Ari Gelaw, Sony Music Publishing’s SVP of creative A&R. Photo Credit: Presley Ann
Here’s a recap of recent music industry hires and in-house promotions as of July 31st, 2026.
If you have a job shuffle to share, we’re all ears. Send us a note to news@digitalmusicnews.com. If you’d like to post a job on our Job Board, just send us a request to noah@digitalmusicnews.com. And, keep track of all the latest music industry hires here.
Symphonic
Symphonic Distribution has announced four A&R hires, welcoming Spotify vet JD Parent (manager of A&R and client development) in Canada and longtime Kobalt higher-up Nick Robinson (A&R and business development consultant) in the UK.
Additionally, former Tigerspring senior A&R manager Pia Eiser (senior A&R manager for Germany, Switzerland, and Austria) has come aboard in Germany, and Nigeria-based Rhythm Managements founder David Niran is now A&R and client development manager for Africa.
Finally, in the Netherlands, Symphonic has elevated Sander Stijnen to senior director of A&R and client development.
Warner Music Group
After a little more than one year with Warner Music, CFO and COO Armin Zerza has exited the company “for personal reasons.”
Chief accounting officer Louis Dickler has once again been tapped to serve as interim CFO, having temporarily assumed the title in 2021.
And on the COO side, Tom Corson will remain Warner Records’ COO “for a transitional period” in addition to stepping into the same role on a company-wide basis.
SiriusXM
SiriusXM EVP and COO Wayne Thorsen is departing after 20 months with the company.
Sony Music Publishing
SMP has bumped Ari Gelaw, who’s been with the publisher for the better part of five years, to SVP of creative A&R; the exec “will be responsible for leading the company’s US R&B/Hip-Hop team.”
Secretly Distribution
Having started with Secretly Distribution in 2020, Kristian Downs has been upped to executive director of platform operations.
Pipeline
Spencer LeBoff, most recently Avex’s head of publishing and acquisitions, has signed on as Pipeline’s head of revenue.
Borchetta Entertainment Group
Borchetta Entertainment Group has added longtime Vector Management exec Kevin Spellman and Henley Halem (who likewise joins from Vector) as co-VPs.
Emirates Arts & Music Rights Association (EMRA)
The EMRA has brought on Hani Masgidi as association director. In the post, the Qanawat business development VP will “lead the development of EMRA’s framework.”
Sphere Entertainment
Multi-decade comms and marketing specialist Karen Laureano-Rikardsen is now Sphere Entertainment’s global head of corporate marketing and communications.
GLP
Austria’s Georg Leitner Productions has expanded in the UK by hiring Arts & Entertainment Productions MD Manfred Seipt, who resides in London, in a senior position.
Music Venue Trust (MVT)
Longtime UK government official Chris Hurne is officially the MVT’s head of external affairs.
Patreon
Patreon has laid off 93 employees, some of whom joined the company earlier in 2026. Impacted roles include staff engineer, head of top creator partnerships, senior fraud prevention specialist, associate manager, content moderation specialist, social media manager, and recruiter.
Leave a Reply