Executive Turntable: Moves at iHeartMedia, Apple Music & More
Hetal Patel official takes over as executive vice president of SmartAudio Intelligence Insights. She will join iHeartMedia's team dedicated to consumer insights, market intelligence and tracking industry trends and report to Brian Kaminsky, president of the SmartAudio and Analytics Group.
“It really is the golden period of audio," said Patel in a statement. "I am thrilled to be returning to iHeartMedia where data and consumer are genuinely front and center, which means working on truly disruptive and future ready research initiatives designed to address the client and marketplace needs. It’s truly humbling and an honor to be a story teller and voice for iHeartMedia."
"With our groundbreaking tools like SmartAudio and SoundPoint, and our recent acquisition of Jelli, iHeartMedia products and new capabilities are transforming how advertisers reach their core audiences," added Kaminsky. "We’re thrilled that someone with Hetal’s extensive research background and intimate knowledge of iHeartMedia will be playing such a key role in developing our next generation of data driven advertising, attribution and ad effectiveness products."
Ebro Darden was appointed the global editorial head of hip-hop and R&B at Apple Music on Wednesday (Jan. 2). He will continue to host his popular Hot 97 show, Ebro in the Morning (Monday-Friday, 6 a.m.-10 a.m. ET), as well as his Beats 1 show via Apple Music's global live stream (Monday-Friday, 3 p.m.-5 p.m. ET).
"First things first is making sure that we’re firing on all cylinders in the best way possible, helping consumers find the music that they love and also helping artists connect with consumers in a real way," said Darden in a statement. "Once I learn about what’s needed to achieve that, it will be about looking ahead and figuring out ways to serve the communities where hip-hop and R&B music is made. Black music comes from the community. This is music made by people living real lives and artists speaking on behalf of those real lives."
“If we’re doing our job,” he continued, “we’ll be able to get down at the community level and connect with people to not only help artists service their communities but help those communities thrive. This is a global position as well. So, as we build this out, I’ll be doing the same thing I want to do in America in the U.K., Africa, India, Japan, Brazil and other countries. I’ll be wherever R&B and hip-hop are being consumed and working to create communication amongst communities around the world through Apple Music -- making sure that black music is getting recognized and developing the next superstars.”
Publicist and Account Executive Mike Gowen exited The Mitch Schneider Organization (MSO PR) to launch Milestone Publicity, as announced on Thursday (Jan. 3). The company is currently working with James Supercave, Ben Sparaco & The New Effect, Christie Lenée, City of Sound, Jasper Bones, KARMIC, Lo Brooke, Ruby Friedman, Felix & Salvador Santana, The Bad Applez, The Dryes, The It City, Truth & Salvage Co. and Voth.
"I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished in my journey so far, and specifically for my clients at MSO, though it was time for career growth,” said Gowen in a statement. "The main focus at Milestone will be to deliver well-executed campaigns in the modern music industry while keeping a sharp eye on how the industry continues to evolve so we can fulfill client needs and help them achieve their goals.”
Todd "Morty" Perry joined management shop Mouvement as a partner and head of A&R, it was announced on Thursday (Jan. 3). The company was founded by George Karalexis and Kirkland Alexander Lynch.
Perry brings over two clients: multi-platinum and Grammy-nominated producer Laney Stewart and recent Pay Day Records signees BlumBros. The roster already includes producer/DJs MAKJ and OddKidOut, in addition to up-and-coming singer and rapper Aqvol.