Island Records has promoted Caroline Ellis to vice president of A&R, based in Los Angeles and reporting to Jackie Winkler, svp and head of A&R. Ellis, who joined Island in 2020 as senior director of A&R, will continue working with artists including Chappell Roan and Suki Waterhouse, whom she recently signed.
An advertisement for the Backstreet Boys: Into The Millennium concert is displayed on the Sphere, a music and entertainment venue, on March 12, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.as executive vice president and chief technology officer for Sphere.
She will be based in Burbank and report to Jennifer Koester, Sphere’s president and COO. As CTO, Yue will oversee technology powering Sphere’s immersive experiences and advanced infrastructure across its Las Vegas venue and Sphere Studios, including display, playback, interactive and audio systems. She will also lead enhancements to Sphere Studios’ content tools supporting multi-sensory experiences. Yue joins Sphere from Infinite Athlete, having previously served as head of live event and immersive experiences at Amazon Prime Video, where she led development of X-Ray technology — ie, real-time insights on every play — for. She previously held roles at the NFL, ESPN and Sportvision, where over the years she helped develop innovations including the NFL’s first-down “yellow line,” MLB’s “K Zone” and CNN’s “Magic Wall.” “Technology is at the core of everything we do at Sphere, and Felicia’s experience will be invaluable as we continue to build on our capabilities as an experiential medium,” said Ms. Koester. “Felicia’s track record of developing breakthrough technologies and leading teams that deliver high-impact experiences for audiences will ensure Sphere remains at the forefront of what’s possible in immersive entertainment.” Sphere recently reported that Q3 revenue was up 15% year-over-year, driven by The Wizard of Oz screenings and the Backstreet Boys residency, though it posted a $129.7 million operating loss. Since opening in 2023, Sphere has hosted residencies by U2, Phish, the Eagles and Anyma, with Backstreet Boys extending their run into February 2026.Check out a rundown of this week’s staffing news below, including big departures at Warner Classics, , RMLC and Superstruct, a wave promotions at UTA, an Island elevation and more.to vice president of A&R, based in Los Angeles and reporting to Jackie Winkler, svp and head of A&R. Ellis, who joined Island in 2020 as senior director of A&R, will continue working with artists including Chappell Roan and Suki Waterhouse, whom she. Before Island, Ellis developed talent at Interscope, collaborating with acts such as The 1975 and Pale Waves. Her promotion comes as Island celebrates a, earning six nominations in the Big Four categories, including record, song and album, and two consecutive years with multiple best new artist nods. Island operates within REPUBLIC Collective, alongside Republic Records and Def Jam. “Caroline has impeccable taste and a rare ability to connect with artists, building the kind of trust that fuels great music,” said Winkler. “Her exceptional ear and steady temperament are true assets to the team.”, has announced he will step down from his full-time role at the end of 2025. Barton, who founded Creamfields and previously served as Live Nation’s president of electronic music, launched Superstruct with Roderik Schlösser in 2017. Under his leadership, the company has grown to operate over 80 events including major festivals like Wacken, Sonar, Victorious, Sziget, Tramlines and more. Superstruct wasby KKR for €1.3 billion in 2024. CEO Alex Mahon praised Barton’s achievements and confirmed he will remain available to advise the board. “Thank you for believing in the simple but powerful idea of building a home for independent festival and event creators,” he said in a memo to staff, via. “None of us could have imagined just how far it would take us, or how much it would shape us.”on Jan. 1, after steering WMG’s classical division for over a decade. Lanceron, who previously headed Virgin Classics and EMI Classics France, was named president of Warner Classics & Erato in 2014 following WMG’s acquisition of Parlophone Label Group. At the same time, David Bither, president of Nonesuch Records, will expand his role to oversee Warner Classics & Erato, while Markus Petersen is promoted to executive vp and GM. Warner Classics & Erato, home to a storied catalog and acclaimed artists, plans new releases in 2026 from Eric Lu, Jakub Józef Orliński, Fatma Said and others, alongside continued revitalization of its historic catalog. Alain Lanceron called leading Warner Classics & Erato “the greatest honor of my life,” saying he’s proud to have revitalized and premiered landmark works with top artists. While stepping back from daily management, he plans to support the label’s strategic future alongside David Bither and Markus Petersen. Bither praised Lanceron’s “outstanding contributions” to Warner Classics and the broader classical world, noting he will be “drawing on his insight and support in his new role.”, its legendary COO and CFO, will retire on New Year’s Eve, after more than 40 years in the music industry. Hartley began his career as a chartered accountant before joining EMI Australia in 1984, later serving as CFO at PolyGram in Australia and the UK. He joined in 2000 and has been instrumental in its global growth, financial strategy, and partnerships, including the company’s 2024 acquisition by Universal. CEO Kenny Gates praised Hartley as a cornerstone of for over 25 years. “His expertise and dedication to our company have been invaluable to our growth and success,” said Gates. “While we will miss his extraordinary financial leadership, we wish him well in his fully deserved retirement.” A successor will be named soon as the company continues its mission to support independent artists. Hartley expressed gratitude for his transformative tenure — “Together, we have navigated the evolving landscape of the music industry” — and boasted his confidence in the music group’s future.as executive director, succeeding Nicole George-Middleton, who was promoted to evp and head of creative membership at ASCAP. Leonard brings over 20 years of experience in arts and philanthropy, previously serving as chief philanthropy officer at the Princess Grace Foundation and holding leadership roles at Manhattan Theatre Club and the Metropolitan Opera. A composer and advocate for contemporary music, Leonard serves on boards including New York Women Composers and is a founding member of the New York Composers Circle. She studied under Pulitzer Prize–winning composer David Del Tredici and holds degrees from Boston Conservatory and Merrimack College. ASCAP Foundation president Paul Williams praised Leonard’s expertise, saying “her love of music and her deep background in the arts and philanthropy will enable the Foundation to continue to thrive for years to come.”have been appointed co-chairs. Prosser, a founding trustee, recently served as interim co-chair, while Beese joined the board in 2023., a longtime staff member, has been promoted to director of finance and data management, reporting to Sutor. “The RMLC plays a vital role for the radio industry, and I’ve been happy to help steer the ship these past eight years,” said Atsigner. “With a bunch of license deals now completed, it seemed like the right time to allow someone else the opportunity to captain the ship.”. The move underscores Divo’s strategy to expand its Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam catalogues and strengthen creator partnerships. Parwani, an industry veteran with over 40 years of experience, previously spent two decades at Sony Music India, where he helped make Sony Music South the region’s top label. Divo, acquired by WMG in 2023, manages a fast-growing catalog and Loopd, an artist-first label for independent talent. The company is also pursuing cross-border collaborations, including a partnership with Sri Lanka’s M-Entertainments. “Ashok brings unparalleled regional expertise and industry relationships that align perfectly with our long-term vision for South India,” said Jay Mehta, managing director of WMI. “Divo is an essential, high-growth pillar of our national strategy, and his proven leadership will be vital as we accelerate our mission to build world-class pathways for local artists and take the incredible sounds of India to a global audience.”, svp of marketing and corporate affairs at HCA Healthcare, as secretary. Solomon, a longtime advocate and entrepreneur, brings extensive experience in entertainment and philanthropy. Perlman and Reiner add deep expertise in healthcare and strategic communications. CEO Pete Griffin described the appointments as crucial to advancing MOC’s mission, stating: “Michael’s passion for using music to help others is unmatched. Our organization exists today because, as a co-founder, he recognized the transformative power music can have in a hospital room.”has been promoted to creative director. Cook previously served as creative coordinator; in her new role, she will oversee creative development, calendars and catalog management. Additionally, the company has expanded with two strategic new hires.has joined Back Blocks Music as director of digital marketing, and previously served as head of digital at CSM Management.steps into the role of marketing coordinator. “Our team is entering a new season of growth and we’re sharpening our focus on long-term artist and songwriter development,” BBM founder/CEO Rakiyah Marshall said. “Each of these women represent the caliber of leadership, passion and expertise that aligns with Back Blocks’ vision as we look ahead to 2026.” Back Blocks Music’s roster includes Ethan Burdick, Ashley Cooke, Blake Pendergrass, and Tucker Wetmore. –has promoted 19 colleagues within its music division across multiple offices, including 12 new agents and seven coordinators. In Los Angeles, Grace Cunningham, Ashley Ramos, Matt Reinberg and Tyler Stimmel are elevated to agent roles, with Stimmel joining music brand partnerships. Eleni Hart and Taylor Krebs become agents in Nashville, while Eli Hanavan, Alex Baranello and Matt Popper advance in New York alongside Joe Marino, now marketing manager. Kayleigh Lawrence and Josh Pollard earn agent titles in London, continuing to support international touring. Seven others—Sydney Bryant, Branda Cavanna, Emanuele Grisafi, Kayla Morgan, Dani Narins, Sabrina Sutton and Tom Walker—move up to coordinator positions.Business News
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Tim Walz Goes It Alone: Uses Executive Orders for Gun Control After Legislature Rejects His PushSource of breaking news and analysis, insightful commentary and original reporting, curated and written specifically for the new generation of independent and conservative thinkers.
Read more »
Former AMD Executive Becomes A Billionaire As Shares Of His AI Chip Maker Soar In DebutShares of Shanghai-based MetaX Integrated Circuits surged 693% on Wednesday, boosting the net worth of its founder, Chen Weiliang, to $6.5 billion.
Read more »
Georgia Bulldogs CB Ellis Robinson IV Has Already Placed Himself in Elite CompanyGeorgia Bulldogs cornerback may be in his first season as a full-time starter, but the defensive back has already placed himself in elite company.
Read more »
Bulgari Names Laura Burdese Chief Executive OfficerLaura Burdese, previously deputy CEO, will become CEO on July 1, succeeding Jean-Christophe Babin.
Read more »
Trump expected to sign executive order reclassifying marijuana, easing restrictionsThe order is expected to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug.
Read more »
Tucker Ellis LLP Announces Partnership and Counsel Promotions Effective January 1, 2026Tucker Ellis LLP has announced the election of four attorneys to partner and the promotion of five attorneys to counsel, effective January 1, 2026, recognizing their achievements and contributions to the firm. The promotions reflect the firm’s commitment to client service and its dedication to the continued growth of its professionals.
Read more »