DaBaby’s mental health initiative, DaBaby Cares, partnered with Mental Health America of Central Carolinas (MHACC) on Thursday (Oct. 10) to host the first-ever youth town hall at West Charlotte High School.

The year-long partnership will provide a “safe space for young people worldwide, building a supportive community that brings together mental health leaders, young people, and their families to provide real-time support for overcoming mental health challenges.”

In 2020, DaBaby’s brother, Glenn Johnson, committed suicide, leaving three daughters. For Baby, his mission statement is clear: to provide awareness for those in need and an outlet to funnel those mental health woes and frustrations.

“I believe that if more of the correct resources were in place to support mental health awareness and self-love, the world would see far less of these tragedies,” Baby’s mission statement reads. “In honor of my brother’s untimely passing, I have become devoted to utilizing my platform and resources to provide the tools needed to combat mental health issues. Breaking the long going cycle of mental illness in minority communities & normalizing the conversation around mental health. Join me in my journey to save lives one step at a time while preventing families around the world from enduring the tragic pain of losing a loved one.”

During the town hall, they raised awareness about mental health issues among the students. The students there also received their own Youth Mental Health 101 Resource Guide,” co-authored by DaBaby, which helps cop with mental health woes and provides self-care mechanisms. Then, DaBaby held a fireside chat and spoke about overcoming his trauma and rehabilitation.

To access the DaBaby Mental Health Tool Kit, you can go here.

New Music Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs and albums recommended by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors. Check out this week’s picks below.

Xavi, Next (Interscope Records)

Unlike the typical landscape of Latin music in 2024, Xavi’s debut album, Next, distinguishes itself through his singular vocal prowess and a selective ensemble of guest features that include Tony Aguirre, Los Dareyes de la Sierra, and his brother and co-songwriter, Fabio Capri. With 15 tracks that blend fresh revelations and familiar hits, this album sees the Phoenix, Arizona, native expanding his creative wanderlust and widespread appeal.

Next captivates with songwriting that paints scenes of young love caught in the throes of rebellious fervor and wholesome charm. His vocal delivery, both haunting and resolute, is supported by an eclectic mix of traditional instruments like the requinto and tololoche, enriched further by occasional brass accents. New song “La Luna X Mi” surprises and delights, offering the lustrous tones of a 12-string guitar. “Filosofía” boasts lush melodies and playful reflections on love. Meanwhile, ongoing hits like “Corazón de Piedra,” “La Diabla” and “La Víctima” invigorate the overall momentum, intertwining with the newer tracks to create a robust musical narrative.

A particularly compelling collaboration is “Tu Casi Algo,” where Xavi and Fabio Capri exchange verses on the blossoming nuances of romance. With Next, the 20-year-old artist not only continues to cement his status as a breakthrough artist but also challenges the conventions of Latin music, presenting a debut that will surely resonate widely and affect deeply. — ISABELA RAYGOZA

Becky G, Encuentros (Kemosabe Records/RCA Records)

Becky G continues to trace her Mexican roots in Encuentros, a gorgeous 16-track set powered by prickly requintos, wailing trombones and equally emotional lyrics that touch on the sadness and grief that come with heartbreak and, ultimately, joy from a healed heart. The 27-year-old Mexican American artist sings with pathos, the way música mexicana greats often do, as she brings to life stories through songs with the help of friends like Tito Double P, Oscar Maydon, Oscar Ortiz and Delilah — who all represent a new generation of regional Mexican hitmakers. Encuentros follows, and is a continuation, of Becky’s ultra-personal Esquinas, which she released last year.

“This album is deeply personal and raw, documenting a healing process that’s far from linear,” Becky said in a statement about Encuentros. “I’ve found peace within myself and embraced every part of who I am. I am grateful to música mexicana for allowing me to express the rawest version of myself.” The new album comes on the heels of her new tour, Casa Gómez: Otro Capítulo, set to kick off today (Oct. 11). — GRISELDA FLORES

Pedro Capó, LiL CaKe & DeMasters, “Si Alguien Me Ve” (ReLo-Co. Music/Globalatino Music Partners)

In a first collaborative effort, Pedro Capó and LiL CaKe deliver “Si Alguien Me Ve” (If Anyone Sees Me). Helmed by Venezuelan producers DeMasters, the bonafide team up kicks off with the pensive Argentine newcomer LiL CaKe backed by a melancholic ballad: “I know I messed up many times […] you deserve someone better than me, who doesn’t make you cry, who doesn’t make you suffer,” he chants. The track smoothly transitions into a rhythmic cumbia villera, where Capó continues with a just as nostalgic chorus: “If anyone sees me in the streets/ I’m looking for you/ I think you moved,” further emphasizing in the lyrics that no one compares to his ex. — JESSICA ROIZ

Jerri Di, “Asilo” (Universal Music Latino)

Venezuelan musician Jerri D releases an ode to Venezuela with “Asilo,” a song that marks the end of a conceptual project titled ASILO COLLECTIONS: VOL V – Aceptación. “Dedicated to the 8 million Venezuelans abroad. And to the 24 million within,” the singer said in a press release, “Asilo” is a love letter that evokes his longing from exile. “How much I miss you/ I want the old days to come back/ This love has me on strike,” Jerry sings urgently over shimmering synths and a haunting bass line. “Asilo” arrives with an emotional music video directed by Reinaldo Díaz and produced by Juan Diasparra, which features striking images of Venezuela and its people captured throughout the country over 33 days. “We wanted to show our land to those who have not known it,” a message reads at the beginning of the clip. “What we found was the reason why millions of us have never lost faith in Venezuela.” — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS

Listen to more editors’ Latin recommendations in the playlist below:

Time to drop the needle on the latest Executive Turntable, Billboard’s comprehensive(ish) compendium of promotions, hirings, exits and firings — and all things in between — across music.

Read on for mostly good news and also check out Billboard‘s annual list of music’s highest compensated executives, plus our weekly interview series spotlighting a single executive, our helpful calendar of notable events, and have you ever wanted to look at tchotchkes inside the office of an executive while reading their in-depth answers to the most important questions facing the biz? From the Desk Of is probably your jam.

Sphere Entertainment announced the departure of David Byrnes, the company’s executive vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer. Byrnes will remain in his role during a transition period while the company searches for a new CFO. The NYC-based media executive has been Sphere’s finance lead since January of this year and held that same position at MSG Entertainment before that. During his tenure at Sphere and MSG, he has played a key role in major transactions including the spin-off of MSG Entertainment, the sale of a majority interest in Tao Group Hospitality, and two stock offerings. Byrnes joined MSG following a nearly 14-year run in senior roles at CBS (and later ViacomCBS), rising to executive vp of corporate finance and then exiting prior to the company’s name change to Paramount Global in early 2022. Byrnes has not announced his next move.

Sphere Entertainment, which opened its spectacle-invoking Las Vegas venue in September 2023 with U2’s residency, has since hosted live-wired artists including Phish, Dead & Company and current residents Eagles (they play tonight and tomorrow), and multimedia shows like Darren Aronofsky’s Postcard from Earth. During its fiscal year ending June 30, Sphere reported $273.4 million in revenue and full-year revenue of $1.03 billion, nearly double the prior year’s $573.8 million.

Meanwhile…

BMG appointed Melanie McAllister as its global chief human resources officer (CHRO), effective Nov. 1. Reporting to CEO Thomas Coesfeld, she will join the executive board and oversee key HR functions across 20 offices, including hiring, performance, development, DE&I and aligning HR strategies with overarching business goals. McAllister brings extensive experience from her previous roles as Chief People Officer at EasyPark Group and Megaport, and nearly a decade as Chief HR Officer at Arvato. She has also held senior HR positions at Oracle and other global tech firms and holds a Master’s in Strategic HR from Liverpool JM University and serves on the board of ENABLE Trust. Coesfeld expressed enthusiasm for McAllister’s role in shaping BMG’s future, adding “Her expertise, vision, and proven track record of combining innovative thinking with people excellence will have a transformative impact on our company.”

Johnny Pinchard was promoted to head of A&R at Believe UK, advancing from his role as senior A&R Manager. Reporting to Malena Wolfer and Panos Polymatidis, he’ll continue working from the London office. Since joining Believe from RCA Records in 2021, Pinchard has signed notable artists like Sea Girls, who reached No. 4 on the UK Albums Chart, and rapper Blanco, who has earned over 140 million streams in less than a year. He also signed Grammy-nominated electronic artist HAYLA, who won Vocalist of the Year at the 2024 EDMA’s. Pinchard is committed to developing new talent, including Sainte, Leon Vynehall, Grace Davies, and Sevdaliza. Believe UK Managing Director Alex Kennedy praised Pinchard as being “absolutely vital in identifying, signing and developing a wide range of artists that have formed the cornerstone of our success and that fit the Believe ethos perfectly.”

Raedio appointed Jessica Vaughn as vp of creative synch sales, a new role at the audio company. Vaughn will lead efforts to expand Raedio’s music library and sync services, aiming to deliver “Audio Everywhere.” Her responsibilities also include developing growth strategies for Raedio’s one-stop music library and collaborating with industry partners to secure music placements across film, television, advertising and gaming. Outside of her day job, Vaughn is a veteran singer-songwriter who gained attention in the late aughts as Charlotte Sometimes, releasing her debut album on Geffen and appearing on the sophomore season of The Voice. She now performs and records under the name LACES. In 2023, Vaughn penned a guest column for Billboard advocating for more creatives joining executive ranks across the industry.

Canvas Music onboarded former Spotify UK & Ireland managing director Tom Connaughton as partner and senior advisor of the independent boutique distributor. Connaughton joins to support Canvas Music’s mission of offering artist-centered, indie label-like distribution services. Canvas was launched in 2020 by Richard Lyne, who said the company’s goal is to “provide a great service with a great product but with more focus and less volume.” Connaughton expressed excitement about joining and highlighted the potential of Canvas to bride the gap between artists, tech and audiences in a “fair, artist-centered way.” Connaughton hit the exits at Spotify in late 2023 after five years in leadership roles at the streaming giant. Prior to Spotify, he served in various roles at Vevo.

Ineffable Records appointed Sage Ressler as head of synch, effective immediately. Ressler previously worked at Spirit Music Group, where she negotiated licensing deals and secured placements across a plethora of media formats. At Ineffable, she will work with marquee artists across the reggae, indie and Caribbean music spaces, including Sean Paul, Sublime, Govana, Protoje and Bob Marley: One Love star Hector “Roots” Lewis. Ressler will lead the label’s first formal synchronization department, which will focus on securing high-profile placements for the label’s catalog across film, TV, advertising, gaming and more. “The opportunity to help shape and lead the synch department feels like a natural next step for both myself and the company,” said Ressler. “Synch has become a uniquely powerful tool for storytelling, and it’s opening doors for artists in ways we’ve never seen before.” –Kyle Denis

NASHVILLE NOTES: Opry Entertainment Group promoted Jordan Pettit to vp of artist relations and Jenn Tressler to director of artist and industry relations. Pettit, who joined OEG in 2018 and has been instrumental in initiatives like Opry NextStage, will now lead OEG’s artist relations team, developing programs to strengthen artist and fan connections. Tressler has built strong industry relationships since joining OEG in 2020 and will continue to focus on creative artist engagement strategies, especially for the Grand Ole Opry … Rachel Derosia has been promoted to senior vp of comedy at Outback Presents. She’ll work with co-CEO Brian Dorfman and co-svp Joel Bachkoff to expand the division. The Rochester, NY native started her professional career in music, working at Sony Music before shifting to comedy at Zanies Comedy Club, later joining Outback Presents as a coordinator. She has managed and produced numerous tours, helping comedians transition from club to theater-level performances … Chandler Thurston joined Position Music’s A&R team as the first hire for their new Nashville office. Previously, he was senior creative director at Anthem Entertainment, managing talents like Jamie Paulin and Meghan Patrick, and overseeing hits such as Florida Georgia Line’s “Talk You Out of It.” Before Anthem, Thurston worked at Major Bob Music, where he helped sign and develop writers like Alysa Vanderheym. He’ll be based at Position Music’s Nashville office, set to open in Q3 of 2025.

Jaime Kelsall joined Paladin Artists, effective immediately, reuniting with former colleagues from APA and The Agency Group. Based in Los Angeles, Kelsall brings over 20 years of experience, having represented clients like Dionne Warwick, Fitz and the Tantrums, ZZ Ward, and Michelle Branch. She began her career as an intern at the House of Blues in New Orleans, later working at Absolute Artists Agency in San Francisco, where she met Paladin partner Bruce Solar. Kelsall then joined The Agency Group in Los Angeles before spending over 20 years at APA. “We are all thrilled have the talented Jaime Kelsall join our team at Paladin,” said Solar. “We are excited to have her continue her journey with us that started so long ago and bringing her expertise and professionalism to our company.”

ALL IN THE FAMILY: Fairchild Media Group, a division of Billboard parent Penske Media Corporation, promoted Jim Fallon to chief content officer for WWD and FMG. Fallon, with 45 years of industry experience, will oversee editorial and content creation for FMG’s brands, including WWD, Beauty Inc, Sourcing Journal, and Footwear News. Reporting to CEO Amanda Smith, Fallon will focus on enhancing brand positioning, expanding audiences, fostering collaboration, and developing new editorial products. Fallon previously served as editorial director of Fairchild Fashion Media and held leadership roles at Fairchild Publications, including editor of WWD.

ICYMI:

Warner Music said Eric Wong will shift from chief marketing officer to the role of global head of A&R, recorded music. He’ll also assume the presidency of East West Records. As part of that transition, WMG’s evp of global marketing Jessica Keeley-Carter has been promoted to chief marketing officer, recorded music … Chris Moncada is promoted to COO at MNRK Music Group … and former C3 Presents promoter Sophie Lobl was named vp of Rolling Stone Live. [KEEP READING]

Last Week’s Turntable: Sweet Relief Makes It Official With Executive Director

From her five Billboard 200 No. 1 albums to her new Tony-winning Hell’s Kitchen musical, Alicia Keys is a true “Superwoman.” Now, “Girl on Fire” is looking to add to those superpowers with a new documentary titled Uncharted. The feature-length film is slated to premiere on Paramount+ on Oct. 22.

Uncharted promises an unflinching look at the lack of access and opportunity the music business grants young Black and brown women. Featuring several bright young songwriters — including rising Chicago R&B star Jean Deaux — Uncharted examines the young women’s respective journeys as they strive to break through the industry with the next big hit.

“Everything done in this film was done by women in every capacity,” Keys tells Billboard. “You get a true sense of the journey of these artists and the songwriting process which is so special.”

Executive produced by Keys and directed by Emmy and Peabody Award winner Beth Aala, Uncharted takes fans behind the scenes of Keys’ She Is The Music songwriting camp. Launched in 2018, She Is The Music is an initiative founded by Keys, Grammy-winning engineer Ann Mincieli, Universal Music Publishing Group chairman and CEO Jody Gerson, and UTA partner and global head of music Sam Kirby Yoh. The campaign seeks to increase the number of women working in the global music industry, from songwriters to lighting directors.

Uncharted had its world premiere at the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival. Additional executive producers include Minicieli, Gerson, Kirby Yoh, Katie Couric, Dr. Stacy Smith, Brenda Robinson, Abby Rodriguez, Regina K. Scully, Geralyn White Dreyfous, and Abby Greensfelder’s Everywoman Studios for MTV Entertainment Studios.

Globally, Uncharted will exclusively premiere on Paramount+ in the U.K., Germany, Switzerland, and Austria on Oct. 23. The documentary will also exclusively premiere on the service in Japan on Nov. 15.

In addition to her five Billboard 200 chart-toppers, Alicia Keys has also earned four Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hits, including 2001’s “Fallin’” (six weeks), 2007’s “No One” (five weeks), and 2009’s “Empire State of Mind” (with Jay-Z, five weeks). Her most recent non-holiday studio album, 2021’s Keys, reached No. 41 on the Billboard 200, spawning the Adult R&B Songs top 10 hit, “Best of Me” (No. 8). Recently, Keys was named an Honorable Mention in Billboard’s ranking of the 25 Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st Century.

Click here to view the official Uncharted trailer.