For the first time in its 46-year history, BET has formed an advisory board. The board was created under the leadership of BET's president. Louis Carr and will perform the functions of a strategic and cultural body.
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The new advisory board includes Bob Johnson (BET founder), Queen Latifah, LL Cool J, Troy Vincent (Executive Vice President of Football Operations for the National Football League), Raymond J. McGuire (President of Lazard) and George Cheeks (Chairman of Paramount's Television Media Council). Together, the council members will help ensure BET remains at the intersection of media, society, and culture.
According to a press release, the new board of directors will "serve as a strategic and cultural advisory body, offering valuable insights, perspective, and accountability as BET expands its influence and continues to champion the voices and stories that move culture forward.".
«"BET has always been more than just a platform," Carr said in a statement. "It is a cultural institution with a responsibility to serve, reflect, and advance our community. As we enter this new chapter, this Council brings together leaders whose influence, perspective, and integrity will help us continue to fulfill that responsibility as we shape the future.".
BET remains owned by Paramount. While Paramount Global has offered the brand to various companies, Paramount CEO Skydance David Ellison stated that it has no plans to sell it. BET also manages the FAST channels, produces digital content, and organizes events.
For the past 45 years, BET has remained a cultural institution for the African-American community. BET Media Group, a division of Paramount, owns BET, BET Her, BET Studios, and VH1, as well as FAST channels, including BET Tyler Perry Comedy, BET Tyler Perry Drama, BET Comedy Movies, BET Cinema, and BET Throwbacks.
Richard Bush (Adams and Reese)
Experienced music industry copyright attorney Richard Bush Bush, who is now a special counsel in the global intellectual property practice of the law firm Adams & Reese, is perhaps best known for his victory in the landmark 2015 trial in which Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams were found guilty of infringing the copyright of Marvin Gaye's song "Got to Give It Up" with their hit "Blurred Lines." Most recently, he represented the late Parliament-Funkadelic keyboardist Bernie Worrell in a royalty dispute with George Clinton and Salt-N-Pepa in their copyright termination lawsuit against Universal Music Group.
Bush joins Adam & Reese from King & Ballow, bringing intellectual property lawyers with him to the new firm. Drew Davis и David Niemiejczycki . Managing Partner of Adams & Reese, Gif Thornton , says, "These additions reflect the focused, strategic growth we are pursuing across the firm. The expansion of our global intellectual property practice reflects where the market is headed and how we intend to grow with our clients." Rachel Scharf
Karen Lieberman (Disney Music Group)
Karen Lieberman has been appointed Senior Vice President of Commerce and Digital at Disney Music Group (DMG). She will lead the company's global strategy for digital and physical commerce, digital marketing, and oversee DMG's synchronization and licensing team.
«"Karen's strategic vision and understanding of the changing music landscape have fueled the tremendous growth of Disney Music Group," said DMG President Ken Bunt in a statement. "As we continue to expand our business, Karen is uniquely positioned to help DMG navigate the next phase of innovation and global growth. Her ability to bridge music, technology, commerce, and fan engagement makes her one of the most forward-thinking leaders in our industry.".
Liberman previously served as vice president of sales and digital at DMG. Before joining the company, she was vice president of digital strategy at Kobalt Music and vice president of global marketing strategy at Sony Music Entertainment.
«"I'm incredibly excited about this next chapter in the history of Disney Music Group," Lieberman said in a statement. "I'm incredibly grateful to Ken for the opportunity to expand into new areas and continue to grow the music scene at Disney. From the industry's finest soundtracks to developing world-class artists and a vast, iconic catalog of music, I couldn't ask for a better place than DMG to help spread the magic of Disney music to listeners and fans everywhere.".
Disney is currently releasing soundtracks for films. «Toy Story 5» , «"The Mandalorian" and "Grogu"» , as well as to the feature film «Moana. Disney also produces soundtracks for television series, including «Descendants: Wicked Wonderland» и «Camp Rock 3» .
Merlin announces senior promotions.
Merlin has announced a number of senior promotions, including the appointment of Emma Robinson Vice President of Partnerships, Shannon Bradley Director of Commercial Partnerships, Alice Moss и Daniel Yandel Director of Partnership Operations, and Simon Marcel Partnership Operations Manager.
«Independent music continues to shape culture around the world, and Merlin plays a vital role in providing independent rights holders with the necessary infrastructure, access, and representation to compete at the highest level,» said Robinson. «I’m incredibly proud to take on this new role and will continue to work alongside our members, partners, and the entire Merlin team to help create meaningful and sustainable opportunities for the Merlin community worldwide.».
Charlie Lexton , CEO of Merlin, stated in his statement: «These promotions recognize the contributions of a leadership team that has been instrumental in strengthening Merlin’s partnerships and operational capabilities during a period of rapid change in the digital music landscape. Emma has already made an outstanding contribution to Merlin, and she, Shannon, Alice, Daniel, and Simon bring deep knowledge, strong industry connections, and a clear commitment to supporting Merlin members worldwide. As the digital ecosystem continues to evolve, from artificial intelligence and social platforms to new rights management challenges, investing in the people who help our members navigate this complexity remains a key priority for Merlin.».
BMI announces a number of promotions.
BMI has announced a number of promotions across its creative and corporate communications teams at its New York headquarters, including: John Ellwood appointed vice president of creative; Deirdre Chadwick — Assistant to the Vice President for Creative Affairs (Classical and Jazz Music); Jeff Gilligan — Assistant Vice President, Creative Director; and Jody Thomas — Assistant to the Vice President for Corporate and Media Relations.
Heran Mamo (Amazon Music)
Heran Mamo (Amazon Music)
Heran Mamo appointed curator of hip-hop music in the US in Amazon Music . In this role, she will help shape the streaming service's hip-hop programming, supporting both emerging and established artists in the genre.
Prior to joining Amazon Music, Mamo, an award-winning journalist, served as a senior writer covering R&B, hip-hop and Afrobeat at Billboard . In 2026, she was included in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list as the first author in its 130-year history. Billboard , whose article was devoted to African music.
Sara Yazdani launches YD Media
Publicist Sara Yazadani founded YD Media , a boutique PR agency specializing in public relations and communications for clients in the entertainment, music, and media industries. Its clients include creative agency and production studio MDRN Logic (PlayStation, Adobe); ETC, producers of the Fantastic Reality Festival; hip-hop collectible card game Five Mics; R&B singer and actor Tim Johnson Jr.; transmedia studio Iconic Arts; and the Canadian and Indigenous sketch group Red, White, and YOU.
Previously, Yazdani worked as a national PR specialist at Biz 3, where she handled current and touring PR for artists such as Terrace Martin and Jessie Reyes. Before that, at Creativ, she managed PR campaigns for projects featuring Eminem and Big Sean, collaborating with Emil Nava and the production company 1stAveMachine. She also worked at the Recording Academy, where she handled media relations for the Grammy Awards, and at Disney Music Group, where she coordinated promotional tours for artists such as Joywave and Sabrina Carpenter.
Julian Franzoni (Warner Chappell Music, Argentina and Uruguay)
Julian Franzoni (Warner Chappell Music, Argentina and Uruguay)
Julian Franzoni has been appointed General Manager of Warner Chappell Music (WCM) in Argentina and Uruguay. He will oversee regional operations and report to Gustavo Menendez , President of Warner Chappell Music for Latin America and the United States.
Franzoni joined the company in 2016, working his way up from consultant to director, and has been involved in promoting artists such as CA7RIEL and Paco Amorso, Nico Cotton, Dookie and Davus.
«"Julian has been a driving force for our artist roster and creative community since he first joined Warner Chappell," Menendez said in a statement. "He has proven himself to be a dynamic A&R executive with an exceptional ability to forge deep connections with songwriters, an innate sense of cultural trends, and a clear vision of where the market is headed. Having such a creative, visionary leader in our Argentina and Uruguay operations is invaluable, and I'm confident he will lead our team through this exciting new phase.".
Franzoni has been working in the music industry since the age of 19, beginning his career as a stage manager for Palito Ortego, Andrés Calamaro, and Federic Gil Sol. For 25 years, he managed Palito Ortego's private music publishing company, Clanort, before joining WCM.
«"I've been immersed in music my entire life, my career focused on artist development and management, and it's incredible to see how local musical trends are influencing global culture today," Franzoni said in a statement. "Along with our exceptional team, I'm excited to continue supporting the unrivaled talent we have in the Southern Cone. Together, we will amplify the voices of our songwriters around the world.".
Melanie Cameron (Sound Royalties)
Sound Royalties has hired Melanie Cameron to the position of Regional Business Development Director in the United Kingdom. She will be based in London and report to the Managing Partner. Michael Bizenov and Executive Vice President of Marketing Allison Portlock .
Cameron joins Sound Royalties from PPL, the UK-based copyright protection organisation for performers and recordings, where she served as Membership and Development Manager. In her new role, she will facilitate the implementation of Sound Royalties' funding model in the UK market.
«"Throughout my career, I've seen firsthand the financial challenges many content creators face and how the changing landscape demands more modern and flexible solutions," Cameron said in a statement. "Sound Royalties has built an impeccable reputation for supporting content creators, rights holders, and independent entertainment companies by providing them with funding that truly benefits them, and I'm proud to help expand this mission across the UK. After many years working in the music industry in related areas such as rights, rights management, and creator services, this feels like a natural next step.".
Bizenov added: «The UK is home to some of the most original and culturally significant creative talent in the world and is at the center of the global creative economy as a highly developed and commercially vibrant market for music, television, and digital content. Sound Royalties is proud to have supported British creators for many years, and Melanie’s appointment marks an important new chapter in our presence in the region. Her extensive industry experience gives her a deep understanding of rights management, royalty flows, and creators» financial needs, and her ability to build meaningful, trusted relationships makes her the ideal candidate to lead this next phase of our growth and establish Sound Royalties as a leading funding partner for British creators.”.
Katherine Palmer (Music Making Museum)
Katherine Palmer (Music Making Museum)
Katherine Palmer will take over as executive director of the Music Making Museum beginning in the summer of 2026, the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) announced. This announcement coincides with the departure Carolyn Grant , who has served as the museum's executive director since its founding in 2000.
Palmer is currently finishing up her tenure as Senior Director of Education and Community Engagement at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville.
«"Katherine brings to the Music Making Museum an exceptional combination of experience in museums, music education, and community engagement," the statement said. John Mlynchak , president and CEO of NAMM. "Her passion for connecting people through music, as well as her innovative approach to educational programming, make her uniquely suited to lead the museum into its next phase.".
Palmer added: "Music museums have a unique ability to connect generations, cultures, and communities through shared experiences. The Making Music Museum has built an incredible legacy of storytelling and audience engagement, and I am honored to join the NAMM family and help shape the museum's future, expanding its impact and reach to audiences around the world.".
John Loessi and Josh Schiffman (Provident Entertainment)
Provident Entertainment has raised John Loessi to Senior Marketing Director, and Josh Shiffman - to Senior Director of Artist and Repertoire Relations.
Loessie joined Provident Entertainment in 2022 as Chief Marketing Officer. His portfolio includes Brandon Lake, Matthew West, Lianne Crawford, Zach Williams, KB, Lizzie Morgan, Tenroc, Madison Watkins, Taylor Hill, Patrick Mayberry, and Molly Kate Kaestner.
«"John's promotion reflects the tremendous contribution he has made to Provident Entertainment," he said in a statement. Todd Stepp , Senior Vice President of Provident Entertainment. «I’ve been fortunate to witness firsthand how he supports our artists, strengthens key partnerships, and invests in the people around him. His leadership has helped advance emerging talent and expand opportunities for established artists, making a significant contribution to our continued growth. He leads with excellence, integrity, and a genuine desire to help others succeed. We are excited about the contributions he will continue to make in this new role.».
Shiffman joined the company five years ago via Essential Music Publishing.
«"Josh has made a tremendous impact since joining Provident five years ago," he said in a statement. Sam Featherstone , Vice President of A&R at Provident Entertainment. "He possesses a rare combination of creative flair, strategic thinking, and genuine concern for people. This promotion reflects both his already-impressive impact on our team and the strong leadership qualities he will bring to the next phase of our growth.".
Youssou N'Dour (CISAC)
The International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC) has announced the appointment of Youssou N'Doura Vice President. N'Dour won a Grammy Award for his album Egypt and collaborated with artists such as Peter Gabriel, Sting and Neneh Cherry.
«At a time when music creators are facing profound technological disruption and rapid changes in the way they create and distribute value, strong and globally respected voices like Youssou N’Dour are crucial,» CISAC CEO Andreas Klein said in a statement. Gadi Oron . "His artistic authority and long-standing commitment to culture will help strengthen our position in advocating for fair compensation, transparency, and robust copyright protection worldwide.".
Grace Watson (Black River Entertainment)
Grace Watson (Black River Entertainment)
Black River Entertainment (BRE) has promoted Grace Watson to Vice President, Commercial Partnerships and Digital. During her tenure at Black River, Watson has been instrumental in the success of projects such as Mount Pleasant и Patterns Kelsea Ballerini, as well as Chris Young's debut album on Black River Entertainment, titled I Didn't Come Here To Leave .
Watson was also named to Billboard's 2026 list of up-and-coming executives, ranking the most influential figures in country music. The Missouri native and Belmont University graduate joined Black River in 2023 and began her music industry career at Universal Music Group/Capitol CMG.
«"We hired Grace three years ago, and she has been a fantastic addition to the BRE team. She is an excellent leader with excellent relationships with our revenue partners, artist managers, and The Orchard. Grace has earned this promotion!" said Rick Froio, BRE's executive vice president, in a statement.
«I am grateful to Gordon and Rick for the opportunity to take on this role and continue to build effective relationships and drive sales initiatives for our artists and label in the commercial and digital space,» Watson added.
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