WMC India, UMG China, Roc Nation & More Music Promotions & Hires

Universal Music China announced Sam Hu has been appointed managing director of Universal Music China and senior vp of Universal Music Greater China, effective immediately. Based in Beijing, he will report to chairman and CEO of Universal Music Greater China, Timothy Xu. Within his new role, Hu will oversee the company’s operations and strategic development in China.

Hu has previously served as general manager of Warner Music China, General Manager of Sony Music Entertainment China and vp of Taihe Music Group. “Sam is a highly respected executive with a rare combination of international company leadership experience and a deep understanding of China’s local music ecosystem and culture,” Adam Granite, executive vp of market development at universal Music Group, said in a statement. “China remains one of the most important and dynamic markets in the global music business, and Sam’s strategic and creative vision, operational depth and proven leadership make him exceptionally well positioned to lead Universal Music China into its next phase of growth. We are delighted to welcome him to the UMG family.”

Xu added, “Sam has an exceptional understanding of the industry, a sharp instinct for talent development and market trends, and a strong track record of building artist careers, businesses and teams, as well as being one of the few executives on the market who combines operational experience globally and locally at the highest level. I am confident that under his leadership, Universal Music China will further strengthen its artist development capabilities and create more opportunities for Chinese artists and music to connect with audiences around the world.”

Hu said in a statement, “I am sincerely grateful to Timothy for his trust. Having worked together previously, I have long appreciated his openness, vision and commitment to innovation and collaboration, which have always been a source of encouragement to those around him. I look forward to joining my colleagues at Universal Music China and contributing to the continued growth of Chinese music on the global stage.” — A.K.

Chris Knight was named executive vp of artist management at Roc Nation. He will report to CEO Desiree Perez and vice chairman Jay Brown.

During his time at Roc Nation, Knight has worked directly with J Balvin, helping him achieve career milestones, including playing the FIFA World Cup halftime show and Coachella. He has also guided Robin Thicke’s career for many years. Elsewhere, he played a key role in launching the TSX performance stage in New York’s Times Square and has helped bring artists to Vietnam, including by developing 8 Wonder, a festival built to bring in global and Western acts like Maroon 5, Charlie Puth, J Balvin, Imagine Dragons, Alicia Keys and Christina Aguilera. — Chris Eggertsen

Danny Wimmer Presents (DWP) announced the launch of DWP Concerts, with Billy Hardison joining the company to oversee talent buying and booking strategy across all DWP Concerts partners.

“DWP Concerts is the natural evolution of the foundation we’ve built over the years,” Danny Wimmer said in a statement. “We’ve learned what works — how to connect with fans, how to build real demand, and how to execute at scale — and now we’re bringing that directly to our partners. This isn’t just about promoting shows, it’s about helping venues and events grow the right way. That’s why bringing someone like Billy onto the team is so important — he understands what it takes at the venue level and will play a big role in helping our partners build and sustain real success.” — A.K.

Grammy-winning producer Theron “Neff-U” Feemster, whose credits include Michael Jackson, Justin Bieber and Eminem, and music executive David Greenberg launched music-driven media company, EDEN Media. Along with the company’s launch, they partnered with TikTok through music distribution platform SoundOn, with its opening slate including a single from Mike Tyson featuring Rick Ross, a music-based wellness project with Wim Hof and Feemster’s symphonic work produced in collaboration with Sony’s 360 Reality Audio Team.

Greenberg serves as the company’s CEO, while Feemster is Chief Creative Officer.

“EDEN Media was never meant to be a traditional label, and that’s exactly what makes it exciting,” Greenberg said in a statement. “We’re building something we believe is genuinely unique. We say ‘EDEN is a music-driven media company’ and not a label because it’s designed for the way modern audiences discover, connect with and experience art. We believe EDEN is uniquely positioned to put artists and creativity first while developing projects that are both culturally resonant and commercially meaningful. It’s an honor to be building this alongside a creative juggernaut like Theron ‘Neff-U’ Feemster, and we’re excited to bring bold, immersive experiences into the world.”

Feemster adds, “EDEN is a fertile land where ideas can safely grow. I’m very excited about this partnership and to be able to create disruptive, advanced and futuristic ecosystems of art that can push humanity forward. The team at SoundOn/TikTok is electric and fun. I always believe there’s no life without sound, so the sound should always be on.” — A.K.

Management services and artist marketing/strategy firm mtheory has promoted two executives. Ed Rivadavia has been promoted to executive vp of marketing and operations, while Kaitlyn Moore has been promoted to general manager.

Rivadavia previously worked at companies including Sony Music, 800 Pound Gorilla and Genni/Songfluencer. He has also implemented marketing/digital strategies at labels including RCA Records and Roadrunner Records. Moore previously worked at companies including Maverick (managing digital and merch strategies for artists including Brooks & Dunn and Rascal Flatts), and has held leadership roles at Checkd.In and Borman Entertainment.

“Titles don’t build companies – people do,” mtheory CEO Cameo Carlson said in a statement. “Ed and Kaitlyn have been doing the work at the highest level for a long time, and this is a recognition of the leadership they’re already showing every day. As the industry continues to evolve, we need leaders who can navigate both the complexity and the opportunity, and they bring that rare combination of strategic vision and execution as we build what’s next for mtheory.” — Jessica Nicholson

Pipeline Media, a financing platform focused on the music and wider creative industries, announced several new hires.

Jay Srivastav has joined the company as head of data & product. In the role, he will spearhead the development of Pipeline’s royalty infrastructure and data systems. Srivastav started his career at FTI Consulting, which was focused on music catalog deals and collateral valuations. He later joined Royal to help build analytics and forecasting systems for its direct-to-fan music rights marketplace. He later co-founded Syncopate, a royalty management platform for music rights investors.

Jennifer Scher was hired as CFO. She will oversee all aspects of finance at the company, including ERP implementation, forecasting, budgeting and policy development. During her career, Scher has raised more than $750 million in acquisition funding, executed over $1 billion in music acquisitions and raised more than $250 million in debt financing focused on m music assets. She was previously a member of the Seeker board of directors and investment committee.

Jason Munro was appointed as general counsel & head of business affairs. He will oversee all business affairs, legal, compliance and corporate governance matters. He joins Pipeline from BMG, where he worked for a decade, most recently as head of business & legal affairs for recorded music, North America. He previously served in roles at SJ Berwin, Russells Solicitors and Island Records.

Matt Spetzler, founder and CEO of Pipeline Media, said in a statement, “These appointments reflect our commitment to building a world-class team with deep expertise across finance, legal and data. Jennifer, Jason and Jay each bring a unique and highly relevant skill set that strengthens our ability to support independent music businesses globally with the capital and infrastructure they need to thrive.” — C.E.

Live event and concert promotion company Peachtree Entertainment has expanded its team with the addition of Aaron Siuda as senior vp of Marketing, and Andrew Hingley as vp of artist relations and development.

Siuda has over 25 years of experience in live entertainment marketing and talent buying, most recently serving as Sr. VP of Regional Marketing for Live Nation. Hingley previously worked as a talent buyer for Live Nation in Atlanta for a decade and has owned (and still owns) Eddie Attic for 15 years.

“Aaron and Andy each bring a level of experience, judgment, and artist-first thinking that is critical as we continue to grow,” Nathan Baugh, Peachtree CEO, said in a statement. “They’ve both built careers rooted in collaboration and long-term relationships, and that aligns directly with our approach at Peachtree. We’re excited to have them on the team and confident they’ll make an immediate impact.” — J.N.

Dawn Ostroff, formerly chief content and advertising business officer at Spotify, was appointed to the board of directors at Moloco, an AI advertising company.

“Dawn has played a meaningful role in shaping the modern media and advertising landscape, and throughout her career has guided countless organizations through periods of significant transformation and digital evolution,” said Ikkjin Ahn, co-founder and CEO of Moloco. “As we look to make our own mark across the industry and move the entire digital ecosystem forward, Dawn’s experience leading major global organizations will be invaluable in guiding our next chapter.”

“The Internet economy is increasingly shaped by data and AI systems,” added Ostroff. “Moloco is well-positioned to help businesses navigate that shift, and I’m excited to join the Board at such an important moment for the industry.” — C.E.

Jody Williams Songs hired Jonah Gordon as manager, sync and A&R. He previously worked in the sync department at Big Yellow Dog Music, which was recently acquired by Sony Music Publishing.

“Jonah is the right person at the right time to ramp up our sync business and enhance creative services for our writers,” Nina Fisher, vp and general manager of Jody Williams Songs said in a statement. “He brings a skill set to our company that will help us to evolve and broaden the reach of our songs.”

Additionally, Tenasie Courtright has been promoted to director of creative and A&R at the company, previously serving as creative director. — A.K.

Legends Global announced Pawel Brzezinski’s appointment as executive vp of premium hospitality service. He joins the company from Jean-Georges Management, where he served as Chief Operating Officer.

“Pawel’s track record of building world-class hospitality experiences at scale makes him the ideal leader to drive our premium hospitality vision forward,” Tom Funk, president of hospitality at Legends Global. “His unique combination of luxury hospitality expertise, large-venue operations, and membership opportunities across our portfolio. We always work to raise the bar for what’s possible in premium hospitality, and Pawel’s leadership will be instrumental in defining the future of our business.” — A.K.

Felix Carrasco has joined A3 Merch as senior vp of A&R and New Business. The company also announced the promotion of Troy Vest to executive vp and general manager.

“Felix brings a rare combination of creative instinct, operational excellence, and deep artist relationships,” Jon Elliot, co-founder of A3 Merch, said in a statement. “He has been at the center of some of the most impactful merchandise and fan experiences in the industry, and we are excited to have him help shape what’s next for A3.” — A.K.

Akin announced Rory Wellever has joined the company’s Chicago office as head of its music practice.

“Rory’s arrival is a significant step in the continued evolution of our market-leading media, entertainment and sports practice,” Abid Qureshi, Akin co-chair, said in a statement. “His deep knowledge of music-industry transactions further expands our established strengths and offers clients a comprehensive platform across a wide range of media asset classes while reaching new client profiles.”

Wellever said in a statement, “Akin’s sophisticated platform leverages global reach and an extensive client-base with a clear commitment to expanding in the music and entertainment space. The firm offers the scale, talent and strategic vision needed to build a premier music practice alongside a best-in-class media, entertainment and sports team, and I look forward to providing my clients with the full scope of Akin’s capabilities.”

Chris Spicer, head of the firm’s media, entertainment and sports practice, said in a statement, “Rory is an all-star in the music industry, having advised on top-tier matters related to the music and entertainment sector and represented sponsor clients, publishers and record labels as well as songwriters and performing artists. Rory’s background will play a key role in broadening our offering and deepening our reach across the music sector. We’re thrilled to welcome him to the team.” — A.K.

Kyle W. Jones has returned Concert Stuff Group as Chief Growth Officer, the company announced. He brings nearly 40 years of experience in the live production industry to the role, previously serving as stage manager for George Straight and building up the Nashville division of Stage Call Transportation. His most recent role was as president of Pioneer Production Transport.

His new appointment follows Chance Stahlult being named Chief Operating Officer at the company.

“It feels like home again,” Jones said in a statement. “Longing for a new challenge, and with Chance stepping into the COO role, I was approached by the Brammers and Chance with a great opportunity — one I simply couldn’t pass up.” — A.K.

Surfdog/DKM, the company that includes Surfdog Records and DKM Management, announced the promotion of Lauren Walters to senior vp.

“Lauren’s leadership, attention to detail and deep understanding of our business have made her an invaluable part of the team,” Scott Seine, president of Surfdog/DKM, said in a statement. “She consistently elevates everything she touches, and this promotion reflects both her impact to date and confidence we have in her continued growth.”

Surfdog founder Dave Kaplan said, “Lauren is a superstar. We’re so thrilled about her very deserved promotion, and feel lucky to have her.” — A.K.

AEG announced the promotions of Katie Mae Miller to vp of integrated marketing at AEG Regions and Chelsea Cloud to vp of integrated marketing at Goldenvoice. Miller was previously at Zero Mile, a subsidiary of AEG Presents, where she was senior director of integrated marketing. Cloud joins Goldenvoice from Universal Music Group, where she served as vp of global brand partnerships. Miller while be based in Atlanta, while Cloud will be based in Los Angeles. Both will report to Victoria Torchia, senior vp of marketing and digital strategy at AEG Presents.

“Katie Mae and Chelsea are both highly respected marketing leaders with a deep understanding of how to connect artists, brands, and fans in meaningful ways,” Torchia said in a statement. “Their experience and perspective will be instrumental as we continue to evolve our integrated marketing capabilities and support the growth of our global business.” — A.K.

Brent Freed has joined Versa as a corporate talent buyer, the company operating as a talent buying partner working with concert promoters, festivals and brands to assist with sourcing, negotiating and executing talent partnerships. Previously, he served as a talent buyer at Live Nation Las Vegas, and he’s held roles at WME, Resorts World Las Vegas, Wynn, Palms and the Miami Marlins.

“I’m excited to join Versa at a time with strong momentum,” Freed says in a statement. “The team has built something special, and I look forward to contributing to its continued growth across the U.S. and internationally.”

Toby Benson, co-founder of Versa, said in a statement, “Brent’s corporate talent buying expertise is a perfect fit for our U.S. business, and with our festivals, touring, and on-the-ground team already operating across Asia, having him involved on that side too makes this an incredibly exciting addition to the team.”

Co-founder Jace Cohen adds, “Brent brings a rare combination of agency and on-the-ground programming experience spanning WME, top Las Vegas properties, and Live Nation. He adds immediate depth as we continue expanding Versa across key markets.” — A.K.

Megan Wise has joined Breakaway as vp of brand partnerships, the company announced. She’s held roles at companies including Creative Artists Association and the Country Music Association. She most recently served as vp of new business at Anotherland Agency.

“Megan brings a rare mix of instinct, experience and real relationships,” Adam Lynn, co-founder and CEO of Breakaway, said in a statement. “As Breakaway continues to scale its brand partnerships business, she has a proven ability to translate cultural insight into meaningful, revenue-driving partnerships. We’re excited for her to help share our next phase of growth in a way that’s both strategic and impactful.” — A.K.