In his new role, Ogle will be tasked with further developing the company’s comprehensive suite of creator tools.

Ogle arrives at DistroKid from CNN, where he led the network’s direct-to-consumer initiative for the past year and a half. Before that, he was head of product at Canopy, a personalization and discovery engine that CNN acquired in 2020.

Other prior roles include product manager for Discovery at Instagram, head of independent products at The Echo Nest, head of web product at Last.fm and product director at Spotify, where he led a team that developed discovery features including Discover Weekly and Release Radar. Outside of his executive duties, Ogle launched the music discovery engine This Is My Jam.

Priscilla Kotey was promoted to senior vp, Warner Music Ireland, a newly created role. Based in Dublin, she’ll head up Warner Music’s operations in Ireland while reporting to Warner Music UK CEO Tony Harlow.

Kotey’s promotion follows the departure of Warner Music Ireland managing director Pat Creed, who exited the role late last year.

Kotey joined Warner Music Ireland in 2008 as press & promotions officer. She most recently served as director of marketing and promotions. She has worked on campaigns for Ed Sheeran, Coldplay and “abcdefu” breakout Gayle, among others. She also worked on the Saylists project, which offers speech therapy to children through song.

Kotey started her career at CarmodySmith PR in 2006. She also worked in the promotions department at Live Nation’s MCD Productions.

“Priscilla can help us become far more deeply involved in local music and talent and help us try to create global stars from Ireland,” said Harlow in a statement. “That’s what our ambition is and what makes her promotion so important for us.”

Added Harlow, “I also want to pay tribute to Pat Creed, who headed Warner Music Ireland for more than 15 years. He always went the extra mile to support our artists and I know they were hugely grateful for his dedication and service.”

Sony Music Publishing tapped Ari Gelaw to be their new vp, creative. Based in New York, Gelaw will now oversee the publishing giant’s songwriter development and discovery initiatives domestically and spearhead collaborations between U.S. songwriters and SMP’s international roster. She will report to senior vice president, creative, Ian Holder.

Prior to her new role at SMP, Gelaw was an A&R director at Universal Music Publishing Group, where she earned her stripes with key signings like Megan Thee Stallion, DaBaby and Coi Leray. She also worked in urban A&R at Atlantic Records.

“Ari’s commitment to songwriters and the creative community is nothing less than admirable, said Holder. “She represents the culture we are dedicated to building here at SMP and I look forward to seeing her thrive in her new role.”

Gelaw added, “I am truly humbled to be working alongside Jon Platt, Ian Holder and the entire Sony Music Publishing team. They have fostered an incredible culture that always puts the songwriters first, and I couldn’t be more grateful to be a part of it. This is an exciting time in music, and I look forward to starting this new chapter at SMP.”

Justin Frazier was hired as head, creative at Milk & Honey Music + Sports + Ventures.

In the new role, Frazier will work with Milk & Honey songwriters and producers including Oak Felder, Stuart Price and Sir Nolan out of the company’s Los Angeles office. He’ll also be tasked with building the Milk & Honey roster by helping “invest deeper into creative and internal A&R” at the company, according to a press release.

Before Milk & Honey, Frazier was director, A&R at RCA Records, where he signed Isaac Dunbar and Mishaal and worked on the song placement for Kane Brown’s “Be Like That” feat. Swae Lee and Khalid. Prior to that, he served as A&R manager at Warner Chappell, where he handled day-to-day creative for Justin Tranter and Julia Michaels and signed producer Carter Lang.

“He has been so supportive of our roster over the years…both at Warner Chappell and during his time at RCA and I still remember playing him the ‘Be Like That Demo’ and asking if anyone from the roster came tom mind like it was yesterday,” said Milk & Honey general manager/partner Nic Warner.

Exceleration Music has hired five new team members: Mike Gillespie as head, global sales & retail marketing, Bela Zecker as label manager, Andy Lewis as commercial partnership manager, Emma Walker as accounting & administrative assistant and David Piechota as revenue & royalty administrative assistant.

Gillespie will be responsible for Exceleration’s global sales, physical distribution and retail marketing. Prior to joining the company, he served for over a decade as senior vp, commercial sales at Concord Music, where he oversaw the sales division. Before that, he was vp, sales customer operations at Universal Music Group and has also held positions at RED Distribution, Pavement/Zoo Entertainment and Relativity Records/Sony Music Group.

Zecker will oversee day-to-day communication with Exceleration’s label partners and maximize the potential of their catalogs and releases. She joins the company from Soundcloud, where she was senior manager, independent label relations. She also worked as member relations & commercial partnerships manager – Americas at Merlin and in roles at the indie label Ninja Tune.

Lewis will look to maximize consumption and engagement for Exceleration content, working externally with DSPs as well as internally across the company’s team and roster. He previously spent 15 years at Sony Music, where he worked in several alternative artist marketing, product management and global partner development roles, most recently as vp, partner development.

Walker will be involved in all aspects of the Exceleration accounting department’s day-to-day functioning. She’ll work under Donna Feeley, Exceleration’s head, accounting & business administration. She was an A&R administration analyst at RCA Records for seven years.

Piechota is a recent music business graduate from the Berklee College of Music. He releases his own music under the name Dave Koda.

Joe De Angelis was promoted to senior vp, promotions for the iHeartMedia Markets Group. Since 2015, he’s served as director, marketing and promotions for iHeartMedia New York as well as national event brand manager.

In his new role, De Angelis will oversee promotions efforts across iHeartMedia’s roster of brands and franchises, both broadcast and digital, while aligning promotional efforts across iHeartMedia markets by creating and leading the company’s promotions center. He will also serve as the promotions point person for clients and advertisers while assisting in the development and creation of promotional strategies to increase brand awareness for iHeartMedia stations. He’ll report to Scott Hopeck, division president for the iHeartMedia Markets Group.

De Angelis has nearly 20 years of experience in marketing, promotions, branding and sponsorships. While working at iHeartMedia New York, he planned, promoted and executed multiplatform campaigns while overseeing New York City’s eight-brand station portfolio.

Quartz Hill Records and Brown Sellers Brown Management announced several new promotions and hires, all effective immediately. Additionally, Quartz Hill Records’ national director, promotion & marketing, Matt Galvin, will move to an elevated role within the organization, with further details to be announced in the coming weeks.

April Rider was promoted to senior vp, promotion & marketing for Brown Sellers Brown Management and Quartz Hill Records. She was previously vp, promotion. Rider has led radio promotion and marketing efforts for Quartz Hill since the label’s official launch in October 2020. She was previously general manager, operations for Stoney Creek Records, where was responsible for launching Thompson Square‘s breakthrough single, “Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not.” She also spent 11 years at Curb Records, where she last held the role of senior vp, promotion, and six years as a managing partner at RPM Entertainment. She can be reached at april@brownsellersbrown.com.

Will Robinson was elevated to vp, promotion & marketing at Quartz Hill Records, where he will report to Rider. He was previously director, regional promotion. Before joining Quartz Hill in November 2020, he worked at 19th & Grand and IRS Records. He also served as program director at WCAT and WCPP (Harrisburg, PA), creative director at WNEW (New York, NY), assistant program director and creative director at WRBQ and WQYK (Tampa, FL) and music director/midday personality at WFRE (Frederick, MD). He can be reached at will@quartzhillrecords.com.

Maurisa Pasick was hired as director, promotion at Quartz Hill Records, reporting to Robinson. She joins the label from Brown Sellers Brown Management, where she was East Coast director, promotion & marketing and helped champion Quartz Hill artists including Joe Nichols, Ben Gallaher and Nate Barnes at country radio. Prior to boarding Brown Seller Brown in July 2021, she was national director, promotion at Riser House Records and also spent over a decade as Northeast director, promotion at New Revolution Entertainment. She can be reached at maurisa@quartzhillrecords.com.

Suzanne Durham was hired as director, promotion at Quartz Hill, reporting to Robinson. Durham has over 25 years of experience in country radio promotion, having most recently served as manager/Midwest regional promotion at 19th & Grand Records. She’s also worked at Show Dog, DreamWorks Records and Universal Music Distribution, where she served as country marketing manager for eight years. She can be reached at suzanne@quartzhillrecords.com.

Denise Miller was hired as promotion coordinator at Brown Sellers Brown Management and Quartz Hill Records. Miller started her career as an advertising consultant/promotion manager at Decca Records before spending over 20 years as an expert client manager. She most recently served as marketing special event manager at Rainmaker Art Studio. She can be reached at denise@brownsellersbrown.com.

AWAL promoted Jennifer Kirell to senior vp, catalog & retail marketing. Based in New York, Kirell will report to AWAL North America president Ron Cerrito.

In her new global role, Kirell will oversee and support artist and label partners with strategies designed “to maximize lasting cultural impact, discovery/rediscovery, and music consumption,” according to a press release.

Over the last 18 months, Kirell and her team have worked on initiatives for campaigns around Lil Peep, Childish Gambino and Rex Orange County, among others. In 2020, Kirell was tapped to oversee AWAL’s U.S. physical business, which grew 53% last year under her leadership.

Before AWAL, Kirell spent 11 years at Sony Music Entertainment’s Legacy Recordings, where she spearheaded global marketing campaigns and audience development strategies for artists including Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson and Johnny Cash.

Kirell is also a member of AWAL’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Governance Board.

Range Media Partners hired Kyle Wilensky as artist manager and vp, music touring; Bo Balogun as a brand narrative and creative executive and Haley Hey as manager for gaming talent, partnerships and strategy.

Wilensky will lead Range’s new music touring division. As a touring agent at CAA for 17 years, his roster included Avril Lavigne, Grouplove and Modest Mouse. During his tenure, he specialized in creating unique events and curated festivals around his clients, including Ryan Bingham’s The Western and Kesha’s Weird & Wonderful Rainbow Ride cruise.

“We are continuing an exciting expansion of our business in Gaming, Branded Content and Music with Haley, Bo and Kyle,” said Range Media Partners co-founder and CEO Peter Micelli. “We are incredibly lucky to collaborate with each of them as they help unlock global value for our clients in all areas of traditional and emerging business.”

In his previous role at Nike, Balogun led content strategy and experiential initiatives and oversaw marketing for Nike’s partnerships with the Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Dodgers, Neymar Jr. and USC football. He also previously served as head of content for the podcasting platform I Am Athlete, where he pioneered a programming partnership with NASCAR and executive-produced a series collaboration with OWN.

Hey started her career in esports/gaming while working at Rick Fox’s former esports organization, Echo Fox. Following that, she consulted on projects for clients including FaZe Clan, ESL and fortyseven communications. Hey signed gamer BrookeAB to Range after boarding the company.

Global research and strategy consultancy Sound Diplomacy appointed Rob Hain as global chief executive, while founder Shain Shapiro moved to the role of chairman.

Based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Hain has connections to clients across Canada, including the Government of Nova Scotia, Cape Breton Tourism and cities and regions including Vancouver, Hamilton, Calgary, Edmonton, Durham Region and Niagara Falls.

“Rob was an early client of Sound Diplomacy and has been a trusted adviser since Jordi Puy (now CEO of Unison Rights) and I created the company in 2013,” said Shapiro in a statement. “As a Board member and Chairman he knows what makes us tick and by moving to the role of Global CEO, Rob frees Jordi to continue growing Unison Rights, in which Sound Diplomacy has a substantial investment, and allows me to spend more time with the recently established non-profit think tank, The Center for Music Ecosystems.”

Under Hain’s leadership, Sound Diplomacy will continue working with a broad range of clients, including cities, global agencies, hospitality and leisure venues, investment managers and property developers “to help them identify, quantify and amplify opportunities to drive resilient and sustainable development whilst also realising the economic value of their assets,” according to a press release.

Sound Diplomacy’s current clients include the UK Theatres, the Organization of American States (OAS), The Earls Court Development Company, Decide Dekalb in Metro Atlanta, Arena del Rio in Barranquilla, Colombia, UMusic Hotels and National Music Centre in Canada.

Artist Partner Group (APG) promoted Andre Herd to the role of senior director, A&R, with a heavy focus on pop/alternative.

During his tenure, Herd has signed Ronin, Octavio the Dweeb and Lexi Jayde, among others. He also signed rock producer and writer WZRD BLD to Artist Publishing Group.

In the new role, Herd will take on new responsibilities, including hiring A&Rs and building out the pop/alternative department. He joined the company in 2020.

Emporium Presents, a joint venture with Live Nation Entertainment, expanded its U.S. team with three new hires: Kelsey Danca as director, marketing, Megan Unruh as director, ticketing and Jordan Powell as director, production. All three will be based out of Live Nation’s Nashville offices along with co-founder Jason Zink, who has relocated to the city.

Danca previously worked at AEG Presents, Hubbard Broadcasting, RadioFX and The Chicago Theatre. She has over 10 years of experience in marketing.

Unruh joins Emporium from Red Mountain Entertainment. She previously worked at C3 Presents, H-E-B Center in Cedar Park, TX and NASCAR.

Powell has worked as a tour and artist manager for 23 years with acts including Sugarland, Miranda Lambert and Thomas Rhett. In his new role, he will lead all production for Emporium.

Musicians on Call, a nonprofit that brings live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients in healthcare facilities, promoted five employees as the organization looks to hire new team members to meet increased demand.

Nicole Rivera was upped to senior director, programs, Sara Kolodziejczak was promoted to senior director, fundraising, Janine Garcia is now director, technology, Lindsay Solomon is senior marketing manager and Tarah Duarte is partnerships manager.

The organization is currently looking to hire a creative coordinator, executive assistant and fundraising coordinator, with additional openings to be posted in the coming weeks. For more information, visit https://www.musiciansoncall.org/careers.

“Over the past few years, Musicians On Call has experienced growth across every sector of our business, even with the challenges we have all faced during the pandemic,” said Musicians on Call president and CEO Pete Griffin. “The staff here at Musicians On Call is the best in the business, full stop. Their passion and commitment to our mission has fueled our growth, and because of their successes we are in a position to promote a number of our leaders and bring on new members to our team.”

Rivera joined Musicians on Call in 2014. She oversees all staff within the programs department and is responsible for organizing celebrity visits and vision planning for the future of MOC programs.

Kolodziejczak was hired in 2016 to spearhead the Musicians on Call’s fundraising initiatives. She has successfully helped the organization surpass its revenue goals year over year. Additionally, she led the organization’s recent major capital campaign to raise funds for its online portal.

Garcia has been with Musicians on Call’s programs department since 2017. She manages volunteer and hospital relationships and bedside performance programs in New York City and Boston while also managing the organization’s growing virtual bedside performance program. Since 2020, she has led the creation of the organization’s new proprietary program portal and will now oversee its newly created technology department.

Solomon boarded Musicians on Call in New York City in 2016. Since then, she has managed the growth and strategy for the organization’s email marketing, social media and digital campaigns while serving on its DEI task force.

Duarte has been with Musicians on Call since 2019, when she joined the organization as executive assistant to Griffin. She also worked for the senior director of strategic partnerships.

Monument Records promoted Casey Thomas to director, publicity and creative, where he will oversee publicity and media marketing, international media strategy and creative services for Monument’s roster. Thomas joined Monument in 2018 and previously worked at Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

The Monument Records roster includes “Fancy Like” singer-songwriter Walker Hayes, as well as Alex Hall, Brandon Ratcliff and music from FOX’s Monarch.

Monument’s general manager Katie McCartney said, “We are so proud of Casey’s leadership within our organization and her ability to think long-term while also maximizing momentum. Her integrity, passion and work ethic are invaluable.”

Thomas said, “I’m so grateful to work at Monument Records and support this incredible leadership team. It’s a privilege to represent and work alongside such a compelling roster of artists and creators, and I am looking forward to this next exciting chapter.”