Latest Music Industry Hires: Merlin, AXS, Artists First, Virgin, More

Here’s a recap of recent music industry hires and in-house promotions as of July 3rd, 2026.

If you have a job shuffle to share, we’re all ears. Send us a note to [email protected]. If you’d like to post a job on our Job Board, just send us a request to [email protected]. And, keep track of all the latest music industry hires here.

Scottish Event Campus (SEC)

WSP’s Ruth Bailey has joined the SEC board as an independent non-executive director, and Peter Haggarty, currently the University of Glasgow’s executive director of estates, has signed on as director of development and infrastructure.

Merlin

Merlin has welcomed Downtown vet Harmen Hemminga as VP of business development.

AXS

Former Roku and Apple marketing exec Sweta Patel is now AXS’ chief marketing officer.

Artists First

Artists First has launched a music division with Title 9 founder Carmen Murray at the helm.

California Copyright Conference

The California Copyright Conference has announced its 2026-27 officers and board. On the officers side, Clearly Music founder Jonathan Lane is president; Bardic Inspiration owner Sarah Brockman is VP; SESAC film/TV director Alexandra Guzman is treasurer; James Jacoby (who handles music contract administration at Disney Entertainment Television) is secretary; and beatBread publishing royalty manager Janelle Hawkes is assistant secretary.

Additionally, the trade organization’s newly elected board members are Kenneth Buchanan (Disney Music Group) and Dan Goldstein (Angry Mob).

Rounding out the board are Tara Austin (Austintatious Tunes); Rhonda Bedikian (Heavy Harmony); HIMA nominee Brandon Jarrett; Wayne Josel (ASCAP); Jack Mangikyan (Gelfand, Rennert & Feldman); Kristina Benson (Sweet on Top); Reggie Calloway (Sound Royalties); former BMI team member Cheryl Dickerson; Lily Kline-Koenig (BMG); Melanie Santa Rosa (Third Side); and Patrick Smith (Peermusic).

Virgin Music Group (VMG)

Four months and change after wrapping its Downtown Music acquisition, VMG has unveiled a “new global and regional leadership team.”

First, six “regional leaders” will report to VMG co-CEOs J.T. Myers and Nat Pastor. Jacqueline Saturn remains president of North America and EVP of global artist relations; four-year FUGA vet Sarah Landy will report to Saturn as North America’s business development SVP.

Next, longtime UMG exec Victor González is leading VMG’s operations in Latin America as president while overseeing U.S. Latin and Spain as well.

Cris Garcia Falcão is still Virgin’s president in Brazil and Portugal; Renato Vanzella, previously FUGA’s LATAM GM, will report to Falcão as Brazil’s MD. Similarly, Nick Roden continues as Virgin’s Europe president, and Liz Northeast, a FUGA higher-up of over five years, has been appointed SVP and GM in Europe.

Lastly, on the regional leader side, Nathan McLay remains MD in Australia and New Zealand, with Michael Roe continuing as MD in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.

Regarding other new roles, former Downtown CTO Tom Allen has assumed the same position at Virgin; ex-FUGA president and COO Christiaan Kröner is VMG’s global operations EVP; ex-Downtown CCO David Driessen is VMG’s chief product officer; longtime Virgin exec Matt Sawin has been bumped to EVP of physical and direct-to-fan growth; and Downtown’s Gareth Mellor is SVP of comms and brand strategy at VMG.

Former Downtown artist and label services president Ben Patterson, for his part, “will lead a new premier artist-focused enterprise in collaboration with” VMG.

As for what’s staying the same, Molly Neuman (CD Baby’s president), Emily Stephenson (Downtown Music Publishing’s president), Zack Gershen (VMG’s EVP of global commercial and digital strategy), and Jeremy Kramer (VMG’s global marketing EVP) will continue in their existing posts.

Hybe

Former Hybe America head Scooter Braun has exited Hybe’s board but will reportedly continue advising the company.

Live Nation

Live Nation has added Terrapin Station Entertainment’s Jonathan Shank as global programming SVP.

TKO Artist Management

TKO has elevated Megan Pavlovic (who’s been with the company for about two years) and Jordan Bernal (roughly four years) to artist manager. Additionally, management assistant Benjamin Sojka has been upped to publishing and internal ops manager.

ROAM

Earth Music Agency booking agent Duncan Smith has joined ROAM as a senior agent.

Green Tea Distribution

Former FUGA audience engagement manager Candace Braude is now Green Tea’s artist onboarding and success manager.

iHeartMedia

iHeartMedia’s continuing to make layoffs, some impacting on-air talent, as part of its $50 million cost-reduction plan.

WMG/Spinnin’ Records

Spinnin’ Records has formally boosted longtime WMG higher-up Marco Pantuso to GM and Frederick Pranger (who joined the company in 2022) to A&R head.