Jackson Wang, the Chinese singer-songwriter, has signed with WME (William Morris Endeavor) for representation. Separately, Position Music has signed the Grammy-winning group Arkai to a joint venture (JV) label deal.
Artist signings and label partnerships#
Wang is currently starring in an Apple campaign tied to his new single and music video, “Thank You.” He continues to be represented by Team Wang Records and Roc Nation, in addition to WME.
His 2019 debut album, Mirrors, became the first album by a solo Chinese artist to reach the Billboard Top 200. He has since collaborated with Ciara, Swae Lee, Major Lazer, Gucci Mane and others, and has headlined Los Angeles’s Kia Forum and Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. In 2022, he became the first Chinese solo artist to perform on the main stage at Coachella.
Position Music’s deal is with LindseyStomp, the label of Lindsey Stirling. The agreement is handled through Position Music A&R (artists and repertoire), with Jake Versluis as the A&R contact. Arkai has been described as “Hans Zimmer meets 2Cellos.” The group’s members are Juilliard graduates who have worked extensively in film and television, including on the Emmy Awards, the Grammy Museum and the NBA Finals.
Stirling said: “Arkai represents everything I hoped this label imprint could stand for: bold artistry, fearless creativity, and a willingness to push beyond the boundaries of genre. Jonathan and Philip are extraordinary musicians, but what excites me most is the heart and imagination they bring to everything they create. I couldn’t imagine better partners than Position Music to help us build a home where visionary artists can take big creative swings and bring their music to the world.”
British singer-songwriter Danny Griffiths has signed with Glassnote Records and released his debut single, “Lightweight Champion,” which had already been widely shared in demo form on social media. He is represented by Prolifica Management and Solo Agency Limited.
Glassnote founder Daniel Glass said: “When we first heard Danny’s songs and then witnessed the passionate response from the audience each night he performs, we knew he belonged with us. It is always a dream to have so many respected industry people requesting a song that has not been released yet. Such is the case with ‘Lightweight Champion,’ which, until now, only belonged to Danny Griffiths’ fans.”
Senior appointments at Empire, Create and HBSE#
Empire has named Leesa Brunson-Boland Senior Vice President, A&R Operations, and Bina Fronda Senior Vice President, Marketing, at its New York office. Brunson-Boland was previously Head of A&R Operations at 300 Entertainment, following nearly two decades at Def Jam Recordings, where she worked with Rihanna, Jay-Z, Justin Bieber and Teyana Taylor. Fronda joins from Ultra Records, where she was VP of Marketing and worked with artists including Steve Aoki, Sofi Tukker and Benny Benassi.
Create Music Group has named Hayley Silvertown Chief Legal and Business Affairs Officer. Based at the company’s Hollywood headquarters, she will oversee legal and business affairs and partner with the executive team on strategic transactions, investments and partnerships. Silvertown comes to Create from Paul Hastings, where she was Of Counsel. She previously held roles at Willkie Farr & Gallagher and Shepard Mullin Richter and Hampton, and worked in the business affairs departments of ICM and Warner Chappell music publishing.
Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE) has hired Joe Giordano Jr. as Senior Vice President of Entertainment Booking. He will oversee entertainment booking for HBSE’s properties, including the Prudential Center in Newark and Loew’s Jersey Theatre in Jersey City, and assist with programming at other HBSE venues.
Sean Saadeh, Chief Programming Officer and Head of Entertainment at HBSE, said: “Joe’s deep experience in the entertainment industry and proven track record of building strong relationships while attracting major touring acts will be a tremendous asset to our team.”
Nebula17 expands executive, publishing and label teams#
Nebula17, the Los Angeles-based music and creative company founded by former Avex USA CEO Naoki Osada, has announced a major expansion of its executive team, publishing roster, label operations and international initiatives. The hires include:
- Daniel Hong, Chief Operating Officer, working with Osada on strategy, operations and growth while leading the company’s international division. He previously served as CEO of YG USA and COO of JYP USA, where he worked with Blackpink, Stray Kids and Girlset.
- Martha Blair Reynolds, Senior Director of Marketing, from Ricky Reed’s Nice Life Recording Company.
- René Mark, Director of Digital, who has managed campaigns for BTS, Le Sserafim and Tinashe at Interscope Geffen A&M and Nice Life Recording Company.
- Natalie Walsh, Director of A&R, who previously worked with Sabrina Claudio, Nasri and Adam Messinger.
- Harukaze Wakabayashi, Senior Manager, International, from Warner Music Japan.
- Zac Cruz, A&R / Marketing Manager, following roles at Avex and Revels Group.
- Oscar Cornejo, Head Engineer, with credits that include Grammy-winning work with Tyla and projects with Kanye West and Willow Smith.
Nebula17 has also added three creators to its U.S. publishing roster: producer, musician and sound designer Oh Gosh Leotus; Florida-born artist, songwriter and producer Hydra; and producer Xansei.
On the label side, Nebula17 has signed New York-based artist, producer and musician Hojean. The company has also entered a global distribution partnership with the Orchard.
