Executive Turntable: Sony Music Taps SVP of Strategy & Investments; L.A. Radio Legend Retires

Angela Lopes was promoted to senior vp of strategy and investments at Sony Music Entertainment as part of the company’s newly-announced combination of its corporate and digital investments, M&A and strategic planning teams. In the role, Lopes — who was previously senior vp of digital strategy & investments — will work with Sony Music’s executive leadership and global digital business teams to develop strategies and investing opportunities to support the company’s creative and financial growth. She will also focus on expanding Sony Music’s investments across development areas, including global streaming, artist services, the creator economy, social media, gaming, NFTs and the metaverse. The New York-based Thomas reports to COO Kevin Kelleher and president of global digital business Dennis Kooker.

Pat Prescott, the longtime morning show host at Los Angeles’ KTWV-FM (94.7 The Wave), retired from mainstream radio after 47 years and 21 years at her current home. She hosted her final show at the station on Sept. 30. Over her career, she has worked at stations including New Orleans’ WNOE and New York City’s WRVR, WBLS-FM, WLIB and CD 101.9 and served as an anchor for The National Black News Network. While at The Wave, she hosted and produced the station’s annual Black History Month tribute Making the Waves and the 20-part social justice series Justice Now, created in response to the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. Among other honors, she received the Genii Award from the Alliance of Women in Media. She will continue hosting Favorite Things with Pat Prescott, a daily specialty radio show at New Jersey’s NPR jazz station WBGO (88.3 FM).

Kristy Gibson was promoted to senior vp of film/TV & video games synchronization at Atlantic Records. Gibson will oversee the placement of music from Atlantic artists in film, TV, trailers, promos and video games. She reports to Atlantic president, West Coast Kevin Weaver.

Also at Atlantic Records, Drew Maniscalsco was promoted to vp of sales and streaming. He will continue to pioneer Atlantic’s data strategies while working with several of the label’s emerging and established acts.

Mel Carter, the former senior vp of A&R at Republic Records who departed the label at the end of September, launched Second Estate Records, a joint venture with Warner Records. Under the deal, Warner Records will provide Second Estate with its full spectrum of marketing and distribution services. Carter will also serve as a consultant to the A&R team, including president of A&R Steve Carless and executive vp and head of A&R Karen Kwak. Second Estate’s first signing is Philadelphia rapper 2rare, who was recently featured on Lil Durk‘s “Q-Pid.”

Secretly Group hired Mark Czarra as managing director of radio, effective immediately. He will run the North American radio department out of the company’s Los Angeles office, overseeing campaigns for Secretly’s four record labels: Dead Oceans, Jagjaguwar, Saddest Factory Records and Secretly Canadian. Czarra, who was most recently senior vp at Downtown Records, reports to vp of operations Kraegan Graves.

Berry Gordy appointed his longtime advisor and attorney Carol Perrin as CEO of his companies. Perrin started her career as a partner in the law firm Ball Hunt Hart Brown and Baerwitz before launching her own practice. She ended her law career as a principal shareholder at Greenberg Traurig.

Danny Wimmer Presents (DWP) promoted Del Williams to global head of talent. In the role, he will oversee the curation and booking of all DWP festivals, one-offs and special events. He will also work closely with Billy Brill and Seth Shomes to grow the representation of DWP Talent Services, which focuses on entertainment for casinos and fairs. Williams can be reached at del@dwpresents.com.

Natalie Wade BEM, the founder of Small Green Shoots and The Cat’s Mother, joined PPL as director of music industry engagement, a newly created role. Wade will help develop PPL’s relationships with the U.K. music industry, promoting PPL’s work collecting hundreds of millions in neighboring rights revenue for performers and rights holders. She reports to chief membership & people officer Kate Reilly and joins CEO Peter Leathem‘s executive management team. PPL will continue supporting Natalie’s work with The Cat’s Mother; she will also continue as a part-time consultant to Small Green Shoots for a transitional period.

Ralph W. Peer was named managing director of peermusic Australia. He will be based out of the company’s Sydney offices and report jointly to Kathy Spanberg, president of peermusic in the region, and global CFO Bill Gorjance. In addition to his new role, Peer will continue directing peermusic initiatives as vp of the company’s African and Middle East operations. Peer is the grandson of late peermusic founder Ralph S. Peer.

Sony Music Nashville promoted Nicole Marinake to vp of partnership marketing & new ventures; she was previously senior director of partnership marketing. In the role, Marinake will work with the label’s regional promotion and artist development team to expand the label and its artist footprint in the branding space, specifically on a regional level. She will also explore, identify and pursue business in new technology, innovation, gaming and Web3 while continuing to oversee all national brand partnership efforts and build the Sony Music Nashville Live brand. She reports to senior vp of marketing Jennifer Way and can be reached at Nicole.Marinake@sonymusic.com.

AEG appointed Matthew Zweck vp of partnership sales for the Asia Pacific, leading the company’s expansion in the region. Zweck, who will be based in Melbourne, has been with the company for 10 years. Among other duties, he will focus on securing naming rights deals for new AEG venues in Thailand, Japan and South Korea that are currently under construction.

The Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency (CMRRA) hired Elyssa Macri as director of communications and industry relations, effective Oct. 17. She will lead strategic communications, marketing, events and sponsorship opportunities for the company while working with other members of the CMRRA and its U.S. partner SX Works to develop strategies designed to support CMRRA’s client base and amplify the work of both organizations. Macri will also be a key liaison with Canadian industry organizations. She joins the CMRRA from The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences/The JUNO Awards, where she served as director of marketing and communications. She can be reached at emacri@cmrra.ca.

Music producer Gary Gray and music expert/author Dave Kusak partnered to launch TEAM, an A&R pathway and music licensing-focused training academy for aspiring musicians. The company’s flagship service, TEAM Premium Access, offers an “assembly line” training model that includes an online music education program and support community along with exclusive licensing opportunities for users. The service — which offers training in music production, marketing and more, as well as mentorship opportunities — launches on Tuesday (Oct. 11).

The Songwriters Association of Canada appointed Tiffany Ferguson as executive director. She was most recently manager to Australian R&B artist Hoodlem.

SPIN added Vans Warped Tour founder and producer Kevin Lyman to its board of directors. Lyman currently owns and serves as CEO of his production agency KLG, which produces branded festivals and cause marketing events.

Agent Brad Raffenau joined Madison House, bringing with him clients The Dead South, Handmade Moments, Sophistafunk, Shonen Knife, Steve’n’Seagulls, Anna Moss, Willy Tea Taylor, Whitehorse, The Hooten Hallers, The Cybertronic Spree, Booze & Glory, Me Like Bees, The Pack AD, Volk, The Fleshtones, Peelander-Z, Gnome, Dig Deep and Dog Party. Raffenau joins the agency from Atomic Music Group, where he served as vp and agent. He can break reached at brad@madison-house.com.

U.S.-based Sound Royalties expanded into Canada with the hire of Vanessa Thomas, who will serve as a regional representative for the music finance company in the country. In the position, Thomas will help maximize musicians’, songwriters’, labels’ and other music businesses’ ability to thrive financially. She will also help Sound Royalties forge new partnerships and relationships to boost the music business in Canada. Thomas can be reached at vthomas@soundroyalties.com.

Linkin Park co-founder Mike Shinoda boarded Web3 music company Secret Garden as a platform advisor. He will also release a new NFT project with the company titled Windchime on Oct. 12.

Abby Harari was hired as a publicist at Nettwerk Music Group, where she will execute publicity campaigns for a roster of over 20 artists. She previously spent three years at Def Jam Recordings, where she worked her way up to publicity manager.

Riser House Entertainment hired Brooke Mansfield as senior director of digital strategy. Mansfield most recently served as senior digital strategist at The Artist Management Group.

Activist Artists Management promoted Kate Willingham to manager & director of digital; she was previously associate manager. In her expanded role, Willingham will support the day-to-day client teams and client social media strategies. She will also confer with clients’ outside digital agencies and run digital point for the Activist social media channels. Willingham can be reached at willingham@activist.co.

Takayuki Suzuki is now an advisor to Web3 company anotherblock, where he will help inform its strategy in the Japanese market. Suzuki’s experience includes executive roles at companies including MTV Japan and Universal Music Group. He also served as director of the Japanese copyright administration organization JASRAC.