Tommy Lester’s Post

New Post: Executive Turntable: PierFerd Partners Up; Vegas Stadium Gets New GM; Warner Chappell UK Promotes VP of Sync - https://lnkd.in/gGDdDdZg - It’s time to drop the needle on another Executive Turntable, Billboard’s comprehensive(ish) compendium of promotions, hirings, exits and firings — and all things in between — across music. We also have an interview series spotlighting a single executive each week and a regularly updated gallery honoring many of the industry figures we’ve lost throughout the year. Denise Stevens joined Pierson Ferdinand (aka PierFerd) as partner and co-chair of the firm’s global media, entertainment and sports practice. Based in Nashville and Los Angeles, Stevens’ expertise is in talent, creative and tech across music, publishing, touring and other fields. She was previously a partner at Loeb & Loeb and this year made Billboard‘s list of top music lawyers. Earlier this century, she authored the bill that ultimately became the Songwriters Capital Gains Tax Equity Act, which was signed into law in 2006, and she regularly offers counsel and assistance to songwriters and their heirs on copyright recapture issues. “I have known Denise essentially my entire career, having been on the opposite side of deals from her from time-to-time for more than two decades,” said Steven S. Sidman, co-chair of PierFerd’s Global Media, Entertainment & Sports practice. “I much prefer being on the same team as her, and I am delighted to finally work alongside Denise as one of the co-leaders of our group.” Related Music Industry 40 Under 40: Execs & Power Players 2024 05/30/2024 Alex Machurov joined the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM) as head of business development, effectively immediately. At his new job, Machurov oversees the indie label trade body’s strategic partnerships and develops sponsorship opportunities for the org’s tentpole events such as the Indie Week Conference and the Libera Awards. The live events veteran arrives from Tandem, a digital charity fundraising platform he co-founded in 2020. He was previously chief revenue officer at Revolution Marketing and a vp of national event partnerships at iHeartMedia, but he spent the bulk of the last couple decades at Superfly, where he clocked 10 years overseeing brand partnerships and activations at Bonnaroo, Outside Lands and other festivals. “Alex’s expertise and his passion for the independent music community will enrich our current activities and steer A2IM to more expansive opportunities,” said Richard James Burgess, CEO of A2IM. “We welcome his vast network of connections and the knowledge he bring

Taylor Swift isn't just a global pop sensation; she's also a savvy businesswoman who's been making waves in the industry. In a world where creativity meets commerce, Taylor Swift's journey offers valuable insights into the music business and beyond. Let's take notes and apply these lessons to our own endeavors. #BusinessLessons #TaylorSwift #SuccessStrategies #Entrepreneurship What lessons have you learned from Taylor's career? Share your thoughts!

Watching the Eras Tour in theatres didn't make me a Swiftie, but it did cement my respect for the brilliant Ms. Taylor. She is a sophisticated business woman and it's clear that she knows EXACTLY how to leverage and monetize her talent, her brand and her intellectual property. "Taylor's Version" has record labels scrambling for a tighter grip over artists' rights to their music. It's not going to work. Record labels cannot demand an increase in the grant of rights for an extended term while simultaneously providing less value to the artist. A&R is practically non-existent, marketing and promotion relies heavily on the artists' own social media platforms, and labels have not adequately adapted their profit model in the face of streaming and the low margins of touring. So why in the world would artists (and their representatives) agree to increased limitations on their ownership? Before these c-suite middlemen demand more from the creative class, they need to do some deep introspection to determine why, if at all, the creative class even needs them.

Our Bruce Wawrzyniak was in Nashville last week. That followed his having been in Alabama a few weeks earlier. And that was right after he'd just spent time in New York City. Today we posted our blog for this week, encouraging you to go find opportunities that might be out there for you, which you likely won't get if you shut it down and just stay home. Use the link below to read the full post and get actual examples of where maybe you should get yourself to -- even if locally. #musicbiz #connections #opportunities

In my journey through music ecosystem studies across various cities, I've discovered a simple yet profound truth: "If we can really understand the problem, the answer will come out of it, because the answer is not separate from the problem." This is in line with the challenges and opportunities we encounter in the music industry. Whether it's supporting local artists in Anchorage, Austin, Baltimore, Charlotte, Chattanooga, Cleveland, Columbus, DC, Greensboro, Lawrence KS, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Orleans, NW Arkansas, Sacramento and Tulsa or exploring new market dynamics, the key lies in our understanding of the underlying issues. Let's dive deeper into our problems, not to dwell on them, but to find the innovative solutions that are already there, waiting to be uncovered. #MusicIndustry #ProblemSolving #Innovation

🎵 Taylor Swift: A Force to be Reckoned With in Music and Finance! 💰🌟 Whether you're a #Swiftie or not, there's no denying the impact Taylor Swift has had on the music industry and beyond. 🌍 With her unparalleled songwriting skills, she's penned anthems that resonate with millions, transcending genres and generations. 📝🎶 But Taylor's success doesn't stop at the charts; she's also a financial powerhouse. 📈💼 Her strategic moves in the music industry, including her savvy management of her song catalog, have earned her a well-deserved spot on Forbes' list of highest-earning musicians. 💸 Beyond her music, Taylor has made brilliant business decisions, ensuring her financial stability and growth. 🌍💰 In an era where talent meets financial acumen, Taylor Swift continues to set the bar high, not just as an artist but as a shrewd entrepreneur. 🌟 Agree or disagree with her style or sound, there's no denying her influence, creativity, and impressive financial success. 🙌💵 In a world where market disruption is occurring faster than ever before, we thought this article did a great job highlighting ways you can embrace market disruption.

As the founder of Denda Works - a creative agency that leverages the incredible creativity and ingenuity of contemporary African culture to help brands create products, campaigns and experiences and a student of history, I've always been fascinated by the parallels between Hiphop and Afrobeats. In this article, I explore the exponential growth in black-owned music, film, fashion and sports businesses, following the 1989 arrival of Hiphop on the Grammy stage. Using it as a case study for what the future might hold for Global brands and Afrobeats-affiliated businesses following the arrival of African music on the Grammy stage. It's a bit of a long read, but read, comment, share, highlight, disagree, challenge.

Great short read on three strategy lessons we can learn from the all-time best-selling musician and TIME person of the year 2023, Taylor Swift, by the BCG Henderson Institute: 1. Creating emotional connection in a digital world: Swift’s communication is personal and relatable, much like her songs and albums. 2. Directly controlling her work: Swift is renowned for her self-ownership and self-management, serving as a unique and powerful example of disintermediation in the digital age. 3. Constantly reinventing herself: She has moved between genres (country, pop, indie-folk) and alternative styles on her back-to-back pandemic albums—all while also experimenting with genre-spanning collaborations. Strategy is an applied art, and Taylor Swift exemplifies the power of a strong intersection between art and strategy making her strategic moves relevant to businesses.

Jesher Loi's journey from music to business showcases his belief that each person must follow their unique path. Initially pursuing a passion for music, Loi joined Ya Kun International Pte Ltd, the coffee-and-toast chain founded by his grandfather, Loi Ah Koon, in the 1940s. “Practicing composition, attending concerts, planning them, I had found what I truly loved to do,” he shared about his time at The Master's University in the US. However, family duty called, and Loi agreed to join Ya Kun in 2010, balancing his role with his musical pursuits. Now director of branding and market development, he also coaches youth string ensembles. “It’s a privilege to be able to do both,” Loi acknowledged. Leading a heritage business comes with significant responsibility. “Ya Kun bears my grandfather’s name. For my family to build so much, I owe it to them to take the business forward,” he said. This year, Ya Kun celebrates its 80th anniversary. Loi reflects on the company's achievements and future path, aiming to balance modernisation with tradition. In 2018, Ya Kun launched an app for in-store payments and loyalty points, a move towards digitalisation. "Implementing changes in a heritage business is no easy feat," he noted. Preserving the Ya Kun experience is crucial. “We know that people still want to see their coffee hand brewed in front of them, and we do strive to maintain that,” Loi asserted. Beyond customer experience, Loi focuses on company culture and employee growth. “How do we engage our staff to dream bigger, and how do we walk with them through their career journeys?” he asked. Loi is passionate about using the business to give back, continuing his family's legacy of compassion. “We have built a certain level of trust and consistency through our brand and our products. But that trust can be expanded,” he said. As Ya Kun reaches 80 years, Loi emphasizes the importance of the future. “80 is just a number. Where the company is getting to next is much more important,” he reflected. #Growth #Expansion #NextGen #Leadership #Innovation #CX #AI #Transformation #Business #PrivateWealth #Sustainability #Philanthropy I CNA I Melissa Stewart

"2. If I’m king, I’ll require top executives of dominant music platforms to submit to a simple ear and music aptitude test: Can they hum back melodies after hearing them once? Can they play an instrument? Can they identify intervals and basic chords progressions by ear? (Hah!) Can they shake a tambourine without losing the beat? Can they even sing “Happy Birthday” in tune? Etc. etc. There are no penalties—I am a lenient monarch—but the results will be made public. If Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, wants to dominate our music culture, let’s see if he knows bugger all about it. Even better: Let’s televise this as a competition. It could be the dark twin of American Idol—maybe every week, we allow one or two CEOs to exit shamefully from the competition, but only after demonstrating their incompetence in front of a live audience. After a couple of seasons of this, companies will start hiring execs that love and know music. That can’t be a bad thing."