For 38 years, the annual Footwear News Achievement Awards (FNAA), known as the “Shoe Oscars,” have celebrated style icons, compelling brand stories, dedicated philanthropists, rising talents, and seasoned industry leaders.

On Dec. 4, 2024, in New York City, the star-studded red carpet and gala honored Kenneth Cole with the Lifetime Achievement Award, Adidas CEO Bjørn Gulden as Person of the Year, and New Balance as Company of the Year, among others.

The evening was filled with joy, appreciation and a touch of drama. Adidas CEO Bjørn Gulden stirred the crowd with a light jab at Nike while accepting the 2024 FN Achievement Award for Person of the Year.

“As I said last year when Nike was here — they’re not here this year, which is funny. It was a joke, it was a joke,” he quipped during his speech.

As the night unfolded, memorable moments like this continued to make the 2024 FNAA an event to remember. Here are the five best moments from the evening.

Rihanna’s Surprise Appearance

Rihanna attended the 2024 FNAA to support her partner, A$AP Rocky, who was honored alongside Puma as Collaborator of the Year. She graced the red carpet in a white dress paired with matching white gladiator sandals, turning heads with her effortless style.

It’s inspiring to see the couple continuously pushing each other to be the best versions of themselves. Rihanna, who previously won Shoe of the Year with Puma in 2016 for her Puma Fenty Creeper, has now passed the torch to Rocky, who is following in her stylish footsteps.

As one of entertainment’s favorite couples, Rocky and Rihanna were photographed together on the carpet, chatting about their children, their relationship, and the seamless connection between music and fashion.

Throughout the evening, Rihanna was a constant presence, cheering Rocky on from the background and allowing him to bask in his moment. She was the ultimate supportive cheerleader, ensuring he received his well-deserved flowers.

Law Roach Presents On With Brand of the Year Award

Law Roach was given the opportunity to present Trailblazing Brand On with the Brand of the Year award, bringing his signature humor to the stage. “Why is the glamorous Law Roach here — someone who has never run a marathon and doesn’t plan to — presenting an award to a sportswear brand?” he mused, drawing laughter from the crowd.

Before Roach took the stage, a promotional video played, showcasing the Swiss brand and its partnership with multi-hyphenate Zendaya, alongside other athletes wearing and running in On sneakers.

Zendaya, a Billboard Hot 100 artist, led Roach to the brand, sharing, “Zendaya, my muse, who is now their brand partner, as they have been creating inspiring campaigns that bring together community, movement and storytelling.”

Roach’s collaboration with Zendaya began in 2011, and he is now celebrated as the architect of her red carpet style. Their close connection adds to the authenticity of his role in presenting On with the prestigious award.

On, known for its innovative designs and high-performance footwear, has gained widespread appeal both in the athletic community and among fashion-forward individuals. Its ability to seamlessly blend function with style has made it a standout brand, especially in a footwear space traditionally dominated by older, more established companies.

Angel Reese Gets Honest

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One of the best moments of the night came when Chicago Sky forward and WNBA All-Star Angel Reese took the stage to accept the award for Style Influencer of the Year. While Reese is often seen at her very best, that night, she decided to be vulnerable with the room full of style stars, footwear icons, and industry veterans.

“I’m 22 years old, I’m still figuring life out, but this is just the beginning,” she shared. She went on to explain that her first-ever signature sneaker with Reebok would be coming in 2026.

Reese took a moment to thank her family and team for their unwavering support, as well as her fan army, the “Reese’s Pieces,” and Reebok for helping bring her dreams to life.

“I want to give a huge shoutout to Reebok for just believing in me and bringing my visions to life. Everything I ever wanted with them — and I am continuing with them — my dreams have already come true. They’ve given me the platform to be myself, unapologetically myself, and I really love that.”

Snoop Dogg Surprises Martha Stewart with Icon Award Presentation

Martha Stewart was honored with the Icon Award, but little did the room know, it would lead to the surprise of two icons in one moment. To everyone’s surprise, a video began playing, and it was none other than Snoop Dogg himself introducing his good buddy Martha Stewart as the recipient of the 2024 Icon Award.

“My friend Martha Stewart is the ultimate boss,” Snoop began, sitting comfortably in his The Voice chair. “She’s an amazing footwear ambassador for the brand, expanding it for women along with her empire.” He continued, “Now it’s my honor to present my friend, the one and only, the diva, Martha Stewart with the Footwear News Icon Award.”

Martha took the stage and shared a story about asking Siri what an icon was. Siri responded, “A small on-screen picture that represents an app, a file, or a folder, on a computer or other device,” she read aloud. Martha jokingly expressed confusion about the kind of award she was receiving, bringing laughter to the crowd. Her speech was wholesome and funny, and the audience loved every moment of it.

A$AP Rocky Accepting Collaboration of the Year

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A$AP Rocky is truly one of a kind. Only he could “talk a lot of s—t” while still giving everyone who deserves it their flowers.

“Yo, this is nuts,” he began. “Initially, I just wanted to come up here and talk a lot of s—t about how lit, how handsome I am, how we’re the best, but honestly, I’m very humbled by this whole experience. I would rather just speak from the heart and be genuine.”

We knew it was going to be a great night when Emory Jones, Head of Lifestyle at Roc Nation and co-founder of the Paper Planes apparel brand, introduced him.

Pretty Flacko’s speech was heartfelt, and he described the honor as “one of the best accomplishments ever.” He then shouted out his lady, Rihanna, who was also honored by FN in 2016. “I was inspired, I saw my lady receive this thing almost a decade ago.” This was definitely a full-circle moment for the couple.

A federal appeals court panel on Friday upheld a law that could lead to a ban on TikTok in a few short months, handing a resounding defeat to the popular social media platform as it fights for its survival in the U.S.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that the law, which requires TikTok to break ties with its China-based parent company ByteDance or be banned by mid-January, is constitutional, rebuffing TikTok’s challenge that the statute ran afoul of the First Amendment and unfairly targeted the platform.

“The First Amendment exists to protect free speech in the United States,” said the court’s opinion. “Here the Government acted solely to protect that freedom from a foreign adversary nation and to limit that adversary’s ability to gather data on people in the United States.”

TikTok and ByteDance — another plaintiff in the lawsuit — are expected to appeal to the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump, who tried to ban TikTok during his first term and whose Justice Department would have to enforce the law, said during the presidential campaign that he is now against a TikTok ban and would work to “save” the social media platform.

The law, signed by President Joe Biden in April, culminated a years-long saga in Washington over the short-form video-sharing app, which the government sees as a national security threat due to its connections to China.

The U.S. has said it’s concerned about TikTok collecting vast swaths of user data, including sensitive information on viewing habits, that could fall into the hands of the Chinese government through coercion. Officials have also warned the proprietary algorithm that fuels what users see on the app is vulnerable to manipulation by Chinese authorities, who can use it to shape content on the platform in a way that’s difficult to detect.

However, a significant portion of the government’s information in the case has been redacted and hidden from the public as well as the two companies.

TikTok, which sued the government over the law in May, has long denied it could be used by Beijing to spy on or manipulate Americans. Its attorneys have accurately pointed out that the U.S. hasn’t provided evidence to show that the company handed over user data to the Chinese government, or manipulated content for Beijing’s benefit in the U.S. They have also argued the law is predicated on future risks, which the Department of Justice has emphasized pointing in part to unspecified action it claims the two companies have taken in the past due to demands from the Chinese government.

Friday’s ruling came after the appeals court panel heard oral arguments in September.

Some legal experts said at the time that it was challenging to read the tea leaves on how the judges would rule.

In a court hearing that lasted more than two hours, the panel – composed of two Republican and one Democrat appointed judges – appeared to grapple with how TikTok’s foreign ownership affects its rights under the Constitution and how far the government could go to curtail potential influence from abroad on a foreign-owned platform.

The judges pressed Daniel Tenny, a Department of Justice attorney, on the implications the case could have on the First Amendment. But they also expressed some skepticism at TikTok’s arguments, challenging the company’s attorney – Andrew Pincus – on whether any First Amendment rights preclude the government from curtailing a powerful company subject to the laws and influence of a foreign adversary.

In parts of their questions about TikTok’s ownership, the judges cited wartime precedent that allows the U.S. to restrict foreign ownership of broadcast licenses and asked if the arguments presented by TikTok would apply if the U.S. was engaged in war.

To assuage concerns about the company’s owners, TikTok says it has invested more than $2 billion to bolster protections around U.S. user data.

The company also argues the government’s broader concerns could have been resolved in a draft agreement it provided the Biden administration more than two years ago during talks between the two sides. It has blamed the government for walking away from further negotiations on the agreement, which the Justice Department argues is insufficient.

Attorneys for the two companies have claimed it’s impossible to divest the platform commercially and technologically. They also say any sale of TikTok without the coveted algorithm – the platform’s secret sauce that Chinese authorities would likely block under any divesture plan – would turn the U.S. version of TikTok into an island disconnected from other global content.

Still, some investors, including Trump’s former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and billionaire Frank McCourt, have expressed interest in purchasing the platform. Both men said earlier this year that they were launching a consortium to purchase TikTok’s U.S. business.

This week, a spokesperson for McCourt’s Project Liberty initiative, which aims to protect online privacy, said unnamed participants in their bid have made informal commitments of more than $20 billion in capital.

TikTok’s lawsuit was consolidated with a second legal challenge brought by several content creators — for which the company is covering legal costs — as well as a third one filed on behalf of conservative creators who work with a nonprofit called BASED Politics Inc.

If TikTok appeals and the courts continue to uphold the law, it would fall on Trump’s Justice Department to enforce it and punish any potential violations with fines. The penalties would apply to app stores that would be prohibited from offering TikTok, and internet hosting services that would be barred from supporting it.

Billboard’s Friday Music Guide serves as a handy guide to this Friday’s most essential releases — the key music that everyone will be talking about today, and that will be dominating playlists this weekend and beyond. 

This week, ROSÉ tells her full story, Bad Bunny hints at a major new era and TWICE keep rolling out major moments. Check out all of this week’s picks below:

ROSÉ, rosie 

The debut solo album from BLACKPINK star ROSÉ may be arriving shortly after her first top 10 hit, the Bruno Mars-assisted smash “APT.,” yet rosie doesn’t sound like a hastily constructed attempt to continue momentum — the 12-song collection is a thoughtfully considered portrait of relationship complications and personal complexities, impressively splitting the difference between intimacy and arena-ready pop.

Bad Bunny, “EL CLúB” 

While 2024 was ostensibly an off-year for Bad Bunny after a whirlwind multi-year run, the Puerto Rican superstar is seemingly gearing up for a major 2025: on “EL CLúB,” his second solo single of the year, he blends propulsive dance music with atmospheric contemplation, the beat hanging in air and never reappearing (although the song’s music video suggests that it will pick back up with a new Bad Bunny project soon enough).

TWICE, Strategy 

Placing an exclamation point on another highly successful year, K-pop superstars TWICE toss out another crackling Megan Thee Stallion collaboration (“Strategy”), a surefire English-language standout (“Kiss My Troubles Away”) and a holiday confection (“Magical”) on their latest mini-album, which runs for 20 minutes but covers a good amount of new ground for the collective.

Quavo, Teddy Swims & Luke Bryan, “Georgia Ways” 

Quavo, Teddy Swims and Luke Bryan have all followed wildly different professional paths since emerging from the Peach State, but the new collaboration “Georgia Ways” serves as common ground for the three, who bond over college football, Waffle House and late-‘90s Chipper Jones; Teddy Swims is the newest star of the three here, and punctuates the single with some soulful, swaggering crooning.

V x Bing Crosby, “White Christmas” 

The sound of BTS member V joining Bing Crosby on this revamped version of the holiday classic “White Christmas” nods to the evolution of popular music as a more global, less time-constrained medium: with the blessing of the Crosby estate, V has made his own mark on a timeless recording, honoring its spirit while bringing “White Christmas” to a new generation.

Editor’s Pick: Khalid & Normani, “Personal” 

When Khalid and Normani linked up six years ago on “Love Lies,” they scored a smash duet that lingered around multiple radio formats for months; “Personal,” a follow-up included on the deluxe edition of Khalid’s recent album Sincere, will have its commercial fate determined in the coming weeks, but hearing two gifted R&B singers weave their voices together again makes for a deeply satisfying fan service, and a reminder of both artists’ individual vocal powers.

Drop that stylus on this week’s stacked Executive Turntable, Billboard’s compendium of promotions, hirings, exits and firings — and all things in between — across music.

Read on for some very personnel news and don’t forget to cast your vote for the Power 100 Players’ Choice Award, plus peruse our annual list of the industry’s savviest financial advisers, our weekly interview series spotlighting a single c-suiter and our calendar of notable industry events.

SoCal concert promoter Goldenvoice, a subsidiary of AEG Presents, announced the retirement of its senior vice president, Susan Rosenbluth. With a career spanning six decades, Rosenbluth has worked with artists like Elton John, Talking Heads, BTS and Van Morrison, among others. She began her career at the Greek Theatre in 1978 and became its general manager by 1982. She later managed concert presentations at various venues for Nederlander, including the Pantages Theatre, the Pacific Amphitheatre and the Honda Center, and became a talent buyer in 1995. In 2003, Rosenbluth joined Goldenvoice, overseeing talent buying for concerts across California, Alaska, Hawaii and Arizona. She also spearheaded the Latin concert promotion division and became a key figure in promoting K-pop acts in North America, including BTS and BLACKPINK. She also co-chairs AEG’s Women’s Leadership Council and has received numerous awards, including from Billboard and Pollstar. “My work life has been filled with so many meaningful experiences, due to the Goldenvoice concert promotion team, artists and their crews who come together to present these events,” said Rosenbluth, “I am grateful to the people of the concert community.” Goldenvoice president Paul Tollett added: “Susan is a legend… that goes without saying. But she also charted a new course for Goldenvoice musically and made us better for it.”

Goldenvoice has promoted Lea Swanson to vp of talent, where she’ll oversee booking for the Mountain Winery, contribute to talent buying at key Los Angeles venues like the Peacock Theater and Shrine Auditorium, and book shows in across multiple markets in California and Hawaii. Based in San Diego, Swanson will report to COO Melissa Ormond. Swanson brings over 25 years of experience in talent buying, including 17 years with Goldenvoice parent AEG Presents. Her career began in 1999 at Viejas Casino, where she helped develop a 1,500-capacity concert venue. She has since booked a wide range of events, from small clubs to full-size arenas, and worked with venues like the Rady Shell, Humphreys Concerts by the Bay and Pechanga Resort Casino. Stoked for her new role, Swanson emphasized the can’t-pass-up opportunity to grow within the mega-market just north of her. “After over 17 years with AEG Presents in my home market of San Diego and supporting numerous casino clients, I feel fortunate to be in the right place at the right time to step into this elevated role,” she said. “A year after accepting the lead booking role at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga, having the chance to grow and promote shows in one of the primary music markets in North America was an opportunity I had to take.”

Bill Walshe is Sphere Entertainment‘s new executive vp and global head of venue operations and development. The hospitality industry veteran will lead operations at the mothership in Las Vegas, while also running point on developing a global network of other orbs the world over. Reporting to Jennifer Koester, president and COO, Walshe will lean on his skillset to enhance the guest experience at Sphere. Walshe’s career includes leadership positions at Viceroy Hotel Group, The Doyle Collection and Jumeirah Group, where he oversaw sales, marketing, and innovation initiatives. Koester praised Walshe’s expertise in international markets, citing his ability to align with Sphere’s ambitious vision. “Sphere is a global destination for immersive experiences unlike anywhere else,” said Koester. “Bill’s expertise across premier brands in international markets will be an asset as we continue to deliver an unparalleled experience for guests, artists, and partners at our Las Vegas venue, while pursuing our long-term growth goals for this next-generation entertainment medium.”

The New York Philharmonic appointed Matías Tarnopolsky to president and CEO of the storied symphony, effective New Year’s Day. Currently leading The Philadelphia Orchestra and Ensemble Arts, Tarnopolsky has held prominent roles at Cal Performances, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Symphony Orchestra. He previously served as vice president of artistic planning at the New York Phil from 2005 to 2009. Board co-chairmen Peter W. May and Oscar L. Tang praised Tarnopolsky’s innovative leadership and strong relationships within the artistic community. Gustavo Dudamel, the Philharmonic’s incoming music and artistic director, expressed confidence in their shared vision for the orchestra.  “I vividly remember when Matías came to Caracas in 2006 and, from that moment, I knew that I had met someone who would become one of the most important leaders in our industry,” recalled Dudamel. Tarnopolsky said he looks forward to returning to the Phil, inspired by its newly renovated David Geffen Hall, Dudamel’s leadership and plans to elevate the Philharmonic’s cultural impact and foster inclusivity. “We will rededicate ourselves to the New York Philharmonic’s contemporary place in the cultural and civic life of New York, for all New Yorkers, to create an inclusive, expansive, and joyful musical future,“ he said. 

Rachael Stoeltje will become chief of the Library of Congress‘s National Audio-Visual Conservation Center, beginning in January. She’ll oversee the Packard Campus in Virginia, managing the world’s largest collection of films, TV programs, radio broadcasts and sound recordings, focusing on acquisition, preservation and accessibility. Previously, Stoeltje directed Indiana University Libraries Moving Image Archive, leading its expansion and film digitization and preservation efforts. As president of the Association of Moving Image Archivists, she championed diversity and global cooperation in media preservation. Library of Congress associate librarian for researcher and collections services Hannah Sommers praised Stoeltje’s career as “visionary” and “laser-focused on the future and leading by example.” Stoeltje emphasized tackling challenges like AI’s impact on archival authenticity and global archival risks. “The big issues on the horizon are an important part of our future work, along with preserving and making accessible our nation’s moving image and sound recording cultural heritage,” she said.

Capitol Records tapped Sam Breslin as vice president of marketing, a bump-up from his previous role of senior director. In his elevated position, Breslin will continue crafting and implementing strategies for a wide array of newer and legacy artists at the legendary label. Having joined Capitol over a decade ago as a coordinator, he has since contributed to significant successes for Lewis Capaldi, The Beatles, Paul McCartney, Niall Horan, Norah Jones, Good Neighbours, Beck and more.

Venu Holding Corporation (VENU) named Terri Liebler as its chief marketing officer. With 30 years of experience in sports and entertainment, Liebler previously served as senior vp in Live Nation Entertainment’s media and sponsorship division, where she led strategic planning and innovative growth initiatives. During her 22-year tenure at Live Nation, she played a key role in expanding U.S. and international venue and festival platforms and cultivating partnerships. Liebler’s career also includes roles with the NBA’s Seattle SuperSonics and San Antonio Spurs, as well as work on the Premium Seat operations team for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. VENU’s founder and CEO, J.W. Roth, praised Liebler’s passion and leadership, anticipating she’ll bring with her “an unrelenting enthusiasm and dedication for our brands that will undoubtedly drive our unparalleled venues to new heights.”

VENU also announced that Live Nation Entertainment veteran Will Hodgson has been its president since October. He spent 13 years at LNE, where he led House of Blues Entertainment, overseeing 20 venues, 17 restaurants, and seven cocktail lounges. His background also includes investment banking and developing ticketing solutions for major festivals. “Will is a rockstar, he will do an incredible job quarterbacking our strategic growth and operations,” said J.W. Roth. “His unique expertise across live music, finance, ticketing, food and beverage, and real estate development is a powerful fit for our vision.”

Nashville-based music publishing company Little Extra Music hired Victoria Goodvin to represent the company’s catalog. Goodvin’s career includes time at Song Factory Music, Wide Open Music, Liv Write Play and Row Entertainment. Also joining the team is Tristan Scaife (son of Little Extra Music co-founder Joe Scaife), who will work alongside Goodvin. LEM was founded in 2013 by Scaife and Lisa Ramsey-Perkins. The company’s catalog features more than 100 cuts, including the four-week Billboard Country Airplay chart-topper “She Got the Best of Me,” and the Walker Hayes-recorded “You Broke Up With Me. Writers Rob Snyder, Tia Sillers, Kylie Sackley, Will Bowen and Kelsey Waters are represented in the catalog. –Jessica Nicholson

NASHVILLE NOTES: PLA Media appointed Krista Dykes as senior media relations manager. Dykes began her career in 2007, contributing to communications projects in online insurance and inside the country music industry. She most recently served as media relations manager for the Country Music Association from 2015 to 2023, fostering relationships with national media and TV affiliates, and she’s the founder of the Secret Mom Hacks podcast and Mom Boss Mastermind, a virtual networking group for entrepreneurial mothers … O’Neil Hagaman, LLC promoted Tiffany Wiggers to principal, where she will influence the Nashville firm’s productivity and growth while continuing to serve her diverse client base. Wiggers, who began as an intern in 2004, is a current member of the Tennessee and Nashville Bar Association’s Entertainment Divisions, as well as the Gospel Music Association and the Country Music Association.

Big Loud Rock appointed Jenn Essiembre as senior vp of A&R. Reporting to Big Loud partner Joey Moi and GM Lloyd Norman, Essiembre will lead the label’s A&R strategy, focusing on talent identification and development. Essiembre previously served as vp at 300 Publishing, a division of 300 Entertainment, where she signed and developed artists and songwriters like Sean Momberger, Hunxho and Spencer Jordan. Her career began at ole Music Publishing, where she facilitated placements for stars like Sam Smith, Justin Timberlake, and Maluma. Essiembre expressed enthusiasm for her new role, aligning with Big Loud Rock’s artist development values, while Moi praised her energy, expertise and vision. “From our first conversation, I knew she’d be the right fit for this role,” he said.

Independent publisher OTM Music has appointed Emmy Feldman as U.S. head of A&R. Feldman brings extensive music experience, having helped open the Brooklyn outpost of Rough Trade before spending seven years in A&R at Atlantic Records and Canvasback Music. She then moved to Heavy Duty, where she managed a roster of songwriters, producers, and artists, including Buddy Ross and BJ Burton. In July of this year, she joined OTM, managing a roster that includes Dot Da Genius, Metronomy, Sub Focus, Still Woozy and Hemlocke Springs. OTM Music, launched by CEO Alex Sheridan in 2017, supports a roster of songwriters who have collaborated with SZA, Travis Scott, and A$AP Rocky. Recent high-profile deals include Kid Cudi producer Dot Da Genius, Sub Focus, and partnerships with artists like Sudan Archives and HONNE. Operating in London, New York, and Los Angeles, OTM also named Kristin Genovese as U.S. Head of Sync and added Kate Sweetsur and Ethan Mizen to its UK A&R team.

Hook, a new AI-powered social music app centered on remixes and mashups, expanded its leadership team with four key appointments. Katerina Kosta, formerly of TikTok/ByteDance and Jukedeck, joined as head of AI to develop ethically-trained AI tools that enhance music creativity while ensuring fair artist treatment. Grammy-nominated engineer Prash Mistry is now head of audio development and UK general manager. Karan Bhatnagar, previously head of digital at Three Six Zero management, stepped in as head of artist and creator strategy to support artist campaigns. Ed Pak, with a decade of industry experience and involvement in Saavn’s acquisition by Reliance Jio, is taking on the role of head of business development and Partnerships. The app, launched on Apple’s App Store this fall, also announced new offices in Los Angeles and London.

SILO Music appointed Marcy Bulkeley as head of sync A&R and music supervision of the publishing, management and sync house. Bulkeley will manage sync licensing and music supervision for film, TV, motion picture advertising and emerging media through her venture, Subtle Mother Music Supervision Services. With over 25 years of industry experience, she is known for her expertise in music curation and creative collaboration. Previously, as vp of sync A&R at Universal Music Group, she led custom music and remix projects, earning Clio awards and Guild of Music Supervisors nominations. SILO Music’s CEO, Jack Ormandy, praised Bulkeley’s innovative approach as aligning with the company’s mission to create elevated experiences through music. Under her leadership, SILO aims to expand its reach, delivering bar-none music curation and sync services to clients across multiple industries.

Bootleg, a company specializing in high-end concert recordings, appointed Rohan Adarkar as an equity advisor. The longtime entrepreneur is tasked with helping the company by leveraging his expertise in scaling entertainment tech products and building partnerships with global music stakeholders. In 2003, Adarkar co-founded txttunes, an early text-to-pay service for DRM-free MP3 downloads, which partnered with the American Association for Independent Musicians during the 50th Grammy Awards before its acquisition in 2007. Adarkar also founded totally different, a B2B consultancy, and advises the New Zealand government and its Ministry of Arts and Culture. He is a trustee of the Click Foundation, supporting education initiatives.

Splice appointed Jeff Roberto as senior vp of marketing, tasking him with leading global marketing initiatives and expanding the platform’s presence for musicians. Roberto brings extensive experience, including leadership roles at Nodle, DistroKid, and Picsart, where he helped drive a $130 million funding round and a $1 billion valuation. His career also spans Shazam, Napster, MAGNIFI and Astralwerks Records. Roberto aims to enhance Splice’s impact through innovative AI tools and brand growth. CEO Kakul Srivastava commended Roberto’s industry expertise and commitment to creative communities, emphasizing Splice’s AI roadmap as transformational.

Various Artists Management elevated Rebecca Dixon to global head of marketing & general manager UK. Dixon, previously head of marketing and promotions, will now split her time between VAM’s London and LA offices, reporting to CEOs David Bianchi and Matt Luxon. In her expanded role, Dixon will oversee UK marketing and audience development, deepen her involvement in LA, and strengthen partnerships across Europe. Over her decade-long tenure with VAM, she has led innovative campaigns for artists like Ashnikko, Tom Grennan, and The Libertines. Her promotion follows her recognition as the Trailblazer: The Richard Antwi Award winner at the Music Business UK Awards.

Fixated, a digital entertainment company launched in early 2024 by former BMG North America president Zach Katz and creator economy exec Jason Wilhelm, has added key hires to its executive and talent management teams. Jeff Shaivitz (svp of business and sales), Kou Chaichian (vp of brand partnerships) and Daniel Coughlan (head of content development) bring extensive expertise to support the company’s growth. Additionally, new talent managers Anooj Desai, Kasia Turek and Kyle Rooney have joined to oversee Fixated’s growing roster of top digital creators.

ICYMI:

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Cara Donatto is appointed evp of media strategy for Atlantic Music Group, overseeing publicity and communications strategy and execution … BMG promoted Katie Kerkhover to the role of svp of A&R, Frontline Recordings in North America … Troy “Tracker” Johnson is launching TRACK mgmt following nearly 10 years with Big Loud … Sony Music UK hired former UMG exec Azi Eftekhari as its COO, in charge of key areas, including the label’s Commercial Group. [KEEP READING]

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Last Week’s Turntable: UMG Touts Liszt of Promotions in Classics Group