AI music company Suno has hired Sam Berger as senior director of artist partnerships, where he will report directly to chief music officer Paul Sinclair.

In the role, Berger will be tasked with developing partnerships with artists, managers and creative teams, “exploring how AI can thoughtfully support modern music creation,” according to a press release. He most recently worked at Patreon, where he led music strategy. Prior to that, he founded and led the music team at Moment House, where he worked on building out livestreams for artists including Justin Bieber, Tame Impala and Anderson .Paak — a job that led directly to his role at Patreon, which acquired Moment House in 2023. Earlier in his career, he served in a key role on Spotify’s global artist and label partnerships team and also worked in artist management.

“I’ve known Sam for more than 15 years and he is without a doubt one of the most respected artist and label partners in the industry,” said Sinclair in a statement. “We’re thrilled he is joining our growing team as we continue to invest in deepening our relationships with the music industry. Like most of our music team, Sam has spent his career shepherding artists through new technology and has earned a reputation for putting artists and their creative vision first, with a proven track record of bringing to life and scaling new experiences that deepen the relationship between artist and fan.”

Added Berger, “We’re at a critical point in time where the future of music is being actively shaped and establishing trust with our industry partners is more important than ever. Suno is a company that is building alongside artists with real intention, and empowering creatives with the best tools and technology available. I’m excited to be joining this team who have inspired me throughout my career.”

With his hire, Berger joins a team that also includes CJ Smith, who previously served in roles at Snap, 88rising and Encore, among others; Athena Yasaman, previously of Twitch and Spotify; Leanna Bremond, a former music supervisor at Peloton; Kenneth Herman, formerly of Splice; Elena Louvis, who previously served as an A&R at companies including Atlantic Records; and Brianny Aybar, a former A&R at Motown, Capitol and Sony Music.

Berger arrives at Suno just two months after the company signed a licensing deal with Warner Music Group (WMG), effectively settling WMG’s part of the $500 million copyright infringement lawsuit filed against Suno by the three major labels (Universal Music Group and Sony Music’s part of the lawsuit is ongoing). Under that agreement, WMG artists and songwriters will be able to “opt-in” to having their names, images, likenesses, voices and compositions used in AI-generated music. Along with that news, Suno announced that it would make changes to the platform in 2026, including launching new and improved licensed music-making models.

A$AP Rocky will receive the Vanguard Award for Fashion at the 57th NAACP Image Awards Fashion Show on Friday, Feb. 27, the day before the 57th NAACP Image Awards’ telecast. Previous Vanguard Award honorees include ESSENCE magazine, June Ambrose, Bethann Hardison and Ruth E. Carter.

The award to Rocky is fitting: His song “Fashion Killa” was the fourth single from his 2013 debut studio album Long. Live. ASAP. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

“This year’s Vanguard Award honoree, A$AP Rocky, embodies the power and evolution of Black artistry,” Karen Boykin-Towns, vice chair, NAACP national board of directors said in a statement. “As a creative force who consistently pushes culture forward, he has redefined the intersection of music and fashion, shaping global trends and inspiring new generations.”

“A$AP Rocky represents the fearless evolution of Black creativity,” said Connie Orlando, evp of specials, music programming & music strategy at BET. “His influence extends far beyond fashion. He has reshaped how culture, music, art, and personal expression intersect on a global stage.”

Rocky is nominated for three NAACP Image Awards this year for his performance in Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest – outstanding supporting actor in a motion picture, outstanding breakthrough performance in a motion picture and outstanding ensemble cast in a motion picture. He is nominated in the latter category alongside costars Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wright and Ilfenesh Hadera. Rocky also demonstrated his acting prowess in If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, directed by Mary Bronstein.

On Jan. 16, Rocky released his fourth studio album DON’T BE DUMB, which enters the Billboard 200 this week at No. 1. Rocky’s first studio album in eight years features cover art by filmmaker and illustrator Tim Burton and collaborations with BossMan Dlow, Brent Faiyaz, Danny Elfman, Doechii, Gorillaz, Jessica Pratt, Jon Batiste, Slay Squad, Thundercat, Tyler, The Creator, Westside Gunn and will.i.am.

Rocky co-chaired the 2025 Met Gala with the theme of “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” showing off a full wardrobe of his own brand AWGE. Later in the year, he received the 2025 CFDA Fashion Icon Award. He is currently the creative director of both Ray-Ban and PUMA and has been a part of high-profile commercial campaigns for such clients as Bottega Veneta, Calvin Klein, Chanel, Gucci, Courvoisier, Mercedes Benz, Guess and Fenty Skin. He was also the first Black male face of Dior Homme.

Rocky’s partner since 2021 is style icon Rihanna. The two superstars have three children together, two boys and a girl.

By visiting the NAACP Image Awards site, the public can vote to determine the winners of the 57th NAACP Image Awards in select categories. Voting closes on Feb. 13 at 12:00 p.m. ET. Winners will be revealed during the 57th NAACP Image Awards’ telecast on Saturday, Feb. 28. The show will air live from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on BET and simulcast on CBS. NAACP will also recognize winners in non–televised categories at the 57th NAACP Image Awards Creative Honors on Thursday, Feb. 26 and virtually on YouTube/NAACPPlus from Monday Feb. 23 to Wednesday, Feb. 25.

Pusha T kept it simple and direct with his two-word message, taking aim at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement while walking the red carpet at Billboard Power 100 in Los Angeles on Wednesday night (Jan. 28).

“Jan. 28, 2026, f—k ICE,” Push said. “Gotta keep it 100. Got to.”

Push is far from the only artist to condemn ICE’s actions recently. Tyler, The Creator slammed ICE with a post earlier this week on his Instagram Story, which featured a Paid in Full scene that repeatedly states, “f—k ICE.” He added a jab at Donald Trump to his caption as well. “Again. And anyone who voted for that man,” Tyler wrote.

Olivia Rodrigo recently spoke out against ICE as well. “ICE’s actions are unconscionable, but we are not powerless. Our actions matter. I stand with Minnesota,” she wrote on social media.

Pusha’s anti-ICE statement comes on the heels of the shootings of U.S. citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti at the hands of ICE agents in Minneapolis earlier in January.

Pretti, 37, was fatally shot by a federal agent during a Minneapolis protest on Jan. 24. The ICU nurse appeared to be protecting a woman from an agent, and was wrestled to the pavement before being shot, which has only intensified protests against ICE across the United States.

The Trump administration claimed that the officer who killed Pretti acted in self-defense, alleging that he was a threat since he had a handgun on him; his family has said that the ICU nurse had a permit to carry the firearm in the state. However, witness videos show that Pretti did not appear to be holding a gun during the confrontation.

Pusha T also presented By the Way’s Alex DePersia with the Breakthrough Executive award at Billboard Power 100. “Alex has always been tapped in. Now, it’s a full-circle moment for my brother and I to be working alongside Alex and the team in the next phase of our careers,” the Virginia rapper said.

Other honorees include UMPG’s Jody Gerson for Executive of the Decade, as well as Sharon Osbourne for the Clive Davis Visionary award and PlaqueBoyMax, who won the Disruptor award.

It could be a weekend for the record books for the Clipse, as Pusha T and Malice are up for five Grammy nominations on Sunday (Feb. 1) behind their critically acclaimed comeback album Let God Sort Em Out.

Watch Pusha-T’s statement on the red carpet at the Billboard Power 100, as well as his speech on stage below: