WME publicizes main organizational restructuring for the corporate’s music division.
WME has outlined in a company-wide memo a brand new organizational construction for the corporate’s music division. The memo particulars strategic adjustments for the company targeted round A&R, bookings, and crossover alternatives. World head of up to date music, Lucy Dickins, and world co-head of up to date music, Kirk Sommer, elaborated on their plans launched over the summer season to construct upon the 45,000 concert events the crew ebook this yr.
Adjustments to A&R embrace “new artist discovery (being) coordinated throughout all genres and areas,” reads the memo. “Given the globalization of our enterprise and the velocity at which new artists break in the present day, we imagine this can be a important piece to figuring out new expertise.” Kevin Shivers will head these endeavors, working with regional and style leads.
Concerning reserving, WME will proceed to construct upon its “a number of regional servicing teams, together with an Asia-Pacific presence, Latin-American crew, and a sturdy European operation,” stated Dickins and Sommer. Ron Opaleski will lead world bookings and worldwide touring technique throughout North America, whereas Tony Goldring will head related efforts for worldwide purchasers. Josh Kurfirst will lead the efforts on behalf of festivals, Clint Mitchell for non-traditional tour, and Ryan Jones for the corporate’s personal and company occasions.
Sommer and Dickins detailed that adjustments to the corporate’s crossover division will likely be “our #1 differentiator.” Keith Sarkisian will step in to supervise the coordination of non-touring companies for the company’s roster, working with divisions throughout WME. That features working with WME associate/head of latest music technique, Dvora Englefield, who “will proceed to determine new enterprise alternatives and strategic partnerships on behalf of artists.”
The corporate may even see the appointment of its first regional workplace leads, managed by Brian Ahern. The leads for WME’s worldwide workplaces are Kevin Shivers in Beverly Hills, Michael Coughlin in Nashville, Stephanie LaFera in New York, Josh Javor in London, and Brett Murrihy in Sydney.
“These new roles and areas of duty replicate the evolution of our enterprise in the present day — we’re a very world operation, we have now unparalleled scale, and we have now extra alternatives to offer our artists than ever earlier than,” stated the memo. “With this new construction highlighting key areas of duty and the management behind it, we’ll now be even higher outfitted to offer best-in-class companies to our music purchasers and companions.”
The memo introduced the promotion of seven brokers to associate at WME, in addition to 16 staff to agent: Kyle Bandler, Mark Claassen, Andrew Colvin, Beth Hamilton, Sloane Logue, Austin Mullins, Travis Wolfe, Sam Dolen, Janelle Flint, Jacob Fox, Josh Inexperienced, Lindsey Hastings, Carly Huffman, Dan Kuklinski, Sean McHugh, Meera Patel, Adam Sherif, John Showfety, Jeremy Upton, Carlile Willett, Laura Williams, Cecilia Yao, and Ben Yekuel.