Music Industry Sees Major Talent Shifts as Jackson Wang Signs With WME

The music industry has witnessed a significant series of developments, beginning with the signing of singer-songwriter Jackson Wang to WME. Wang, who is currently featured in an Apple campaign for his new single and music video 'Thank You,' joins the talent agency for representation. His 2019 debut album 'Mirrors' made history as the first by a solo Chinese artist to reach the Billboard Top 200. Over the years, he has collaborated with major names such as Ciara, Swae Lee, and Major Lazer, while also headlining venues like the Kia Forum in Los Angeles and Barclays Center in Brooklyn. In 2022, he became the first Chinese solo artist to perform on the main stage at Coachella. In addition to WME, Wang continues to be represented by Team Wang Records and Roc Nation.

Position Music has expanded its roster by signing the Grammy-winning group Arkai to a joint venture label deal with Lindsey Stirling’s label, LindseyStomp. The signing was facilitated by Position Music A&R executive Jake Versluis. Described as a fusion of Hans Zimmer and 2Cellos, the Juilliard graduates have extensive experience in film and television scoring, including work on the Emmy Awards and the NBA Finals. Lindsey Stirling expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, stating that Arkai embodies the bold artistry and fearless creativity she envisioned for her label imprint. She highlighted the musicians' heart and imagination, noting that Position Music is the ideal partner to help build a home for visionary artists.

Empire has announced two senior appointments to strengthen its New York office. Leesa Brunson-Boland has been named Senior Vice President of A&R Operations. She previously served as Head of A&R Operations at 300 Entertainment and spent nearly two decades at Def Jam Recordings, where she worked with artists including Rihanna, Jay-Z, and Justin Bieber. Additionally, Bina Fronda has joined as Senior Vice President of Marketing. Fronda comes from Ultra Records, where she held the role of VP of Marketing and collaborated with artists such as Steve Aoki and Sofi Tukker.

British singer-songwriter Danny Griffiths has signed with Glassnote Records and released his debut single, 'Lightweight Champion.' The track gained widespread attention on social media in its demo form. Daniel Glass, founder of Glassnote, praised Griffiths for the passionate response he receives from audiences and noted the high demand for his unreleased work. Griffiths is represented by Prolifica Management and Solo Agency Limited.

Create Music Group has appointed Hayley Silvertown as its Chief Legal and Business Affairs Officer. Based in Hollywood, Silvertown will oversee the company’s legal and business affairs functions while partnering with the executive team on strategic transactions and investments. She joins Create from Paul Hastings, where she served as Of Counsel. Her previous experience includes roles at Willkie Farr & Gallagher, Shepard Mullin Richter and Hampton, as well as business affairs positions at ICM and Warner Chappell music publishing.

Nebula17, a Los Angeles-based music and creative company founded by Naoki Osada, has announced a major expansion of its executive team and operations. Daniel Hong joins as Chief Operating Officer, bringing experience from his roles as CEO of YG USA and COO of JYP USA. The company has also added several key personnel, including Martha Blair Reynolds as Senior Director of Marketing and Rene Mark as Director of Digital. On the creative side, Nebula17 has added three creators to its U.S. publishing roster and signed New York-based artist Hojean to its label. The company has also entered into a global distribution partnership with the Orchard.

Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment has hired Joe Giordano Jr. as Senior Vice President of Entertainment Booking. In this role, Giordano will oversee booking for premier properties such as the Prudential Center in Newark and Loew’s Jersey Theatre in Jersey City. Sean Saadeh, Chief Programming Officer at HBSE, praised Giordano’s ability to pair creative vision with talent spotting. Giordano previously worked at Oak View Group and ASM Global, where he held national responsibilities in booking and served as Assistant General Manager at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Oak View Group has announced a new agreement with Independent Artist Group to work with the agency’s music and comedy touring artists. This partnership allows OVG to make touring assets from IAG artists available to its brand partners for promotional opportunities. Operating as an independent contractor, OVG will provide sponsorship and partnership services to identify cross-promotional prospects. Dan Griffis, President of Global Partnerships at OVG, noted that music is a natural fit for the company. Jarred Arfa and Peter Pappalardo of IAG expressed their excitement about enhancing the relationship to benefit their artists and leverage OVG’s extensive brand relationships.