Labels And Distributors

TRACI ADAMS

Executive vp of promotion

STEPHANIE YU

Executive vp of business and legal affairs

SANDRA AFLOAREI

Senior vp of commercial partnerships EPIC RECORDS

From superstar Travis Scott to newcomer Tyla, the Epic Records team ended 2023 on a series of high notes. Scott landed a Grammy nomination and his third Billboard 200 No. 1 with Utopia, debuting with 496,000 equivalent album units. Then there was the global breakout success of Tyla, whose top 10 Hot 100 hit “Water” earned the South African artist her first Grammy. Also making waves: 21 Savage, who teamed with Drake for the Grammy-nominated Her Loss, and rap legend André 3000’s first solo release, New Blue Sun, which hit No. 1 on Billboard’s New Age Albums chart.

DAHLIA AMBACH-CAPLIN

Senior vp of A&R and artist development

VERVE, VERVE FORECAST AND IMPULSE! RECORDS, VERVE LABEL GROUP

After Verve acts earned best new artist Grammy nominations three times in the past four years,

Verve singer Samara Joy won the honor (as well as the Grammy for best jazz vocal album) at the 2023 ceremony, “which was truly incredible,” AmbachCaplin says. Other highlights of the past year? “Jon Batiste released World Music Radio, his follow-up to We Are,” which won the 2022 album of the year Grammy, “and his new album earned six Grammy nominations, including album of the year, record of the year and song of the year,” she says. “I am also proud that we signed exciting artists like Sarah Kinsley, Liana Flores, Phosphorescent and more that we are looking forward to announcing later this year.”

CARYL ATWOOD

Senior vp of commercial partnerships

TAYLOR LINDSEY Senior vp of A&R ANGIE MAGILL

Senior vp of legal and business affairs

SONY MUSIC NASHVILLE

In 2023, both established and emerging SMN artists reached new career heights. Two-time Country Music Association entertainer of the year Luke Combs joined Tracy Chapman for a riveting Grammy performance of her 1988 hit, “Fast Car,” after his version reached No. 2 on the Hot 100, earning him both single and song of the year honors at the 2023 CMA Awards. Additionally, newcomer Megan Moroney broke through with “Tennessee Orange,” which reached No. 4 on the Country Airplay chart. “It has been amazing to see all the global success that Luke Combs and ‘Fast Car’ has received,” Lindsey says, “but also watching the meteoric rise of Megan Moroney. She just radiates star power, has a vision, is a proven hit-maker, critically beloved and here to stay.”

RAYNA BASS Co-president

300 ENTERTAINMENT

The past year brought a big comeback for 300 Entertainment imprint YSL Records, despite legal issues involving two of its biggest stars, Gunna and Young Thug. Gunna (who resolved gang-related criminal charges in December 2022 with a plea bargain) released A Gift & A Curse, his fourth album and fifth Billboard 200 top 10 project, which includes his first solo Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit, “fukumean.” Young Thug (whose trial on gang-related charges resumed in January) dropped his third album, Business Is Business, which debuted at No. 2 on the chart. Bass calls rising Atlanta rapper Hunxho “the biggest artist development story for us over the last 12 months,” as he was recently mentioned on Spotify’s Most Necessary Artists to Watch list for 2024. “When looking at last year and all that we were able to accomplish, I can’t help but reflect on how truly rewarding it is to work alongside so many amazing women — incredible partners like [Gunna’s manager] Ebonie Ward — and to lead a talented team of women executives at 300.”

BIANCA BHAGAT GM AWAL

Bhagat’s innovative marketing campaigns resulted in a record year for AWAL, which garnered 19 gold certifications, six platinum certifications, four double-platinum certifications and two tripleplatinum certifications from the RIAA and multiple Grammy Award nominations. Bhagat’s work with jazz artist Laufey helped the singer-songwriter to exceed 10 million daily Spotify streams and

800 million U.S. streams. Bewitched, Laufey’s Grammy-nominated second album, hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Jazz Albums and Traditional Jazz Albums charts. AWAL clients Laufey, Lovejoy, Dayglow and Lizzy McAlpine each reached 1 billion streams worldwide, while JVKE hit 2 billion.

STACY BLYTHE Senior vp of radio promotion

BRIANNE DESLIPPE

Senior vp of global marketing and strategy CANDICE WATKINS

Senior vp of marketing

BIG LOUD RECORDS

Big Loud had a big year in 2023. According to the company’s tallies, Big Loud released 14 new projects, including nine debuts, and achieved 53 RIAA sales certifications and more than 16 billion global on-demand streams. Big Loud was named the No. 1 country airplay label of the year on Billboard’s year-end charts. With the organization also expanding into the United Kingdom and Australia, “it is a unique, important time at our company,” Watkins says, “and we are thrilled to help lead our incomparable staff to new heights in 2024.”

GISELLE DE ARMENDI Senior vp of business and legal affairs WARNER MUSIC LATINA

Warner Music Latina’s roster expanded in 2023, with De Armendi spearheading negotiations with newly signed artists, including Yandel, which marked the reggaetón hit-maker’s first deal with a major label, and Argentine star Maria Becerra, who in

May received the Visionary Award at the inaugural Billboard Latin Women in Music gala. De Armendi also structured and executed Natanael Cano’s album deal and extended Blessd’s agreement with the label. “These accomplishments have not only fueled the artistic essence of Warner Music Latina,” she says, “but have also been an honor to champion.”

MILDRED DELAMOTA

Senior vp of video production and content BIANCA ORTEGA

Vp of marketing and digital

ERIN MANUZZA

Senior director of digital marketing SAMMYE-RUTH SCOTT Senior director of A&R

ATLANTIC RECORDS

Ensuring the success of the Barbie soundtrack required the execution of a global, multipronged strategy. “We created multiple vinyl variations and retail exclusives to cater to Barbie and music collectors, which led to the biggest vinyl sales week for a theatrical film soundtrack in [Luminate] history,” Ortega says. “We mobilized Atlantic/Warner teams across the globe to promote the soundtrack with localized marketing campaigns. And we worked closely with Warner Bros. Pictures and Mattel to cross-promote and amplify the soundtrack throughout the Barbie universe.” The efforts resulted in the soundtrack earning 126,000 equivalent album units in its opening week, marking what Delamota calls “a huge moment in pop culture.”

MARÍA FERNÁNDEZ

COO

SONY MUSIC LATIN IBERIA GABY MARTÍNEZ

Senior vp of marketing

SONY MUSIC LATIN IBERIA

KARINA PUENTE

Vp of promotion

SONY MUSIC U.S. LATIN

“One of the key highlights for our company has been to witness and be part of Shakira’s monumental year with her music, surpassing anyone’s expectations,” Martínez says, citing the success of tracks like “Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53,” alongside Bizarrap. With four new chart-toppers on Latin Airplay in 2023, Shakira extended her record as the female artist with the most No. 1s and helped Sony Latin become the Top Latin Label on Billboard’s year-end charts. The dominance extended across genres and formats: Sony Latin topped 2023’s year-end Hot Latin Songs Label, Latin Airplay Labels, Tropical Airplay Labels, Latin Pop Airplay and Latin Rhythm Airplay lists. “It’s a moment in history when you can show that Latin music is not only one genre,” says Fernández, whom RIAA Honors recognized as industry executive of the year. For her, the accomplishments go beyond charts. In the past year, Fernández has also been active in mentoring a new generation of executives, especially women, saying, “I feel very proud of the accomplishments in terms of getting them ready to be promoted, changing jobs and doing new things in the organization.”

WENDY GOLDSTEIN

Co-president DANIELLE PRICE Executive vp

CHRISTINA SUAREZ

Executive vp/head of business affairs JULIE VASTOLA

Senior vp of creative

REPUBLIC RECORDS

The past year “was monumental for Republic,” Goldstein says. The likes of Taylor Swift, Morgan Wallen and best new artist Grammy nominee Noah Kahan helped lift the label to a staggering 13.5% current market share, a testament to its artists “who continue to raise the bar in our industry.” More than that, Goldstein says, “our top priority remains uplifting a new generation of music industry leaders, and we are so proud that we’ve been able to empower our female staff at every turn.” She adds, “The accomplishments that these ladies have had this past year are remarkable ... It’s just the beginning, though.”

JANE GOWEN

Executive vp of marketing and A&R UNIVERSAL MUSIC ENTERPRISES

Gowen is especially proud of overseeing UMe’s “rapid transformation” in catalog marketing and A&R, which yielded major wins. She cites a multiterritory influencer campaign for Aqua’s “Barbie Girl,” a user-generated and sped-up version of Mariah Carey’s “It’s a Wrap,” a wedding season campaign for Andrea Bocelli and “the grand finale” of Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” finally topping the Hot 100. “All resulted in incremental track streams across the catalog,” she says, and also “led the A&R team to develop and work with creators on alternate versions, which is a developing and ever-changing strategy for catalog tracks.”

JOJAMIE HAHR Executive vp of recorded music BMG NASHVILLE

“2023 was a year of pinnacle benchmarks and breakout success for our artists and team,” Hahr says. Jason Aldean achieved a new peak when his controversial single, “Try That in a Small Town,” earned him his first Hot 100 No. 1. “Lainey Wilson became the fastest-growing artist in 2023 and continued to break through that glass ceiling,” Hahr says. Wilson’s “Watermelon Moonshine” led Country Airplay in October, making her the first solo woman to lead the chart in two years, and her Bell Bottom Country won the Grammy for best country album. Additionally, Hahr nods to breakthrough artist Jelly Roll, who scored three Country Airplay chart-toppers and a best new artist Grammy nomination. “Jelly Roll is the most influential, life-changing artist I’ve had the honor to work with,” she says.

ALLISON JONES

Executive vp of A&R

BIG MACHINE LABEL GROUP

Jones, who handles BMLG’s 40-plus artist roster, has seen a “plethora of new signings” this past year. Highlights of 2023 include Thomas Rhett’s 19th Country Airplay No. 1 in a 10-year span with “Angels Don’t Always Have Wings,” Sheryl Crow’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Carly Pearce notching her first Grammy win for “Never Wanted To Be That Girl” (with Ashley McBryde). “Our team has released more than a dozen albums including Riley Green’s Ain’t My

Last Rodeo, Tim McGraw’s Standing Room Only and Dolly Parton’s Rockstar,” she says. Rockstar debuted at No. 1 on Top Country Albums and No. 3 on the all-genre Billboard 200, earning Parton the highest rank of her career.

JULIETTE JONES COO

ALAMO RECORDS

Alamo had a “banner year” in 2023, Jones says, with the launch of Santa Anna, a new artist and label services company, and releases from

Lil Durk and Rod Wave. Durk’s “All My Life” (featuring J. Cole) peaked at No. 2 on the Hot 100 in May, while his album Almost Healed hit No. 3 on the Billboard 200 with 125,000 equivalent album units, marking his biggest solo debut yet. Rod also enjoyed the best first-week sales of his career in September, when Nostalgia debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 137,000 equivalent album units.

MICHELLE JUBELIRER

Former chair/CEO

JENNY SWIATOWY

Senior vp/head of creative sync licensing and soundtracks CAPITOL MUSIC GROUP

JESSICA EASON

Vp of marketing

CAPITOL RECORDS

See story, page 82.

NITSA KALISPERA

Executive vp of global recorded music supply chain operations

ELISE STAWARZ

Vp of digital marketing US

VANESSA SYLVIA Vp of streaming US

BMG

Under new CEO Thomas Coesfeld, BMG brought all digital operations in-house, winding down its agreement with Warner Music Group’s ADA. “This strategic shift not only aligns with our mission to provide artists with the most effective and efficient services but also solidifies BMG’s position as a trailblazer in industry innovation,” Kalispera says. In addition, BMG formed a new alliance with Universal Music Group to handle its physical product. “In this exciting new chapter for BMG,” she says, “we’ve enhanced our capabilities to market, service [and] build audiences and drive revenue for our remarkable artists.”

For the Barbie soundtrack, the cross-promotion efforts of Atlantic Records, Warner Music Group teams worldwide, Warner Bros. Pictures and Mattel created “a huge moment in pop culture.”

—MILDRED DELAMOTA, ATLANTIC RECORDS

NATASHA KILIBARDA Vp of marketing and creative strategy ISLAND RECORDS

“Last year felt like a season of milestone firsts for much of Island’s female-dominated roster,” Kilibarda says. Whether helping facilitate career-high streaming gains for Sabrina Carpenter following the release of “Feather”; kicking off the stratospheric rise of pop newcomer Chappell Roan with her debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess; or booking artists like Remi Wolf, Angèle and Nia Archives for their first Coachella performances, Kilibarda and Island helped lead the way for women in music in 2023. “It’s a gift to work alongside artists as they experience these moments for the first time,” she says. “I’m honored to work with a team full of people who tirelessly grind to ensure we continue creating them.”

LYN KOPPE

Executive vp of global catalog LEGACY RECORDINGS/SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT

Overseeing the immense Legacy Recordings/Sony Music catalog, Koppe spent 2023 commemorating anniversaries of classic albums — like Daft Punk’s 2013 Grammy-winning masterwork, Random Access Memories, and Pink Floyd’s 1973 classic-rock opus, The Dark Side of the Moon — with extensive reissues and promotional campaigns. Last year, Koppe also worked a new-old smash: Miguel’s

2011 hit “Sure Thing,” which was revived on TikTok, then took off on streaming and radio, ultimately reaching a higher Hot 100 peak (No. 11) than in its original early-2010s run. “Each of these campaigns showcased our commitment to innovation and remaining authentic to the artists’ voice and DNA,” Koppe says. “It truly is a privilege to be involved with such iconic and culturally relevant artists, albums and songs.”

CAT KREIDICH President

ADA WORLDWIDE

Kreidich proudly states that “our ADA teams across the globe have dedicated themselves to building and breaking talent across time zones and languages, working closely with our label and artist partners to adapt and weave their songs into local cultures.” Their efforts have yielded results: Quevedo dominated Spain’s No. 1 spot for eight weeks with “Columbia”; Mexico’s Bellakath landed her first hit, “Gatita,” on Spotify’s global charts; and Australian artist Kerser topped the Australian Recording Industry Association albums chart. ADA’s partnerships with tastemakers like 10K Projects, Rostrum Records, Twenty Two Recordings, HEROES Fund and more have solidified its reputation as a go-to partner for emerging talent worldwide.

CRIS LACY Co-chair/co-president KRISTEN WILLIAMS Senior vp of radio

WARNER MUSIC NASHVILLE

Bailey Zimmerman continued his breakthrough success in 2023, receiving the country Rookie of the Year honor at the 2023 Billboard Country Live event in June and earning two Country Airplay chart-toppers, “Religiously” and the six-week No. 1 “Rock and a

Hard Place.” He also released Religiously. The Album., which made a top five debut on Top Country Albums. “Bailey is an artist that has been welcomed with open arms in every facet of the country format,” Williams says, “and the sky is the limit for this newcomer.”

ANDREA “ANDY” LARSEN Head of sales

BEGGARS GROUP

Larsen, who became head of sales at Beggars Group in 2022, coordinated more than 20 midnight listening sessions for Queens of the

Stone Age’s eighth studio album, In Times New Roman... The release dominated Billboard’s rock charts, debuting at No. 1 on Top Rock & Alternative Albums, Top Rock Albums, Top Alternative Albums and Top Hard Rock Albums. “I appreciate how well Beggars Group works as a team,” Larsen says. “I love the satisfaction I get when my team pulls off a major campaign.”

ANNIE LEE

CFO

MICHELLE AN

President of creative strategy BRENDA ROMANO President of promotion

NICOLE WYSKOARKO

President of A&R

INTERSCOPE GEFFEN A&M

Focusing on “both long-term and short-term successes,” as Lee puts it, the storied Universal Music-owned label spent the past year partnering with rising international star Karol G in a $100 million deal, releasing Olivia Rodrigo’s second album, GUTS, on the “revitalized” Geffen Records imprint and developing new international stars like música mexicana singer Xavi, who started 2024 with a No. 1 single, “La Diabla,” on Hot Latin Songs. The label also released new albums by The Rolling Stones and Kali Uchis. Says Lee: “It has been really gratifying to see all areas of the company come together.”

MILANA LEWIS

CEO, Tone

KRISTIN GRAZIANI

President

STEM DISTRIBUTION

Last year, distribution and payment company

Stem Disintermedia launched Tone, a new business and brand under the Stem umbrella

“to modernize the music industry’s financial infrastructure,” Lewis says. For its partner labels, including Quality Control, she says, “Tone makes it seamless for them to process sales and cost data, calculate royalties quickly and accurately, deliver payments to an entire roster and act on data-driven insights they find in their dashboard. Artists have a clear and accurate picture of their finances.” Stem also last year raised $250 million from investment firm Victory Parl Capital for artist advances. “Simultaneously,” Graziani says, “our artist and label strategy team worked closely with the artists to whom we deployed those advances to generate impactful opportunities and reach new milestones.” She cites the company partnership with LANY on the band’s Pop Airplay breakout, “XXL”; Justine Skye on her TikTok hit “Collide”; and Jeezy’s album I Might Forgive... But I Don’t Forget, which reached No. 5 on Top R&B Hip-Hop Albums and Independent Albums.