Sports

Executive Turntable: Capitol Hires A&R Stars to Boost Urban Roster, Plus Peermusic Picks Dave Ayers

AnyFans 2025-09-20

By Marc Schneider

Tariq Stewart and Ian Holder

Angelo B. Vazquez; Wardell Malloy

Capitol Records appointed Ian Holder and Tariq Stewart as senior vice presidents of A&R, where they will jointly sign and develop talent for the label’s urban roster. Both executives bring extensive track records from rival Sony, and will focus on expanding Capitol’s roster and shaping its creative direction. They are both based in Los Angeles and report to Capitol Music Group president Lillia Parsa.

Holder joins Capitol following eight years at Sony Music Publishing, where he served as svp of creative. There, he worked with a wide range of hitmakers including Jack Harlow, Lil Durk, Polo G, Moneybagg Yo, Pusha T, A$AP Ferg and producers behind hits for Drake, Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B and Justin Bieber. Earlier in his career, he worked at BMI, signing artists such as Post Malone, Rae Sremmurd and Frank Ocean, and began as an A&R intern at Columbia Records in 2003. Holder said he’s honored to help continue Capitol’s “rich legacy of artistry.”

Stewart comes to Capitol from Sony’s RCA Records, where he worked alongside president Mark Pitts on Chris Brown’s Grammy-winning 11:11 (Deluxe) album and signed breakout artists including Afrobeat star Libianca and dancehall act Skillibeng. He also contributed to projects from A$AP Ferg, Flo Milli and Rich The Kid. A former defensive lineman at Florida A&M, Stewart launched his A&R career at RCA in 2020. Calling this a “hugely exciting time” for Capitol, he expressed gratitude for the opportunity to help build the label’s next chapter.

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“Ian and Tariq have both had remarkably successful careers identifying and developing career artists,” said Parsa. “As we continue to build the team at Capitol, Ian and Tariq will play crucial roles in shaping the label’s culture through the artists we sign. We’re thrilled to have both of them in these important roles at Capitol.”

Check out the rest of this week’s staffing news below.

Dave Ayers / Peermusic

Image Credit: Kasia Walicka Maimone

Peermusic appointed Dave Ayers as executive vice president of A&R. With over 40 years of experience as a manager, publisher and label executive, Ayers will lead Peermusic’s east coast contemporary creative team in New York, reporting to Jamie Cerreta, president of U.S. and Canada. Ayers has played a key role in discovering and developing groundbreaking artists across genres. From early work at Twin/Tone, Capitol and Chrysalis, to co-founding Big Deal Music Publishing, Ayers helped launch acts like Bon Iver, The Black Keys, St. Vincent, Sharon Van Etten, Ween, Soul Asylum and alt-country heroes like Uncle Tupelo and The Jayhawks. After Big Deal’s 2020 sale, he became evp at Hipgnosis Songs, continuing to champion emerging talent such as Model/Actriz and Cameron Winter of Geese. “Dave’s passion for finding, developing and nurturing talent is legendary,” said Mary Megan Peer, CEO. “His deep experience, creative vision and commitment to independent publishing make him a perfect fit for our team.” Ayers added: “It’s all about finding and supporting truly special people — singular and tireless and dedicated to creating work that connects and lasts.”

Ailie Birchfield and Connor Hunt / MCA

MCA added Ailie Birchfield as vp of media strategy & communications, while Connor Hunt has joined as senior director of media. Birchfield began her career working at film and television studios including Paramount Pictures, before transitioning to personal publicity at Viewpoint and Slate PR. She then joined UMG Nashville, working with artists including Kacey Musgraves, Reba McEntire, Brothers Osborne and Jordan Davis. Birchfield has also run her own consulting firm the Birchfield Group, with clients including Sony Music, Outback Presents and Leo33. Hunt previously served as director of media & strategic development at Warner Records, working with country, pop, rock and K-pop artists. Hunt also previously worked at Anheuser-Busch and strategic advisory firm Smith & Company. –Jessica Nicholson

Sonali Mehta / NPR Music

Image Credit: Sangeeta Chowdhry

NPR appointed Sonali Mehta as executive director of NPR Music, starting Sept. 22 and based in New York. A seasoned music industry pro with expertise in artist partnerships, content strategy and biz-dev, Mehta will lead NPR Music’s strategic direction by expanding the Tiny Desk franchise and strengthening collaborations with NPR’s network of music stations. Her career spans roles at YouTube, Arista Records and ADA (Warner Music’s distribution arm), where she supported hundreds of artists and led global campaigns. Additionally, NPR announced new appointments to its 23-member board, including Brad Dancer, Paul Hunton, Margaret Low, R.C. McBride, Milena Alberti-Perez, Scott Donaton, John McGinn, Colin Andrews, Brian Wadsworth and Tina Pamintuan.

Jordan Dempsey / Day After Day

Image Credit: Courtesy Photo

Day After Day Productions promoted Jordan Dempsey to head of touring, recognizing his rapid rise and impact since joining the agency in 2022. In his new role, Dempsey will oversee a team of agents and coordinators, following a 64% year-over-year increase in his bookings. His portfolio includes major acts like Billy Ocean, 98 Degrees and The Commodores, and he played a key role in the “An Evening of Icons” tour. Dempsey also helped forge strategic partnerships, including with the M.O.B. Agency, and booked Patrice Rushen’s largest headlining show to date. A UT Austin graduate and former CAA staffer based in Los Angeles, Dempsey’s promotion is a “no brainer,” said founder and CEO Seth Shomes, saying in “reflects both his contributions to the agency as well as the respect he’s earned across the industry.”

Thom Skarzynski / Happiness. Marketing

Image Credit: Courtesy Photo

After nearly two decades in the major label system, Thom Skarzynski has launched Happiness. Marketing, a consulting agency focused on converting real fan engagement into real revenue. Designed for artists with strong touring and loyal fanbases, the agency prioritizes direct-to-fan strategies over viral hype, offering scalable, organic and chart-eligible solutions for artists at all stages of their career. Skarzynski previously served as vp of marketing and revenue strategy at Atlantic, leading campaigns for ginormous acts like Coldplay (he landed the Billboard 200-topping Moon Music) and Twenty One Pilots (his work on Clancy earned him the honorific of Billboard‘s executive of the week), and held senior roles at Sony Music, Spotify and Fueled By Ramen. “If there’s a crowd, there’s a conversion,” said Skarzynski. “We don’t build moments. We build believers. That’s what moves sales/streams — and chart rankings.” You can reach Thom at t@happiness.llc

Jules Parker / MusicInfra

The Music Infrastructure Company (aka MusicInfra) appointed Jules Parker to chief business officer following a new funding round led by MiddleGame Ventures, joining investors Raine, UTA Ventures and Snö Ventures. Based in NYC, MusicInfra is building a global clearinghouse to streamline rights management and ensure fair compensation for creators and music companies. Parker brings nearly a decade of experience from Spotify, where he led global songwriter and publisher partnerships and launched key initiatives like Songwriter Pages, clickable song credits and Spotify for Publishing. He joins a seasoned leadership team including Hipgnosis co-founder Björn Lindvall, ex-YouTube head of publishing partner engineering Greg Quillard, and former Meta, Google and Gracenote executives, positioning MusicInfra to tackle one of the music industry’s most persistent challenges.

William Gruger / Duetti

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William Gruger joined music financing platform Duetti as DSP + Partner Marketing Lead, where he’ll drive initiatives to boost artist visibility and catalog success through strategic platform and partner collaborations. Gruger brings deep experience in music programming and editorial, having previously led global music campaigns at TikTok and served as music editorial lead for North America. His career also includes roles at Tidal, Vine and Billboard, where he began as a charts manager and rose to an associate director of charts.

Brad Peterson and Jill Fernelius / CB&T

Image Credit: Getty Images

California Bank & Trust (CB&T) expanded its entertainment finance team into Nashville, appointing Brad Peterson and Jill Fernelius as senior vice presidents. This strategic move strengthens CB&T’s presence in the music industry’s “Big Three” markets — Los Angeles, New York, and now Nashville. Peterson (svp, relationship manager) brings over 30 years of experience in music publishing and royalty lending, most recently as svp of music at FirstBank, while Fernelius (svp, portfolio manager) offers two decades of financial expertise in the music ecosystem, including svp of music roles at FirstBank and Regions Bank. Their appointments highlight CB&T’s dedication to empowering creators and Nashville’s entertainment pros, while the bank’s expansion reflects broader industry growth in music publishing, licensing and live events. “Establishing a presence in Nashville underscores our dedication to meeting clients where they are, while offering the robust resources and the enduring stability of a financial institution with a comprehensive, multi-market footprint,” said CB&T head of entertainment finance Daisy Stall.

Fiona Ham / Noctil

Image Credit: Courtesy Image

Fiona Ham is the new vp of metadata partnerships at Noctil, the no-code metadata platform for the music and audiovisual industries. In her new role, Ham will report to founder and CEO Jacob Varghese while leading global strategy to help rightsholders resolve metadata conflicts, streamline royalty payments, and unlock greater value from their catalogs. Her work will drive discoverability and revenue growth across digital, live and traditional music markets, while also leading new applications of music recognition technology, starting with DJ and live event initiatives in Canada. This appointment launches a partnership between Virginia-based Noctil and Ham’s basé à Montréal consultancy, HAUSOFHAM, expanding access to metadata tools for independent and underground creators. Ham notably chairs the underground dance single of the year category at the JUNO Awards.

Capitol Christian Music Group

Capitol Christian Music Group promoted several executives within the CCMG Label Group division. David Sylvester has been promoted to general manager, CCMG Label Group, while Kenny Rodgers has been elevated to senior vp, CCMG Label Group. While continuing to lead CCMG’s radio team, Rodgers’ additional areas of responsibility will include audience development and digital. Garrett Davis has been promoted to vice president, A&R, while Cole Linebarger has been named as vice president of marketing, and Becca Redl has been named as vice president of marketing, and Patrick Ogilvy has been named as vice president, business and legal affairs. CCMG’s artist roster includes Chris Tomlin, Amy Grant, TobyMac, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Anne Wilson and Crowder.

Alisa Coleman / ASCAP

Image Credit: Brandon Todd

Alisa Coleman, the chief operating officer of ABKCO Music & Records, was elected to the ASCAP board of directors as a publisher member. At ABKCO, she oversees operations, business strategy, revenue growth and catalog management, while advocating for fair compensation and intellectual property protection in the digital era. ASCAP president and chairman Paul Williams highlighted that ASCAP is the only U.S. performing rights organization governed by democratically elected members, ensuring member interests remain central. “Alisa is a strong advocate for songwriters and publishers and will bring her expertise to ASCAP’s board at a time we are navigating complex issues in our industry, from artificial intelligence to licensee efforts to resist paying for music,” he said. “We look forward to adding her voice as we work together to protect the value of our members’ music.”

Tammy Hurt / Marathon Live

Image Credit: Courtesy Photo

Tammy Hurt joined the board of directors at facility management company Marathon Live, bringing over 25 years of experience in the entertainment industry. Her appointment follows Marathon Live’s acquisition by Mark Dinerstein Consulting and JPB Partners, signaling the company’s expansion plans, including venue acquisitions and nationwide facility management. Hurt, a 20-year Recording Academy member and former chair of its board of trustees, is known for fostering creativity and commerce across music, media and brand strategy. She also leads music strategy for Star Forest, an animated band under Sony Music UK, and is founder of Placement Music, Outsource Events, and co-founder of Georgia Music Partners.

Nick Ditri / GGL

Nick Ditri, half of production duo Disco Fries, is now vp of business development and music at the Global Gaming League (GGL), following his role as dxecutive director of music. GGL, founded by Clinton Sparks, blends celebrity-owned teams with competitive gaming across genres like sports, racin and shooters. Its debut season, SZN Zero, launched in Las Vegas with a match between teams led by T-Pain and Ne-Yo.

Greg Linn / MPTF

Image Credit: Courtesy of Greg Linn

Label veteran Greg Linn has been appointed trustee of the Music Performance Trust Fund (MPTF), effective immediately, succeeding Daniel J. Beck, who now holds the title of trustee emeritus. The MPTF, which has distributed over $630 million since 1948, funds admission-free live performances by professional musicians across North America. Linn is a veteran music executive and marketing strategist with over 30 years of experience, known for launching artists like Hozier and John Mayer and revitalizing iconic catalog releases. He played key roles at BMG, RCA and Columbia Records, contributing to major albums by Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, David Bowie and AC/DC. As svp of marketing and content at Legacy Recordings, he led projects including Leonard Cohen’s posthumous release and reissues for Pink Floyd and others, earning flowers from Billboard, Variety and others.

Board / Country Radio Broadcasters

Image Credit: KTSDESIGN/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/Getty Images

The Country Radio Broadcasters announced their 2025–2026 board of directors, with Kurt Johnson (Townsquare Media) and John Shomby (Country’s Radio Coach) returning as president and vp, respectively. Matt Sunshine (The Center For Sales Strategy) was elected secretary, succeeding Beverlee Brannigan. Re-elected board members include RJ Meacham, Brent Michaels, Joel Raab, Shomby and Sunshine. New three-year term members are Ashley Layfield, Jordan Pettit and Stacy Waugh. One-year appointees include Emily Cohen Belote, Tim Foisset, Damon Moberly and Greg Strassell. Several members continue their terms (full list here).

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