I’m at the Lost Highway. I’m at the Capitol Records Nashville. I’m at the combination Lost Highway and CRN radio promotion office. The recently resurrected roots label and its country music sibling announced they are consolidating their two radio promo teams, with Luke Jensen appointed vice president of promotion and Megan McCaffrey named regional director of promotion at Lost Highway/Capitol Records Nashville. Additional personnel will join the LH/CRN promo team in the coming months. Both Jensen and McCaffrey are based in Nashville. Jensen, a country music veteran with over 30 years of experience under his belt, previously served as vp of promotion at Monument Records and worked at Arista Nashville and in radio. McCaffrey, with over eight years in the industry, also worked at Monument alongside Jensen, as well as at Universal Music Group Nashville (now MCA) and Live In The Vineyard. “It was a no-brainer for us to invest in a best-in-class radio promotion team from the outset given radio’s powerful audience reach,” said Candice Watkins, president of Capitol Records Nashville.
FlyteVu, a Nashville-based creative agency, has been acquired by Driftwood Music Group in a deal valued in the eight figures. The acquisition — undisclosed in terms of actual price tag — aligns with FlyteVu’s 10th anniversary and the debut of a new brand mantra (“Safe Doesn’t Fly”), setting the stage for growth through expanded services, AI integration and strategic hiring. As part of the transition, co-founder and former Warner Music exec Jeremy Holley has exited the company, while co-founder Laura Hutfless remains CEO. “You are the finest leader and the best damn wingman I could have asked for,” Hutfless said of Holley, who announced, “The time has come for my next adventure,” without revealing his next destination. Additionally, Sina Seger has been promoted to COO, and Miriam Singer to chief of staff. Linda Knight, a former chief creative officer at Observatory, joins FlyteVu as its first CCO. A longtime consultant to the agency, Knight will lead its creative strategy and production teams. The agency has also welcomed Adeniz Villar as senior director of talent, focusing on Latinx partnerships. FlyteVu’s rebrand reflects its risk-taking bent and is paired with images of staff leadership holding actual birds of prey. “We’re ready to fly higher,” noted Knight.
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AEG Presents appointed Dion Brant as president and CEO of AEG Presents Asia Pacific, effective immediately. Based in Melbourne, Australia, Brant will retain his roles as CEO and board member of Frontier Touring while reporting to Adam Wilkes, president and CEO of AEG Presents Europe and Asia Pacific. In his new role, Brant will drive AEG’s strategic growth across Asia Pacific. Brant, whose career began in radio and ticketing before joining Mushroom Group and later Frontier Touring, has led major live events across Australia and New Zealand and played a pivotal role in the 2019 AEG-Frontier Touring partnership, eventually becoming Frontier’s CEO following Michael Gudinski’s passing in 2021. “Dion is a highly respected executive who has played an integral role in our success,” said Wilkes. “His leadership at Frontier has been transformational, proving he’s a steady hand capable of guiding our business into the future. I couldn’t be happier to name Dion to this position.”
Wasserman Music strengthened its artist services team with three key hires: Emily Kennedy as vp of business development, pop; Michael Delle Donne as vp of digital partnerships; and Lydia Barry as vp of marketing and communications. All based in New York, Kennedy will lead growth across film, TV, gaming, branding and more, bringing experience from LoyalT Management and work with artists like AURORA and Stephen Sanchez. Delle Donne, formerly with Warner Music, will oversee digital strategy, gaming and rights management, having led campaigns with artists like Charli XCX and Coldplay. Barry, previously at WME, will manage global communications. These additions support Wasserman’s mission to expand opportunities for artists across content, IP, digital and international markets, reinforcing its artist-first approach and future-focused strategy.
Sony Music Publishing Latin elevated Monica Jordan to vice president of creative A&R. Based in Miami, she’ll continue reporting to Jorge Mejia, president and CEO of SMP Latin America and US Latin. In her new role, Monica will lead creative strategy, support songwriter development and expand opportunities for the SMP Latin roster. Since joining SMP in 2010, Jordan has signed and collaborated with top artists like Jesús “JOP” Ortiz Paz, Myke Towers and Anitta, while also working with Street Mob Records, which represents over 25 artists and producers. “Monica has an impeccable ear for talent and for identifying what’s next,” said Majira. “She also has great drive and determination when it comes to her signings.”
Apple said this week that Jeff Williams will hand off his role as chief operating officer to Sabih Khan, Apple’s senior vice president of operations, later this month as part of what they describe as a long-planned succession. Williams will continue overseeing Apple Watch, Health initiatives and the design team — until his retirement later this year, after which the design team will report directly to CEO Tim Cook. Khan, a 30-year Apple veteran, has led Apple’s global supply chain and environmental initiatives, and joined the executive team in 2019. His leadership has been key to Apple’s manufacturing expansion and sustainability efforts. Williams, who played a major role in launching the iPod, iPhone and Apple Watch, “helped to create one of the most respected global supply chains in the world,” said Cook.
Nashville music execs Dave Kelly and Bekah Digby launched a strategic digital and streaming consulting co-venture. They will partner with artists and their teams across genres to optimize artists’ presence on major DSPs. Services include developing and executing tailored streaming strategies for frontline release and catalog, delivering analytics-driven insights to guide performance improvements and fueling audience growth in listenership, engagement and visibility across key streaming platforms. Kelly spent more than a decade at Big Machine Label Group, serving as vp of digital consumption. In 2023, he began consulting for artists spanning various genres. Digby most recently served as head of country & Christian artist & industry relations at SiriusXM Pandora, and as worked at companies including Big Machine Label Group, UMG Nashville (MCA) and Capitol CMG. –Jessica Nicholson
Priyanka Khimani, a leading entertainment lawyer and advocate, joined Songpact as co-founder and strategic advisor to help drive its global expansion and partnerships. Known for her work advancing equitable frameworks in music, film and TV, Khimani will guide Songpact’s mission to modernize music contracts through intuitive tools. She brings deep industry experience, having been named to Billboard’s 2025 Top Music Lawyers and 2023 Women in Music lists, and serves on the boards of Songtradr and Beatdapp. At Songpact, with launched in January, she aims to close the access and affordability gap in contract management, making pro-grade agreements available to all creators. “The world of music contracts hasn’t kept pace with the rest of the industry – it’s still stuck in a bygone era,” said Nick Weaser, Songpact’s CEO and co-founder. “In 2025, we need tools that are as fast, creative, and global as the artists they serve. [Khimani] doesn’t just understand the challenges creators face – she’s been at the forefront of solving them, one deal at a time, across borders and genres. “
VENU appointed Terri Liebler as president of its newly established growth and strategy division, reinforcing its fan-first vision and accelerating national expansion. Previously VENU’s chief marketing officer and a 22-year Live Nation veteran, Liebler brings extensive experience in strategic growth, partnerships, and profitability. In her new role, she’ll lead venue development, drive new revenue streams and strengthen stakeholder engagement in key markets. Her appointment reflects VENU’s commitment to scaling its unique business model, which democratizes live entertainment ownership through real estate and public market access.
Simon Dunmore joined Arcade Talent as the head of artist development, a new role at the independent U.K. artist agency. This is Dunmore’s first role in the industry after his 2022 exit from Defected Records, the influential house music label that he founded in 1999. By bringing on Dunmore, the agency and its founder Dave Alcock expand on a goal of giving deeper and more holistic support to its artist roster, which includes more than 50 dance and electronic acts like Claude VonStroke, Inner City, Kerri Chandler, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Ella Knight and Louie Vega. In a statement, Dunmore says that “Arcade’s independent mindset, along with an ‘artist first’ policy, is totally aligned with my own philosophies, whilst the company’s incremental growth via a defined cultural strategy mirrors my tenure at Defected Records.” –Katie Bain
Neon Coast, the artist development company and management home to country music hitmaker Kane Brown founded by music executive Martha Earls, added two members to its management team. Tyler Corrado joined as artist manager to work alongside music group Restless Road and singer-songwriter Dylan Schneider. Corrado and Earls have also teamed to add rising artist-writer Alyssa Flaherty to company’s management roster. Meanwhile, Dawson Simmons is now management coordinator for Restless Road and indie alt-pop band Nightly. Corrado previously worked at Make Wake Artists and at BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville, while Simmons joins from Results Global Agency (formerly 615 Leverage + Strategy), working on projects for Dolly Parton. –J.N.
86Tales, a Berlin-based music and sound studio, appointed Maxence Janvrin as creative director in France, expanding its presence in Paris. Known in the underground music scene as Eole, Janvrin brings a bold, emotionally rich approach to sound, blending rave culture with cinematic composition. He has composed for brands like Gucci and Foot Locker and performed at major events including Tomorrowland 2024. In his new role, he will collaborate with creatives and brands to elevate sound as a core storytelling element. Janvrin also co-founded Fundamentals, a Paris-based collective spotlighting producers in club culture. 86Tales founder Gordian Gleiss praised Janvrin’s instinctive sound design and strategic insight, saying he is “well-versed in what creatives need and how to deliver it with precision and impact.”
The Ward Organization, parent company of Encore Luxury Coach Leasing, Encore Music Group and its affiliate companies, promoted Amanda Stophel to chief operating officer. In her new role, Stophel will broaden her responsibilities to oversee day-to-day operations and execution of all Encore and Ward-affiliated companies. Encore’s leasing operations have offices in Nashville, Tennessee and Phoenix, Arizona, while the company’s fleet of over 175 luxury entertainer coaches serve entertainment clients across the United States and Canada. –J.N.
Last Week’s Turntable: Former Major Label CEO Joins Nonprofit
