Culture Wave, WCM Italy Make Executive Moves

Warner Chappell Music Italy has restructured its Italian creative leadership team, announcing several promotions and new hires in Milan. Lodovico Pagani has been elevated to head of A&R, where he will oversee creative strategy and development for a roster that includes Annalisa, Carl Brave, Ghali, Laura Pausini, Sick Luke and more. Rossella Lorello transitions to the sync and licensing division, strengthening the bridge between A&R and sync placements across film, TV, advertising and gaming. To support Pagani, former Intera Music executive Giacomo Domenichelli joins as A&R manager, while Francesca Rossi is promoted to head of legal. “Lodovico possesses an intuitive understanding of Italy’s creative heartbeat,” said Santiago Menéndez-Pidal, president, Southern Europe, WCM. “By elevating him to lead A&R, hiring Giacomo and Francesca, and moving Rossella’s deep creative knowledge into our Sync division, we’re creating a more integrated and creative ecosystem for our songwriters.”

Broke Records, the indie label under Create Music Group founded by Andre Benz and Brandon De Oliveira, has partnered with Innovo Management and TikTok creator Jillian Webber to launch wbbr., a new label aimed at connecting music with the creator economy. Led by Innovo CEO Sam Saideman and Webber, wbbr. positions creators as key partners in artist discovery and development. The label’s first signing is JEYEM, a 25‑year‑old alt‑pop/rock artist, who said he is partnering with broke records, Jillian and Innovo at a moment that “feels really special,” adding that he has always valued taking the time to understand what he wants to say and who he is as an artist before releasing music. Backed by broke’s infrastructure and Innovo’s creator‑driven marketing, wbbr. focuses on long‑term artist development rather than short‑term virality.  “Broke has always been about building sustainable careers,” said Benz. “Partnering with Sam and Jillian on wbbr. allows us to build artists in a way that reflects today’s ecosystem where creators help shape culture alongside the music itself.”

Former Capitol Records executive Targa Sahyoun and Sony Music producer/composer Morgan Dorr have launched File Eaters, a new software platform designed to streamline global music file management by embedding metadata—including splits, publishing, IPI numbers and PRO information—directly into audio and video files. The offline model keeps creator data secure, while features such as stem recognition, auto‑naming, file grouping and automatic delivery aim to eliminate manual administrative work. Since its 2026 launch, File Eaters has raised more than $1 million in seed funding and assembled an advisory board that includes Google DeepMind CXO Simon Bouton. The company is working with 26 beta clients to build customized workflows and debuted its product during Grammy Week.

Nashville-based copyright administration company Do Write Music has selected Music Admin Inc. as the new home for ongoing catalog stewardship as Do Write Music Inc. co-founder Marghie Evans steps into retirement after more than 35 years as a music publishing executive. Do Write Music’s roster has included songwriters such as Jeffrey Steele, Tom Paxton, Jon Vezner, Kathy Mattea, Gary Burr, Victoria Shaw, Old Crow Medicine Show, and Cheap Trick’s Robin Zander, in addition to catalogs from several independent publishers. Do Write songs have been recorded by artists including Toby Keith, Blake Shelton, Luke Bryan, Riley Green, Montgomery Gentry, Lainey Wilson, and Tim McGraw. Originally based in London, Evans relocated to Nashville in 2001 and has served as a past board member and secretary of Leadership Music and chair of the Copyright Society of the South. Before moving to Nashville, Evans worked as head of rights & clearances for Universal Pictures Home Video (U.K.). Evans and Do Write Music co-founder Dwight Wiles (also president of Wiles + Taylor and Co.), determined that Music Admin Inc. is the appropriate long-term operator to carry the catalog care forward. Music Admin Inc. was founded and is led by Aaron Loring Davis.

Veteran artist manager and former Roc Nation global head of rock Blaze James has launched Arduous Records, a new imprint under Virgin Music Group. The label will be led operationally by industry executive Jordyn Reese, appointed general manager, with her agency Do Better For Artists providing full‑service support. The move marks Reese’s first role inside the major‑label system after years working independently, and follows her recent joining of James’ management firm, The Fellowship. Together, James and Reese aim to build an artist‑first label rooted in DIY principles and long‑term development. Arduous also announced its first signing: acclaimed art rock band Failure, whose new album Location Lost arrives April 24. The label has additionally signed rising Norwegian post‑punk act Heave Blood & Die. “I consider myself an extremely hard working person, and so Arduous fits,” said James. “We are going to grind and hustle for our artists, and I’m really looking forward to this next chapter.”

Secretly Distribution has named longtime chief operating officer Chris Welz as the company’s newest Partner, following the distributor’s strongest year to date. In 2025, Secretly Distribution supported thousands of releases across more than 100 labels, secured multiple Gold and Platinum certifications, launched a new APAC division and rolled out a bespoke repertoire management system, while also partnering with Cargo and Beggars Group to create an independent physical‑distribution pipeline in the U.K. Welz, who has shaped Secretly’s global physical operations and built its digital and DSP strategy over two decades, will continue scaling the company alongside CEO Darius Van Arman, who said that Welz has been “a trusted and tireless colleague” for more than two decades, rising from intern to COO. He praised Welz’s leadership style, noting that he “never makes people feel small” and consistently lifts up those around him. 

Various Artists Management has announced a raft of new senior appointments in its London headquarters to bolster its global offering to artists. Tom Grennan, Ashnikko, Rose Gray and Good Neighbours are among the artists represented by the agency that operates in the U.K., US and Australia. Rebecca Dixon has been named global head of marketing & strategy; George Shepherd has been promoted to associate director; and Kayleigh Ramchand-Bentley will assume the role of general manager U.K. New hire Kelley Fox joins VAM and Alternative Songs (a publishing company operating as a joint venture with Stellar Songs, in partnership with Downtown) as senior international A&R. David Bianchi, joint chief executive of VAM and Alternative Songs, said “These appointments reflect the incredible internal talent we’ve nurtured over the years and our commitment to bringing in fresh expertise. This new leadership team ensures that as we scale, we continue to provide the infrastructure necessary to support our artists’ global ambitions.” –Thomas Smith

Will Evans is Qobuz’s new music merchandiser for Australia and New Zealand, strengthening the high‑res streaming platform’s presence in the region. In the role, Evans will collaborate with Qobuz’s global music team to shape on‑platform merchandising, editorial, and programming, including localized playlists, artist features, and promotional spotlights. He also serves as a key contact for labels, distributors and industry partners while reporting directly to Sujan Hong, vp of music + editorial (US, CA, UK, AU/NZ, Nordics). Evans, based in Brunswick, Victoria, previously spent eight years as Bandcamp’s artist and labelambassador for Australia and New Zealand and played a major role in revitalizing Melbourne venue The Night Cat; he also manages the band Mildlife.

Breed Media has announced two key appointments as the vinyl and physical manufacturing agency continues its rapid growth. Jamie Slaughter joins as sales manager, bringing a reputation as one of the most promising young talents in music manufacturing. He will focus on expanding Breed Media’s reach by connecting with a new generation of artists and independent labels. Maria Stundon has been named operations lead, overseeing business workflow and supporting the company’s strategic expansion following record performance results in 2025. Both appointments come amid significant growth for Breed Media, which has seen a 20% year‑on‑year turnover increase and rising demand for vinyl and CD production. The company continues to support independent creators, contributing to multiple recent U.K. chart‑topping releases.

KHS America, a musical instrument company that focuses on music performance, education and supporting musicians and educators, has promoted Ryan Rehnborg to creative & marketing communications manager, expanding his leadership across the company’s marketing and brand communications efforts. In his new role, Rehnborg will oversee content development, marketing communications strategy, and cross‑brand initiatives to support future campaigns and growth. He joined KHS America in 2018 as a videographer and has steadily advanced, most recently serving as creative & marketing communications team lead. 

Wealthspire’s Ground Control Business Management (Ground Control) has acquired Nashville-based Wiles + Taylor & Co. (Wiles + Taylor), a business management and tax consulting firm that serves touring artists, songwriters, and industry executives. Wiles + Taylor will continue operating in Nashville, expanding Ground Control’s presence in Nashville. The transaction adds approximately 65 employees to the firm, including Wiles + Taylor partners Steve Eggart and Kevin Dalton. Wiles + Taylor was founded in 1986 by the late Gary Smith. “Joining Ground Control helps us scale and continue growing without compromising our culture,” Dwight Wiles, president of Wiles + Taylor, said in a statement. “As touring and global revenue streams grow more complex, artists need advisors who understand both the details and the broader strategy. This partnership gives us additional infrastructure to keep serving our clients’ evolving needs while preserving continuity for our talented team.” –Jessica Nicholson