Raffaella Braun has been named president of Triple Tigers Records following Annie Ortmeier’s departure as co-president. The change comes alongside senior appointments at EMPIRE, Create Music Group and WME.
Labels and agencies
Braun became Triple Tigers’ co-president earlier this year after serving as vice president of radio promotion. She has more than 15 years of industry experience, including work as a booking agent at CAA. Ortmeier stepped down after roughly three years at the label. She joined in 2023 alongside Kevin Herring, having previously served as senior vice president of streaming marketing at UMG and director of interactive marketing at Big Machine Records.
EMPIRE has hired Leesa Brunson-Boland and Bina Fronda as senior vice presidents in its New York office. Brunson-Boland, most recently head of artists and repertoire (A&R) operations at 300 Entertainment after nearly two decades at Def Jam Recordings, will oversee workflows and coordination across teams from recording to release. Fronda joins from her role as vice president of marketing at Ultra Records and will focus on dance, pop and general-market artists.
WME has added Aleks Ljubojevic and Sophia Simon to its contemporary music team, according to global head of music Kirk Sommer. Ljubojevic, previously an agent at Amsterdam’s Ace Agency, is based in London, reports to Stephanie LaFera and brings Steve Angello to WME for European solo representation. Simon founded Brazil-focused agency So.Connected in 2024; she is based in Spain and reports to Rob Markus.
Publishing and executive roles
Hayley Silvertown has been appointed chief legal and business affairs officer at Create Music Group, based at its Hollywood headquarters. She was of counsel at Paul Hastings and had worked as Create’s outside counsel for more than three years on acquisitions and its first institutional equity raise. Her earlier business affairs roles were at ICM and Warner Chappell Music Publishing.
Karen Hamilton is now managing director of Peermusic Australia following Peermusic’s acquisition of Sydney-based 120 Publishing, where she had been general manager since 2011. Neon Coast has promoted Nikki Boon to chief creative officer, extending her oversight to its full roster and adding international strategy. She has worked at the Nashville company for a decade.
Management and artist services
SMACK has promoted Marissa Loar to vice president of management, leading its management division. She joined as an intern in 2016 and previously served as day-to-day manager for Walker Hayes, Kylie Morgan and Jenna Davis.
Nashville’s Back Row Music, the company behind Back Row Publishing, has launched artist management and record label divisions. Michael Kozelj is president and Adam Skuse is chief executive officer. Chris Koegen, formerly of Amazon and Big Machine, is president of artist services, while Alexa Fasulo joins as vice president of artist development and marketing after roles at Republic Records and Live Nation.
Amanda Quinton has moved her artist management roster, including Ashley Monroe and Tenille Townes, to mtheory through a new partnership. Her digital marketing company, Quinton Digital, remains independent.
Entertainment law firm Rothenberg, Mohr & Binder has promoted Joseph Duthie to partner. He joined in 2021 and advises clients including Gunna, LISA and Marshmello.
