Revolution Records and Pipeline have appointed new leaders as music companies announce changes across label management, distribution and artist services. The appointments coincide with another round of US and UK layoffs at Universal Music Group (UMG) under its long-planned cost-cutting initiative.
Revolution Records and Pipeline appoint leaders
Revolution Music Group has appointed Allen Wollard president of its newly created Revolution Records division. Wollard previously headed Sunshine Entertainment Associates.
Ben Katovsky, formerly chief executive officer (CEO) of Recognition Music, has become CEO of Matt Spetzler’s Pipeline.
Angry Mob’s AM2 creative sync division has hired former SILO: Music executive Liddy Clark as manager of creative sync, trailers.
Universal cuts roles across the US and UK
Executives leaving UMG include:
- Jim Roppo, CEO of Republic Records.
- Tunji Balogun, CEO of Def Jam.
- Ben Mortimer, president of Polydor Label Group.
- Sam Riback, Interscope co-president and head of pop and rock artists and repertoire (A&R).
Some departing executives are moving into consulting positions. Roppo has joined Warner Records Group as vice chairman.
The cuts reportedly also affect at least eight people at MCA:
- Robert Femia, chief operating officer (COO) and executive vice president (EVP) of business and legal affairs.
- Miranda McDonald, senior vice president (SVP) of promotion, who was promoted in March.
- Taylor Viegut, vice president (VP) of e-commerce.
- Regional promotion executives John Trapane, Donna Passuntino, Ashley Knight and Shannon Hogan.
- Houston Gaither, director of radio marketing.
Rebecca Allen, Universal Music UK’s chief artist and strategy officer, has also left after nearly 30 years with the company.
Believe, Pophouse and Hybe expand leadership teams
Believe has promoted Viktoria Siniavskaia to president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). She has worked at the company for 15 years.
Pophouse has appointed Nikos Antoniou senior vice president of artist brand and audience growth. Antoniou previously led music streaming and commercial partnerships for EMEA at TikTok.
Hybe has promoted Juan Arenas, previously chief operating officer of Hybe Latin America, to president of its Global Label Services division. The division has also appointed:
- Nicole Csabai, a former Interscope revenue executive, as senior vice president of global distribution.
- Melissa Victor, formerly Sony Music’s senior vice president of publicity, as executive vice president of global artist services.
Mohnish Sani, managing partner at SuMoSan Ventures, is now officially head of strategy and growth at Hybe Americas.
In the role, Sani intends to “accelerate long-term growth and build new creative and commercial opportunities across the region.”
