+ Grammys on the Hill celebrated its 25 th year of service honoring the champions of the music and creator community on Capitol Hll this week, culminating in a celebration paying tribute to Sen. Chris Coons (D-De.) and Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-Fl.) for their bipartisan work to protect musicians as artificial intelligence continues to affect the music industry, including as champions of the Nurture Originals, Foster Art, and Keep Entertainment Safe (NO FAKES) Act, landmark legislation that would establish federal protections against unauthorized AI-generated replicas of a person’s voice and likeness.

(Pictured above, L-R: Harvey Mason jr., Recording Academy, Rep. María Elvira Salazar, Sen. Chris Coons, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Rep. Michael McCaul, and Todd Dupler, Recording Academy.)

This evening was followed by Grammys on the Hill Advocacy Day, which brought artists, songwriters, producers, and other music advocates to Capitol Hill to meet with lawmakers and discuss the impact of artificial intelligence on the music community. The day also featured a reception on hosted by the Academy’s Black Music Collective, in cooperation with the Congressional Black Caucus, with a performance by Durand Bernarr, as well as a special presentation from Amazon Music and the co-chairs of the Black Music Collective, who presented a $10,000 donation to Howard University as recipients of the 2026 “Your Future Is Now” music equipment grant.

“Grammys on the Hill represents the core of the Recording Academy’s year-round work to advocate for music people and ensure their rights are safeguarded in our culture,” said Harvey Mason jr., CEO of the Recording Academy. “As we mark 25 years of Grammys on the Hill, we are reminded that music creators must remain at the center of every conversation shaping the future of the industry, especially as AI and other emerging technologies continue to transform it.”

+ Bella Figura Music has announced it has acquired the publishing catalogue of Grammy, Academy Award, and Golden Globe-winning producer and songwriter Paul Epworth, best known for his hits with Adele, Florence + the Machine, Rihanna, Paul McCartney and others.

Terms of the deal, which includes Epworth’s co-writes and productions on Adele’s landmark album “21,” including “Rolling in the Deep” as well as the Academy Award and Golden Globe-winning “Skyfall,” were not disclosed.

Epworth has won seven Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, an Ivor Novello Award, three BRIT Awards for British Producer of the Year, four MPG Producer of the Year Awards, and an MPG Icon Award. Epworth’s catalogue is administered by Sony, his and Bella Figura Music’s global administration partner.

“Bella Figura’s approach to catalogue stewardship is exactly what I was looking for,” said Paul Epworth. “They are first and foremost a music company run by people who know and love music, and they appreciate that these songs and recordings are not just ‘assets’. Knowing that this music will be in the hands of a team that values both the commercial opportunity and the cultural legacy gives me confidence in handing my catalogue over to them.”

+ New York University’s Clive Davis Institute has announced its “Office Hours with Industry Leaders” class of 2026. Launched by former Atlantic Music Group CEO Julie Greenwald (who recently co-founded the 26.2 label) and Clive Davis Institute’s Executive-In-Residence, the program sees executives, artists, producers, and songwriters volunteering to offer Clive Davis Institute graduating seniors a rare opportunity to ask them anything career-related and receive feedback.

This year’s class includes Greenwald; Guy Moot, Co-Chair and CEO of Warner Chappell Music; Pete Ganbarg, Founder of Pure Tone Music;  Philip Lawrence, Grammy-Award Winning Songwriter, Producer & Performer; Riggs Morales, Music Executive; Mike Boyd Jr., Head of Music Strategy, VaynerX; Eli Janney, Producer, Engineer & Music Director; David McTiernan, Head of Global Artist & Label Relations, Vevo; Molly Neumann, President, CDBaby;  Paul Sinclair, Chief Music Officer, Suno & Grace James, Music Marketing, Suno; Mimi Valdés, Chief Creative Officer, Co-Founder of Fly Green Socks; and Emily Warren, Grammy-Winning Songwriter.

+ Michael Bryan, former global head of country music for Apple Music and previously an executive at CAA and iHeartMedia, has announced the formation of his new entertainment venture, Southern Drift. The company’s initial ventures include management for Musician and Storyteller Charlie Worsham, a two-time ACM and CMA award winner, and the chart-topping podcast God’s Country, hosted by hit songwriters The Brothers Hunt (Reid and Dan Isbell).

Joining Bryan on the company’s executive team will be Taryn Anderson, Chief Operating Officer / General Manager, and Jordon Isbell, Vice President, Marketing and Executive Producer of the God’s Country Podcast. Anderson’s experience includes serving as CFO / COO of Sandbox Entertainment and Account Executive at FBMM, Inc. Isbell joins from her role as Senior Marketing Director at Virgin Music Group, where she oversaw the Nashville roster, following her time as founder of 270 Media & Co.

Bryan says, “I’ve spent my career watching how music moves, and it’s never been more fluid. Artists aren’t staying in one lane, and fans aren’t either. What pushed me to start Southern Drift was seeing the gap between how artists are building today and how the industry is still structured. We built Southern Drift to move with it, not control it.”

+ AEG Presents has added two new vice presidents to its marketing division. Katie Mae Miller has been named VP of integrated marketing at AEG Regions, and Chelsea Cloud has been named VP of integrated marketing at Goldenvoice.

Miller previously served as senior director of integrated marketing at Zero Mile, a subsidiary of AEG Presents, and Cloud joins the company from Universal Music Group, where she was VP of global brand partnerships. Miller will be based in Atlanta and Cloud in Los Angeles, both reporting to Victoria Torchia, SVP, Marketing & Digital Strategy, AEG Presents.

“Katie Mae and Chelsea are both highly respected marketing leaders with a deep understanding of how to connect artists, brands, and fans in meaningful ways,” said Torchia. “Their experience and perspective will be instrumental as we continue to evolve our integrated marketing capabilities and support the growth of our global business.”

+ Black Music Action Coalition and the Rolling Loud music festival will continue their five-year partnership at Rolling Loud, taking place May 8-10 in Orlando, Florida, “furthering a shared commitment to creating access and long-term opportunity within the live music business,” according to the announcement.

As part of the collaboration, BMAC and Rolling Loud will present BMAC Live x Rolling Loud Edition, an extension of BMAC Live, the workforce development initiative created in partnership with Live Nation. Building on previous activations at Rolling Loud festivals in Miami, FL, and Inglewood, CA, the program will recruit, hire, and train 10 young people from the Orlando community for paid internships in the Rolling Loud press and artist relations departments. Participants will be embedded within the festival, gaining paid, hands-on experience across live production and festival operations, offering a direct entry point into careers in live music.

“Five years in, this partnership continues to prove what it looks like when you move from intention to action,” said Willie “Prophet” Stiggers, Co-Founder, President, and CEO of BMAC. “Through BMAC Live, we’re not just opening doors, we’re building pathways into the live music business. Ten young people from Orlando will step inside this festival and gain real experience, real access, and real opportunity. Live music is one of the most powerful engines in our industry, and if we’re serious about equity, we have to be just as intentional about who gets access to it. This is how you build the future, by putting the next generation inside the work.”

Applications open Tuesday, April 21, 2026, through Wednesday April 29, 2026. For more information and to apply, please visit https://www.bmacoalition.org/rollingloudorlando

Monday, April 20

MCA Records has announced that three-time Grammy winner Miranda Lambert will release future music with the label, which was formerly known as Universal Music Nashville.

“Throughout my life and career, I have found that the common thread in every chapter is finding the right people — songwriters, musicians, collaborators, and team members — to match the moment,” says Lambert. “I am honored to join a roster and a team with such a rich history of championing artistry. I look forward to sharing this new music with the world under their banner.”

MCA President-CEO Mike Harris says, “Miranda is a generational artist whose influence and artistry continue to shape modern music. We are honored to work alongside her as she enters this next chapter and we look forward to building something truly special together.” (Pictured above, L-R: MCA’s Stephanie Wright and Mike Harris, Lambert, MCA’s Katie McCartney, Rob Femia and Damon Moberly.)

Among many other accolades, Lambert is the most-awarded artist in Academy of Country Music history, and is among the most-nominated at this year’s ceremony, with eight nods as an artist, songwriter and producer.

Lambert, who released her most recent album via Big Loud, will continue in her role as founder of Big Loud Texas, “where she remains actively involved in her business partnership and ongoing artist development efforts across the label and its publishing company,” according to the announcement.

+ Concord has formed a strategic multi-year venture with Victor Victor Worldwide, the New York-based record label founded by veteran executive Steven Victor, formerly of Universal Music Group, Def Jam and Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music. Founded in 2016, VVW has helped launch the careers of artists including Pop Smoke and Ski Mask the Slump God.

“At Concord, we build for what’s next by strengthening our creative teams,” said Concord Label Group CEO Tom Becci. “This venture with Steven and Victor Victor Worldwide unites organizations with distinct voices and a shared track record of developing artists at the highest level. By combining Victor Victor’s cultural leadership with Concord’s global resources, we’re creating a long-term partnership designed to break new talent and build lasting careers.”

Victor said, “This marks an exciting new chapter for VVW, and I look forward to working with the Concord team to help propel our artists through its global network of resources. I’m grateful to Bob and Tom for their confidence in our vision.”

+ Jen Tanner has been appointed senior vice president and head of global brand partnerships for Columbia Records and RCA Records. Tanner is based in Los Angeles and has been a member of Sony Music Entertainment brand partnerships team since 2020.

She has spearheaded global campaigns for artists including SZA, Doja Cat, Alicia Keys, Lisa, and Tate McRae, and such brands as PlayStation, Chase, Essentia Water, BMW, Patrón, and Vita Coco, among others. Her work on the Doja Cat and Girls Who Code partnership garnered top honors at Cannes Lions and Clio Awards

+ BMG has named Tim Miles executive VP of global Sync+. Based in London, Miles will report to chief strategy officer Johannes von Schwarzkopf and will lead BMG’s recently launched Sync+ division.

In this new role, Miles will be responsible for defining and executing the division’s strategy and driving growth across BMG’s music-for-media business. He will oversee global licensing, operations, and regional services, while strengthening relationships with key partners across film, television, advertising, gaming, and digital platforms. Miles joins BMG after more than a decade at Warner Music Group, most recently as senior VP of global sync.

Von Schwarzkopf said: “Tim brings a strong track record of building high-performing teams and driving impactful music-for-media partnerships. As we scale Sync+, our focus is on a more innovative, technology-enabled service – combining global scale with advanced capabilities in data, product, and AI to better connect music to opportunity.”

+ Warner Music Group has announced a partnership with TuStreams, an independent company in the Música Mexicana space, and has also made a minority investment in the company.

As part of the agreement, Warner Music Group will serve as the global distribution partner for TuStreams’ full catalog and future releases. In addition, WMG and TuStreams will collaborate on joint artist signings, A&R, and creative development.

Alejandro Duque, President, Warner Music Latin America & ADA said: “TuStreams is a force at the center of one of the most culturally significant movements in music today. Música Mexicana is a global priority for us—it’s one of the fastest-growing and most impactful genres worldwide. This partnership deepens our commitment to investing in the leaders of the movement.”

Founded in 2019 by Tony Larios, TuStreams played an early role in the success of Grupo Firme and its roster now includes Jorge Medina, Panter Bélico and Gerardo Coronel, and has also moved outside Música Mexicana in working with Gloria Trevi and Ivy Queen.

+ Production Resource Group, a provider of entertainment and live event technology solutions, has announced the appointment of Darren Pfeffer as chief commercial officer. He will report directly to CEO Lawrence Burian.

In this newly created role, Pfeffer will lead PRG’s revenue strategy and partner across the organization. He brings nearly 30 years of experience spanning live entertainment strategy and operations, venue management, and large-scale business oversight. Most recently, he served as president of Diversified Production Services, a Live Nation Entertainment company. Prior to DPS, he served as EVP of MSG Live at Madison Square Garden Entertainment, and senior roles at iHeartMedia.

“Darren brings a perspective few people in this industry have — he’s seen how the best productions come together from the rights holder side, the venue side and the production management side,” said Burian. “He is equally known for building terrific internal working cultures where teams are empowered to serve clients with passion and excellence.”

+ 1916 Enterprises has signed Nashville-based producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist David Kerckhoff in partnership with Anomaly Music, the publishing venture founded by Grammy-winning songwriter/artist Nija Charles and Legion Management CEO Christian McCurdy.

Based in Nashville, Kerckhoff has collaborated with artists including Bankrol Hayden, Xanman, Peter McPoland, Willie Jones and Siena Liggins.

“1916 & Anomaly feel like the perfect home,” said Kerckhoff. “I’ve been inspired by Nija’s songwriting for a long time, and being surrounded by a team that truly cares about the craft means everything. I’m excited to keep building and blending the strength of Nashville songwriting with the energy and artistry of L.A.”

+ A3 Merch has named Felix Carrasco senior VP of A&R and new business as the company expands its presence with a new New York office. Joining Carrasco in New York is industry veteran Danny Samet as manager of A&R and international touring. The company also announced the elevation of longtime team member Troy Vest to EVP and GM.

Most recently, Carrasco served as VP of brand management at Warner Music Group’s WMX division, where he spent nearly 15 years. He began his career in London in artist management before moving into roles at Sony Music Entertainment.

“Felix brings a rare combination of creative instinct, operational excellence, and deep artist relationships,” said Jon Elliot, co-founder of A3 Merch. “He has been at the center of some of the most impactful merchandise and fan experiences in the industry, and we are excited to have him help shape what’s next for A3.”

+ Oak View Group has named Shazmah Hakim as its new chief legal officer. He joins after serving as CLO of Remington Lodging and Hospitality in Dallas, Texas. Hakim will be based in Denver and will report to Chris Granger, Chief Executive Officer at Oak View Group. She previously held roles at Remington Lodging and Hospitality, More Development, Marriott International, Kingdom Hotel Investments and more.

“OVG’s innovative venue development and services platforms are increasingly in demand on a global basis, with particular interest and energy from Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America.  Shazmah’s deep international experience will substantially accelerate and support these efforts,” said Granger.