Mike Sherwood has been named Capitol Music Group’s executive VP of global commercial marketing and strategy, CMG announced Wednesday. The exec comes to the company from a long stint at Warner Records, where, as senior VP of streaming and revenue, he was seen as key in breaking such artists as Dua Lipa, Mac Miller and Bebe Rexha and worked on projects by Jason Derulo, Green Day, Michael Bublé and Warner’s other hitmakers.
In his new Capitol Tower-based role, Sherwood will be in charge of CMG’s commercial and direct-to-consumer (D2C) marketing strategies. He’ll interact with all of CMG’s digital and physical partners on frontline releases, and work with Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) on catalog releases.
He’ll report to Capitol Records GM and CMG EVP Larry Mattera, who said in a statement, “Mike possesses that rare skill set that allows him to balance his unwavering support of artistry and passion for music with the keen ability to maximize commerce in a global music economy. He’ll be an integral and driving force behind many of our new and developing artist campaigns, as well as those for our established and superstar artists.”
Said Sherwood, “As our industry has been reinvigorated in recent years, it has created tremendous opportunities for artists on a global scale. … I want to sincerely thank [CMG Chairman & CEO] Jeff [Vaughn], [CMG President & COO] Michelle [Jubelirer] and Larry for this amazing opportunity.”
+ Deezer, the France-based music streaming service, has named Agnes Bliah as its new business development director. She will be charged with building the company’s global strategic relationships and developing new business lines internationally.
Prior to joining Deezer, Bliah was the business development and strategic partnerships director at Midem, managing APAC and Americas activations. Her other roles in product placement, advertising and various music business startups over the last 18 years have taken her to Japan, the U.S. and Switzerland as well as France.
+ Sony Music Publishing has promoted Michael Abitbol to senior vice president, head of U.S. digital. The New York-based executive reports to SMP’s president, global digital, Antony Bebawi. In his new position, Abitbol manages and oversees all aspects of SMP’s U.S. digital business, including engaging with digital services, negotiating and drafting digital agreements, implementing digital strategy, and liaising with SMP’s digital teams across the globe.
Tuesday, Oct. 5
Leading digital distributor Ingrooves will begin delivering music created in Dolby Atmos to DSPs, the company has announced. “We have worked closely with Apple, Amazon Music and TIDAL to develop an easy-to-use system that enables us to deliver Dolby Atmos tracks on behalf of hundreds of Ingrooves-distributed independent labels and artists,” said head of product Elliot Swan. “Labels can now deliver their tracks in Dolby Atmos to DSPs right from the Ingrooves client portal. The new audio experience gives music fans a new level of depth and texture to their listening experience.”
The artist Yungeen Ace is the first to release a single via Dolby Atmos with “Giving Up/Hardaway” on Friday. Appropriately issued through Cinematic Music Group, the label’s head of digital sales and revenue Tish Taylor-Searcy remarked: “Here at Cinematic our mission is for our roster’s fans to see a motion picture through music. Being that Dolby Atmos gives the listener an experience that puts them inside the song, the Cinematic Team is ecstatic to know Ingrooves can power the delivery of this new high-fidelity format for all of Yungeen Ace’s fans.”
+ Range Media Partners has named Blaike Ford (pictured) senior vice president of streaming and artist development. She’ll focus on spearheading DSP relationships for Range’s artist management roster, which includes Mariah Carey, Jack Harlow, Justin Tranter, Wale, PartyNextDoor, MAX, WondaGurl, Midland, D Smoke, Sean Douglas and Nova Wav, among others. She arrives from an eight-year run at Spotify, where her efforts in marketing and editorial strategy yielded such features as Spotify Clips, Promo Cards, Playlist Pitch Tool, Enhanced Playlists and the Spotify Singles program.
Founded in late 2020, the Range music division includes managing partners Matt Graham, Jack Minihan, Tyler Henry, Melissa Ruderman, Chris Thomas and Evan Winiker, as well as partners Michele Harrison, Greg Johnson and Rachel Douglas.
+ Rosanne Cash will join NYU’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development as the 2021-22 NYU/Americana Artist-in-Residence, the first artist residency developed in partnership with the Americana Music Association Foundation. Cash will present, curate, and moderate lectures, discussions, workshops, performances, and classroom visits throughout the academic year, including a lyric workshop. Said the four-time Grammy-winner: “In light of my long-standing connections to both New York University and the Americana Music Association, I’m honored to launch this exciting project. This is a golden opportunity to work with NYU students and to explore and spread the word about the roots music that informs so much of what I do and who I am.”
“Rosanne Cash has defined the role of the artist in the Americana community,” added Jed Hilly, Executive Director of the Americana Music Association Foundation. “She is a brilliant songwriter and performer, as well as a righteous advocate for the arts, who uses her position as a cultural leader to speak truth-to-power and make the world a better place.”
“With her multifaceted career and unique impact on America’s musical culture, Rosanne embodies the spirit and ethos of the Steinhardt School: one that embraces innovation, collaboration and the powerful role of the arts in shaping culture and reflecting the human condition,” commented Jack H. Knott, Dean, Gale and Ira Drukier Chair of NYU Steinhardt.
Monday, Oct. 4
ASCAP will become the first U.S. PRO to offer telemedicine services to its 825,000-strong membership of songwriters and composers. In conjunction with Doc On The Go, the offering launches later in October, which happens to be Mental Health Awareness Month. ASCAP members will be able to access medical consultations (provided by Teladoc, a leading telehealth service provider).
The cost for a long-term plan for ASCAP music creators can be less than $10 per month, according to an announcement which notes that ASCAP is prioritizing “a holistic approach to members’ all-around health.” It’s needed, as a recent survey undertaken by the PRO proves. Conducted in April/May 2021, nearly 40% of music creators say they feel worse about their physical health compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Said Nicholas Lehman, ASCAP chief strategy and digital officer: “Our program with Doc On The Go is meeting a critical need. Members have told us how important their physical health is in order to practice their craft and reach their full creative potential. As we navigate the global pandemic, ASCAP is here with resources that can help our community be productive and thrive, so they can keep on creating the music that the world loves.”