Executive Turntable: Sphere Goes Hollywood? VP of Warner Chappell Ups A&R; BMG's excellent choice

It's time for another spin around the Executive Turntable, Billboard's comprehensive(ish) compendium of promotions, hires, departures and firings — and everything in between — across music. Don't forget to delve into this year's Indie Power Players list. We also have a weekly interview series featuring a single executive and a regularly updated gallery honoring many of the industry faces we've lost over the year.

Sphere Entertainment has turned to a veteran Hollywood studio Carolyn Blackwood as the new head of Sphere Studios, which develops and produces the “multi-sensory entertainment experiences” for concerts, corporate events and more in the next-generation spherical wonder. At Sphere, Blackwood will lead a team of creatives, producers and other various wizards responsible for these immersive experiences, as well as working closely with MSG Ventures to develop the production technologies needed to create them. Blackwood has more than 25 years of studio experience and was most recently chief operating officer of Warner Bros. Pictures. Prior to WB, she spent more than 20 years at New Line Cinema, where she became president and chief content officer. Between these two studios, he was actively involved with some of the biggest films of the last quarter century, including The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, Barbie and The call privilege.

“Throughout my career, I've focused on creative and business innovation in the entertainment industry, as well as the pursuit of production excellence, and this is a tremendous opportunity to be part of the cutting-edge work at Sphere,” said Blackwood. Sphere's newly promoted president and COO, Jennifer Koester, added that she believes “Blackwood's expertise in bringing high-profile entertainment projects to life will be an asset as we continue to build and develop the Studios' capabilities.”

Sphere's creative team also includes chief creative officer Ned McNeilage, who joined earlier this year. Since opening last year with a successful run of U2 shows, the Las Vegas megavenue has been in a stylish mood with four mini-residencies from Phish and an ongoing 24-date residency from Dead & Company. An eight-date run by Eagles is planned for the fall.

In the meantime…

Universal Music India and South Asia are promoted Viral Jani to the director general of revenue. Jani joined UMGISA in 2023 as head of digital, strategy and transformation, having previously held senior positions at Times Network, GroupM and Twitter, among others. The offer follows its May hike Sanujeet Bhujabal from content evp to label division managing director based in Mumbai. “[The promotions of Bhujabal and Jani] reflects the company's commitment to growth and development in one of Universal Music Group's most important emerging markets,” noted Adam Granite, CEO, Universal Music Group AMEA. “Together they will work closely, along with Chairman and CEO Devraj Sanyal and myself, to fulfill our mission to build the best music-based entertainment company in the region.”

Warner Chappell Music promoted to A&R executive Jesse Vaughan Stevenson in vp, A&R and digital. Stevenson will continue to report to Ben Vaughn, president/CEO of WCM Nashville, as she plans opportunities for songwriters. During her career, Stevenson has collaborated with songwriters such as Jessi Alexander, Rhett Akins, Parker McCollum, Hailey Whitters, Morgan Wallen and Randy Montana. “Jesse has always shown dedication to songwriters, helping them with their craft and their careers,” Vaughn said. “She's always thinking of new ways to support songwriters and is a great team player. We are delighted to announce her promotion.” –Jessica Nicholson

APM Music elevated creative stem Adam Weitz from senior director to vp of TV and film sync. Weitz has spent the majority of his 16-year career as a license syncer — about 11 and a half years — at APM, a music production joint venture between Universal Music Publishing Group and Sony Music Publishing. During that time, he and his TV/Film team have struck large-scale licensing deals with Hollywood studios, streaming platforms and more, and locked in placements with hundreds of movies and shows, including recent wins at Oppenheimer, Succession, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Ted Lasso and more. He also heads APM's sample clearing operation, which has worked with Drake, Beck, The Black Keys and more. Weitz cites Chief Revenue Officer Chad Elbert and President Adam Taylor, who noted, “His deep industry connections and unique combination of creative and licensing expertise have established him as one of the best in the business.” Prior to joining APM in 2013, the Los Angeles-based executive spent nearly five years leading sync house Visions from the Roof. Under the pseudonym Phofo, Weitz composed music for many animated shows, including Sushi pack, Care Bears and Club Penguin, and co-produced MC Paul Barman's first studio LP. Contact him at awaitz@apmmusic.com.

TABLE SHORTS: Founder and former CEO of Furnace Record Pressing Eric Astor was elected to Vinyl Record Manufacturers Associationof the board of directors. VRMA works to advance the record industry — in which Astor has been deeply invested since FRP was founded in 1996. He recently moved into an advisory role at the Metallica-backed Virginia plant, with Ali Miller taking over as managing director. March… OpenAI (ChatGPT) was appointed Paul M. Nakasonethe former head of the National Security Agency (NSA), on its board of directors.

BMG determined Alexandra Behrens As senior vice president of global people excellence, it's a fancy way of saying she'll oversee HR services and functions across the company. Behrens departs from Bertelsmann sister company Gruner + Jahr (G+J), where she led the management and people services team during a 15-year run at the print giant. “Alexandra's leadership will be instrumental in advancing our global HR initiatives and fostering a culture of excellence across all of our locations,” said BMG CHRO Nikola Holle-Spiegel, who she will report to. BMG recently announced a refinement of its front-line recording business under Jon Loba.

Digital Media Link (DiMA) is promoted Sally Rose Larson to the senior vice president of government and foreign affairs. Before joining DiMA in 2019 as the streaming audio trade group's vice president of government relations, the Georgia native served as legislative director and later deputy chief of staff to Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA) and was chief copyright counsel on the House Judiciary Committee GOPers.

Reed Smith most welcome Jackson Abeduto as a consultant to the global entertainment and media industry group. Abbeduto, who is based in the California law firm's Century City office, arrives after a year as counsel at Granderson Des Rochers. Prior to that, he spent nearly a decade at Universal Music Publishing Group and three years at YouTube as an executive. “Music is very important to our overall practice strategy and given that our partner Gregor Pryor is the leading digital music lawyer in Europe, Jackson will have all the necessary resources to help us be at the forefront of advising to customers in the USA cutting edge digital issues,” said Stephen Sessa, co-chairman of Reed Smith's global entertainment and media industry group.

RADIO, RADIO: Cumulus Media are promoted Kristen Aitken to Director of Human Resources, taking over for a retiree Todd McCarty, who held the role for nine years. The HR veteran joined Cumulus in 2016 and was elevated to vice president of HR two years ago… Jose George and Olivia Morley joined an advertising consulting firm Madison and Wall as reported by senior analysts Radio ink … Samantha Melbourneweaver joins NPR as editor in charge/digital growth and audience engagement. He was previously assistant director of audiences at Los Angeles Times.

CAA promoted 15 employees including Shayna Ehrlich to music marketing executive in the agency's music touring division. She joined the company in March 2019 as a music and comedy tour marketing assistant and later shed some of her workload. Prior to joining CAA, New York-based Ehrlich was in media strategy at iHeartMedia. THR it has more Details in the movements.

Journalist and former television programmer based in Hollywood Kiki Ayers launched My best childhood life, a new “everyday guide to how parents and kids can live their best lives” that will focus on wellness, nutrition, co-parenting and more, as well as exclusive interviews with celebrities discussing the parenthood. What is unique about MBKL is that all the images used for the company are in comic, cartoon or anime style. Prior to this new venture, Ayers ran the public relations firm Ayers Publicity and worked as an entertainment journalist. Earlier in her career, Ayers was head of music programming at REVOLT and was in production at both MTV2 and The Jerry Springer Show.

ICYMI:

A2IM Chairman and CEO Richard James Burgess has telegraphed his departure from the indie label group… UTA hired former Ingrooves chief Bob Roback as COO… Downtown named Molly Neuman as its president CD Baby arm … Jennifer Koester was promoted to President and COO of Sphere Entertainment … United Masters hired Def Jam vet LaTrice Burnette as Evp and head of music… and CULTURETy Baisden was named Executive of the Year Advertising signList of Indie Power Players.

Last week's turntable: TikTok Lawyers Up