Believe, Suno, Luminate & More Music Industry Hires

Suno has hired Grace James as vp and head of artist marketing and editorial and Christian Bowne as director and head of music business development.

James’ previous roles include having been executive vp of creative marketing at Atlantic Records, director of marketing at Roc Nation and head of marketing at TIDAL. Bowne had spent 16 years at YouTube and had been leading major label business development.

“I’ve seen firsthand the weight artists carry when creating and promoting their music,” James said in a statement. “The expectations keep growing, while the number of resources and partners available to support them often doesn’t. I’ve spent my career helping artists break through, connect with audiences and build lasting careers. That’s why it was important to me to join a company that genuinely puts artists at the center. Suno is already working with artists at every stage, and I’m excited to expand the ways we support them, from helping them create and engage with fans to building sustainable careers.”

Bowne added, “I’ve spent nearly two decades helping navigate the evolution of digital music, and I’ve seen how the best technology partnerships create new opportunities for artists, fans and the industry. That’s what excites me about Suno. I’m looking forward to working closely with our partners to build products that expand what’s possible for creatives while creating long-term value for the music ecosystem.”

Luminate, the company which powers Billboard’s charts, has named Brian Czarny the company’s new chief marketing officer. Czarny previously served as CMO at Jupiter Intelligence, a company that analyzes climate risk.

“Luminate sits at the intersection of data and the music and entertainment industry — decoding the trends and signals that power decisions across the biggest labels, artists, publishers and platforms in the business,” Czarny wrote on LinkedIn. “It’s a rare moment to join a company doing this influential work at exactly the right time, alongside an incredible team.”

The American Association of Independent Music (A2IM) announced its new board of directors. Representing more than 600 independent record labels, Glen Barros (managing partner at Exceleration Music) will serve as chair; Louis Posen (founder and president of Hopeless Records) as treasurer and David Barnes (COO of Rhymesayers Entertainment) as secretary.

“A2IM continues to grow and excel in its efforts to protect and promote the indie community,” Barros said in a statement. “I’m honored to serve alongside my colleagues on the Board, the Executive Cmmittee, and the excellent A2IM team in our work to collectively further the organization’s mission. I look forward to a great year ahead!”

Board members include Katie Garcia (owner and founder of Bayonet Records); Tony Kiewel (president of Subpop); Steve Kline (president and COO of Better Noise Music); Elliot Peters (chief legal officer, EMPIRE). On the advisory board is Oscar Guitan (CEO of Serving Sounds); Sue Lucarelli (president of Epitaph Records) and Benson Curb (senior vp of revenue and marketing at Curb).

“We are honored to welcome an incredibly talented, diverse and dedicated group of individuals to serve on the 2026-27 board of directors for A2IM,” Ian Harrison, CEO of A2IM, said in a statement. “Their expertise and passion for independent music will be instrumental in shaping the future of our organization and the industry at this critical time. With these new Executive Committee and Advisory Board Members, we are confident in our ability to advocate effectively for the needs and interests of independent artists and record labels.”

Luis Pinilla has been promoted to senior vp, global head of strategy at Sony Music Publishing, reporting to the company’s chairman and CEO, Jon Platt. Pinilla most recently served as senior vp, corporate strategy and financial planning at the company.

“Luis brings deep understanding and a forward-looking perspective to everything he does, and I am confident he will excel in this role,” Platt said in a statement. “I am pleased to be continuing our work together as we invest in the growth of SMP’s songwriters and composers around the world.”

Pinilla added, “Sony Music Publishing is well positioned at a moment of significant transformation in our industry. I am excited to work with our global team to build on our momentum and further strengthen our commitment to delivering enduring value for our songwriters.”

Marie Sheehy has been named executive vp,  head of corporate communications at the WME Group — which includes the WME talent agency, Pantheon Media Group and IMG Licensing. Sheehy has been with the company since 2005, and she assisted with the launch of Endeaver Content, which is now called Fifth Season.

“Marie has been instrumental to WME for two decades eand has helped steer the reputations of our company and our clients through countless milestones and constant evolution,” Christian Muirhead and Richard Weitz, co-chairmen of WME Group, said in a joint statement. “Her strategic counsel, steady leadership and trusted relationships across the media and entertainment industries have made her an invaluable partner as we position WME Group as the premier destination for talent representation.”

Tom Alexander and Jenn Sonick have been appointed vp of live entertainment at Legends Global, the company announced.

Alexander has held roles at Sony Music Entertainment, PACE Concerts, AEG and Live Nation. He recently served as a booker at the Tacoma Dome, Allen Event Center and the Honda Center. Sonick had been the director of programming at ATG Entertainment and oversaw talent buying for the Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, New York, and the Emerson Colonial Theatre in Boston.

“Tom and Jenn each bring a remarkable depth of relationships and expertise that will strengthen our ability to deliver world-class programming across our venue network,” Jason Rio, senior vp of live entertainment and content booking at Legends Global, said in a statement. “Tom’s decades of experience on the touring and arena booking side, combined with Jenn’s track record of curating exceptional live experiences at iconic venues, make them ideal partners as we continue to grow our content and booking capabilities.”

Ekonomisk Mgmt is relaunching as Team Spirit Mgmt, and Victoria Roe has been named partner, joining founder Andrea Troolin.

“When I started the company in 1999, I knew which side of the fence I wanted to be on — I wanted to support the spaces and people making the music that touches people so immensely,” Troolin said in a statement. “It was important to me to support artists in a different way than I’d seen out there — taking the long road to success with patience and empathy and the goal of fiercely protecting their creativity, process and longevity. Twenty-five years later, with Victoria such an integral part of the equation, and an amazing team around us, Team Spirit is the fullest expression of that initial idea; the name is new, but the values are exactly the same.”

The company’s roster includes Andrew Bird, Low, Tift Merritt and more.

“Team Spirit captures the collaborative, community-driven essence that defines our roster, our staff, and the way we work… as a team,” Roe said in a statement. “I’ve been lucky to spend the last decade plus learning from Andrea as a mentor, and I’m honored to step into this new role and carry forward the values on which she built the company. Andrea never waited for permission to carve her own path, and in doing so, she showed her clients that they didn’t have to follow someone else’s rulebook either. She built a place where artists could stay at the helm, where unconventional ideas were encouraged, and where women could see a place for themselves in the business too. Her example has shaped the way. I work and what we’re building at Team Spirit. We want to keep creating opportunities for women, championing artists and perspectives that don’t always fit neatly into boxes, and making sure there’s always a seat at the table for new voices.”