Common music group named Libby Bush to the newly created function of president, international manufacturers and enterprise partnerships, efficient in November. In line with the announcement, she is going to “lead a brand new international operate that brings collectively UMG’s manufacturers, media and business partnerships, together with Common Music Group for Manufacturers…Whether or not they span digital platforms, bodily merchandise and stay experiences, these collaborations might be rooted in artist originality and genuine connections with followers.” Primarily based in Los Angeles, Bush will report back to UMG CEO Boyd Muir.
She joins from Inventive Artists Company, the place she served as international head of leisure partnerships and was a member of the company’s board of administrators. Beforehand, Bush based Tandem Leisure, an leisure partnerships company acquired by CAA in 2020, and held positions at Marvel Leisure, ABC Leisure, the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks and the Nationwide Basketball Affiliation.
Muir mentioned: “As the best way followers expertise music evolves, the alternatives for our artists multiply. Bringing collectively our model, media and business partnerships underneath Libby’s management will assist develop our artists’ attain and enhance their income, whereas offering our companions with new methods to attach with followers and collaborate with the world’s most influential voices. Libby brings distinctive artistic and enterprise experience to the worldwide music chief. She is going to work with our abilities, our groups and our companions to create memorable experiences for followers, lasting worth for manufacturers and new potentialities for artists.
+Avex Inc. elevated its participation in S10 Leisure by Brandon Silversteinbuying 85% of the corporate from Silverstein and his associates. The transaction additional integrates S10 into Avex Music Group. Silverstein continues to function CEO of S10 and Avex Music Group, a board member and accomplice of Avex Music Group. Phrases of the deal weren’t disclosed.
The transaction follows Avex’s March 2025 acquisition of the S10 Music Publishing catalog, which incorporates shares of hits from Justin Bieber, Drake, Tate McRae, Kehlani, Doja Cat, Put up Malone and Rihanna, amongst others. Within the transaction, Silverstein was represented by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.
“S10 is an distinctive administration firm that performs a key function in realizing our international ambitions,” mentioned Katsumi Kuroiwa, CEO of Avex Inc. “The combination of S10 into Avex displays our confidence in Brandon’s management and our dedication to rising Avex’s international music enterprise. Collectively, we’ll deliver the total breadth of Avex’s capabilities to artists and creators world wide.”
+ Warner Music Group named Sonny Takhar as Chairman and CEO of Warner Music UK & Eire, efficient January 2027. Takhar will oversee artistic course, artist growth and strategic operations throughout WMG’s recorded music footprint within the UK, the world’s third largest music market, and Eire.
Takhar will report back to Val Blavatnik, managing director of Warner Music North America, UK and company growth. Takhar’s mandate may also embody operational oversight of WMG’s unbiased distribution arm, ADA, within the UK and Eire, and he’ll work carefully with Elliot Grainge, CEO and Chairman of Atlantic Music Group and Chairman of ADA within the US, in addition to Aaron Bay-Schuck, Chairman and CEO of Warner Data Group.
A founding accomplice of Syco Leisure, Takhar has performed a key function within the careers of One Route, Labrinth, Leona Lewis, Little Combine, James Arthur and Fifth Concord, alongside the launch of worldwide tv franchises ‘The X Issue’ and ‘Bought Expertise’. Most just lately, Takhar co-founded Los Angeles-based KYN Leisure in a three way partnership with Reside Nation, and has labored with Westlife and songwriter-producer Steve Mac.
Blavatnik mentioned: “Sonny is among the most visionary leaders within the music enterprise and his monitor document of discovering, nurturing and breaking international superstars speaks for itself. His intuition for expertise, deep understanding of the broader music ecosystem and international strategic perspective make him the best chief to drive Warner Music UK & Eire ahead.”
+Amrathe worldwide digital collections administration firm, as we speak introduced that its CEO, Thomas Ericssonwill step down from his function as CEO after 13 years, efficient January 1, 2027. He’ll assume the function of Chairman of the Board of Administrators. Robin Daviesdirector of operations of Amra for 4 years, has been appointed normal supervisor of the corporate efficient January 1.
Ericsson launched Amra in partnership with Kobalt Music Group in 2013, in the end licensing digital rights on to over 200 territories, 45 publishers and reaching nine-figure gross income by 2026.
“We’re very grateful for the imaginative and prescient and management of Tomas, who and his crew have made Amra probably the most progressive and transformational organizations within the trade,” mentioned Laurent Hubert, CEO of Kobalt. “We additionally look ahead to Tomas persevering with to contribute to the corporate as President. Amra might be in good arms with Tomas’ continued steerage and Robin, who has been with Amra and the Kobalt group for a decade, on the helm.”
+ Danny Goldberg promoted Jesse Bauer to the place of senior vice chairman and Gabriel Barreto to the vice-president of Golden Village Leisure, the New York-based artist administration firm that Goldberg launched in 2007. Bauer has been with the corporate since its inception; Barreto joined the group in 2021. Gold Village represents Steve Earle, the Waterboys and others.
+ASCAP President and Chairman of the Board Paul Williams introduced that Jim Selby was elected a publishing member of the ASCAP Board of Administrators. Jim Selby is President of International Music Publishing at BMG, main the corporate’s international music publishing, and performed a key function in its latest merger with Harmony.
Williams commented, “The ASCAP Board of Administrators cares deeply about making selections which can be in the perfect curiosity of your complete membership. As a world publishing chief, Jim has the experience to deal with the complicated points dealing with music creators and publishers in as we speak’s market, from the challenges and alternatives of AI to licensees eager to pay songwriters much less. He might be a useful voice on the ASCAP Board of Administrators in our mission to defend and shield our multiple million members.
+ Common music group named Oscar Celma as Senior Vice President, Utilized AI and Machine Studying, efficient instantly. Celma will assist lead the event and software of AI and machine studying throughout UMG’s international operations, supporting UMG’s labels, divisions and companies. He’ll report back to Hannah Poferl, Chief Knowledge Officer of UMG.
In her earlier function at Spotify, Celma helped develop AI-powered customized listening experiences, together with AI DJ, Jam and Daylist, in addition to personalization and discovery. He has additionally held positions at Condé Nast, Pandora/SiriusXM and BMAT Music Innovators.
Poferl mentioned: “Òscar brings a singular mix of quantitative and product expertise, deep AI experience and a love for music. He has constructed profitable groups and is aware of find out how to flip large-scale knowledge into helpful insights. With the breadth and depth of UMG’s knowledge, he has monumental potential to assist our groups do extra for our artists.”
+ Chrysalis Recordingsa part of the Reservoir group of firms, and related artist administration and music publishing firm Blue Raincoat Music has introduced that broadcaster-journalist Steve Lamacq joined the corporate as Curator, New Music and Expertise Improvement. The newly created advisor function was meant to assist each firms establish, champion and nurture the following era of groundbreaking artists.
Working alongside Chrysalis and Blue Raincoat’s current A&R, administration and artistic groups in a consultancy capability, Lamacq, a BBC and NME veteran, will assist uncover, champion and develop rising expertise, drawing on over 4 many years of expertise on the forefront of other and unbiased music tradition. Lamacq was appointed MBE in 2025 for providers to broadcasting and live performance halls.
Jeremy Lascelles, CEO of Chrysalis Data & Blue Raincoat Music, mentioned: “Steve has a unprecedented skill to identify nice artists early on. Repeatedly, he has recognized expertise lengthy earlier than the broader trade takes discover. Once I requested him if he wish to work alongside us on this capability, I used to be over the moon when he agreed. It is virtually a dream situation for us. Alongside his intensive data of music, he has constructed a degree of belief with artists and audiences that makes him uniquely certified for this curatorial function, I am excited in regards to the pairing and assume we’ll have a variety of enjoyable.