In one of late October’s music industry hires, promotions, and departures, Chris McMurtry (pictured) joined OpenPlay as senior solutions architect. Photo Credit: Ernest Chapman
Here’s a recap of recent music industry hires and in-house promotions as of October 23rd, 2024.
If you have a job shuffle to share, we’re all ears. Send us a note to news@digitalmusicnews.com. If you’d like to post a job on our Job Board, just send us a request to noah@digitalmusicnews.com. And, keep track of all the latest music industry hires here.
Triller
Kicking off a “transformation journey,” the publicly listed Triller Group has named Vevo vet Kevin McGurn CEO and added 1-800-Flowers founder James McCann as well as Triller co-founder Bobby Sarnevesht to its board.
The Orchard
Sony Music’s The Orchard has made two executive appointments in South Korea: former Warner Bros. Discovery higher-up Jeeyoung Lee is now head of South Korea and country manager, while former Big Hit exec Sungho “Jake” Bae, also based in Seoul, has become director of artist and label services for Asia Pacific.
Additionally, the role of New York City-based SVP of strategy and corporate development John Park “has been expanded to focus on business opportunities in Korea.”
OpenPlay
Dart Music founder Chris McMurtry, previously with PEX, has joined OpenPlay as senior solutions architect.
Believe
Believe has “redesigned” its international strategy under longtime team member Romain Vivien, who, on top of his existing role as the company’s Europe president, is officially doubling as global head of music.
Plus, in the UK, Believe has elevated three-year employee Johnny Pinchard, formerly part of RCA, to A&R head.
EastCoast Entertainment
Longtime Carolina Panthers marketing exec Erin Collums has signed on as EastCoast’s director of marketing.
CD Baby
Downtown’s CD Baby has tapped former Sofar Sounds VP of growth marketing Jean Mischler to serve as SVP of marketing.
Ineffable Records
Ineffable has hired former Spirit Music Group film and TV creative services manager Sage Ressler as head of sync.
MNRK Music Group
MNRK has promoted Chris Moncada, who joined the company nearly a decade ago, to COO.
Killphonic Rights
Frenchkiss Records founder Syd Butler and former Spotify higher-up Michelle Fantus are now co-heads of A&R at Killphonic.
BMG
Melanie McAllister, who spent close to a decade at the HR helm of BMG “sister company” Arvato, is scheduled to begin as BMG’s chief human resources officer on November 1st.
UMPG UK
11-year UMPG exec David Gray has been upped to UK managing director as well as global head of A&R and is expected to relocate from New York to London in the new year.
He’ll replace MD Mike McCormack, who first joined UMPG UK a quarter of a century ago and “has established a consultancy and formed a joint venture with the company.”
iHeartMedia
In February of 2025, after 27 years, Paul Schadt will retire from Charlotte’s 96.9 The Kat. However, the Country Radio Hall of Fame inductee will still “serve as a station ambassador and make on-air and on-site appearances,” per iHeartMedia.
Apple Corps
Apple Corps CEO Jeff Jones is stepping down after almost 18 years.
Warner Music Japan
Universal Music Japan vet Takeshi Okada is poised to start as president and CEO of Warner Music Japan effective December 2nd.
MLC
Songwriter Oak Felder has been confirmed for a second three-year term on the Mechanical Licensing Collective’s board, which, on the publisher side, has seen Reservoir’s Rell Lafargue elected to a second term while adding Wixen’s Jason Rys.
Position Music
Position has welcomed former Anthem Entertainment creative director Chandler Thurston to the A&R team at its Nashville office, which is expected to open in Q3 2025.
Capitol Music Group
Capitol has brought on Justin Grant (who spent over nine years with Atlantic’s marketing team) as SVP and head of digital marketing for urban, besides boosting almost five-year team member Dante Smith to head of digital for Motown.
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