Music Industry Moves: RCA Records Ups Anthony De Padua to VP, NIVA Adds New and Re-Elected Board Members

Thania Garcia
·9 min read
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Anthony De Padua has been promoted to vice president of digital marketing at RCA Records. De Padua, who started at RCA Records in 2020 as director of digital marketing, quickly rose through the ranks delivering campaigns for established and developing artists and projects such as Latto, Nardo Wick, Wizkid, Young Nudy, Bryson Tiller and more.

Prior to his time at RCA, De Padua spent time at Atlantic Records, starting his career as an assistant in the international department before moving to the digital marketing department where he worked on campaigns for artists such as Cardi B, Jack Harlow, Burna Boy, Portugal. the Man, Cordae, Pardison Fontaine, and Lil Skies. De Padua graduated from Villanova University in 2014.

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+ The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) has announced newly elected board members and incumbent NIVA board of directors Grace Blake, programming director at City Winery NYC, Pier 57 and Audrey Fix Schaefer, communications director of I.M.P./9:30 Club, the Anthem.

Merriweather Post Pavilion, along with Andre Perry who is executive director of Hancher Auditorium, has also been re-elected. Additionally, new members Kira Favro, COO of Newport Festivals Foundation, Jesica Gerbautz, CEO and senior event producer of PNK Moon Productions, and Brad Grossman, COO of Helium Comedy Club, will be joining the re-elected latter.

+ Warner Chappell Music has signed a global co-publishing deal with Puerto Rican rapper Villano Antillano. In the last year, she’s released several singles, including her most recent track “Vocales.”

Laz Hernandez, vice president A&R, U.S. Latin and Latin America, WCM said: “Villano is a raw and authentic artist transforming the Latin music industry and inspiring a new generation of artists and songwriters. She’s created an entire movement that sheds light on the experiences of the LGBTQ+ community and continues to elevate queer representation in the urbano space. We’re thrilled to welcome her to Warner Chappell and look forward to helping her expand her reach even more.”

+ Merlin has upped Emma Robinson to director of member operations. Joining the Merlin member relations team, Robinson will help bring new companies into the membership and offer broad support to Merlin members within the company’s commercial deals.

By late 2020, Emma was tapped to create the Merlin member operations department and in January 2021, rose from member relations manager to senior manager of member operations. In her new role, she will handle rights management, growing operational issues relating to the supply chain into digital partners, style guide changes, rights conflicts and work within the emergence of social music.

Emma and her team led the operationalization of Merlin’s Apple deal and were on the front lines of integrating new partnerships such as Snap and Peloton, as well as the successful introduction of new and developing rights management tools from Meta, TikTok, Twitch and other key Merlin partners.

+ Utopia Music has hired Lucas van Slegtenhorst, who joined the company June 8, as vice president, Benelux. Based in Amsterdam, van Slegtenhorst will be in charge of setting up and rolling out Utopia’s activities in the Netherlands and Belgium. He reports to Utopia COO Roberto Neri, who leads the firm’s operations and is responsible for expanding its international office footprint.

With more than 25 years of experience in the music industry, van Slegtenhorst has held executive roles at Downtown Music Publishing Benelux, Chrysalis Music Publishing, Warner/Chappell, Roadrunner Records and BMG Records Holland.

“With Lucas’s experience and trusted reputation I could think of no one better to lead the charge of Utopia’s mission of ‘Fair Pay for Every Play’ in Benelux,” said Neri. “With a growing digital market, the music industry in Benelux – like many music markets – is seeing an influx of data. To maintain sustainable growth, it’s crucial that all parts of the industry have access to this data and the insights it brings, and that creators and rights holders are efficiently paid for the use of their works – that is what Utopia’s mission is all about.”

Tuesday, June 14

Sony Music Publishing Latin has entered a global partnership with Tainy and Lex Borrero’s Neon 16, alongside veteran music executive Tommy Mottola, to launch its new publishing company called 22 Publishing.

The new agreement will work to create opportunities for the company’s roster across music, film, and television. 22 Publishing’s team of songwriters and producers include Albert Hype (“Telepatia” by Kali Uchis, Shakira’s “Te Felicito”), Jota Rosa (Bad Bunny’s “Un Verano Sin Ti,” “Baila Conmigo” by Selena Gomez), Gaby Morales (Dalex’s “Hola” and Yandel’s “Deja Vu”), Ivanni Rodriguez (J Balvin and Tainy’s “Un Dia” and “Agua”), as well as emerging talent such as Rozo, Jodosky and Dylan Fuentes. The partnership also sees Mottola back in business with Sony Music, where he was chairman and CEO between 1988 and 2003.

“Our goal is to create a platform for producers and songwriters to build their brand and their business to go beyond the music. 22 will go beyond servicing their music and catalog, providing our writers with an opportunity to develop their limitless potential,” Borrero said.

+ Pop singer-songwriter Hailey Haus has inked a deal with producer Gregg Wattenberg’s Arcade Records in a joint venture with Elektra Records.

On the heels of the new deal, Haus has also unveiled her debut single for the label, “Flavor of the Month.” She added, “I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to partner with Arcade x Elektra to make this lifelong dream a reality. They have made me feel supported and a part of the family. I am so optimistic about our future ahead!”

+ Anderson .Paak has tapped industry veteran Krystal Miles to take the reins of his newly founded label Apeshit, operating as general manager. Miles has been a longstanding partner of .Paak’s, serving on his day-to-day management team.

In her new role, Miles will handle business development for the label as well as operations of both music and management initiatives. Apeshit inked a deal with Universal Music Group in November of 2021 and quickly announced the jazz duo of Domi and JD Beck as their first signees.

On appointing Miles in her new role, Paak said: “Krystal has been my ride or die for years now. When they see me they see her and I’m so proud to see her grow into the management role. This is just the beginning of her incredible journey and I’m honored to be a part of it.”

+ Domino Records has launched a new electronic/dance imprint called Smugglers Way with French house music figures Alan Braxe and DJ Falcon.

The duo also has a new joint EP, “Step By Step,” coming out in late June that includes a collaboration with Panda Bear. This will be Falcon’s first original music release in nearly 20 years. Domino Records is also re-issuing Braxe’s 2005 French house compilation, “The Upper Cuts” later this year complete with new and unreleased material.

+ Songclip has entered a multi-year global strategic partnership with Universal Music Group and Universal Music Publishing Group. They will integrate music from UMG and UMPG’s global artist and songwriter roster “as a feature” in consumer applications and across global social platforms, managing and facilitating search, catalog and compliance, licensing, royalty payments and reporting. Songclip’s technology suite will ensure that all music is properly accounted for and licensed.

“Our ongoing, elevated relationship with Songclip allows us to extend our reach in the digital ecosystem, with proper management and monetization for the IP of our artists’ music,” said Michael Nash, executive VP, digital strategy, UMG.

+ Them Records is Asanni Armon and Sergio Rivera’s newly launched record label that’s focused on giving opportunities in music for Black trans artists. According to the announcement, Them Records is dedicated to identifying and developing Black trans artists across genres to provide them with the skills needed to have a sustainable creative career. Including Armon and Rivera (who goes by the artist name s.e.r), the label has signed six artists so far: Demi Vee, Pharaoh Rapture, Crystal Queer and Sunchild.

+ BRIC, the organization best known for presenting the Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival in Prospect Park, has announced Wes Jackson as their newly appointed president of the organization, effective July 18. Jackson began his career producing concerts for Nas, the Roots, the Dave Matthews Band, the Fugees, and A Tribe Called Quest. His first venture, Seven Heads Entertainment, helped launch the careers of Yasiin Bey (Mos Def), Talib Kweli, El-P (Run the Jewels), Common, and others. Jackson would later found and lead the Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival, an annual event that ran for 15 years with the goal of honoring hip-hop culture and the borough of Brooklyn.

“Wes Jackson is a thinker and doer. His approach to leadership, entrepreneurism, art and culture, public service, creativity, relentlessness, academia, integrity, and curiosity plus his love for Brooklyn inspire us. Leading BRIC into its bright and evolving future while embracing transformation, growth, and innovation will be an extension of his life’s work,” said Michael Liburd, BRIC board chair.

+ Epic Records has promoted Dylan Brewer to vice president of marketing and experiential, as announced by executive VP and head of marketing, David Bell. Brewer will be based in Epic’s Los Angeles headquarters.

Brewer joined Epic in 2018 as director of marketing where he spearheaded marketing strategy for Ozzy Osbourne, Madison Beer, Bakar, BEAM, AG Club, Headie One, J Hus, and many others. he began his career at Google, where he worked on music initiatives with Ariana Grande, Jennifer Lopez, the 1975, and the Kooks. He went on to digital marketing at Def Jam, leading campaigns for Justin Bieber, Pusha T, and more.

Bell said, “Dylan is a world-class marketing executive with unparalleled vision for innovation and creativity. He continually pushes the envelope on each project ensuring campaigns are tailor fit for the artist and their fans. Having worked with Dylan from the start of his career, it’s an honor to announce this much-deserved promotion.”

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