Executive Turntable: Ivan Chen Named CEO of BandLab Technologies

BandLab Technologies has appointed Ivan Chen as CEO, with co-founder Meng Ru Kuok transitioning from chairman and CEO to the role of executive chairman.

Chen first joined BandLab Technologies back in 2016, serving as chief operating officer. In 2024, he was named president of the company. Kuok has held the role of CEO since he first co-founded the company in 2015.

“Ivan has been closely involved with BandLab Technologies from its early years and has been a key contributor and partner in realizing our vision of making music creation more accessible for creators and artists around the world,” Kuok said in a statement. “A decade on, this ambition has only grown and we are in the most dynamic and fast-moving period we have ever seen across music, technology, media and fandom. I’m pleased to announce this change which gives us the capacity to take the company to new levels of success. In his tenure as COO and president, Ivan has turned many of our biggest ideas into reality, and I believe he has the judgement, experience and understanding needed as we continue to drive forward as a company. He knows where we’ve come from, but more important, he has a clear view of where we want to go next. I have every confidence in him to lead the company forward as CEO and I look forward to continuing to work alongside him.”

Chen said of the appointment, “I’m grateful for the trust Meng and the Board have placed in me, and I’m excited to lead BandLab Technologies forward. We have built products that creators value and a business with enormous potential ahead of it. Creators around the world make music on BandLab every day, and my focus is on ensuring we continue to define the future of music creation for many years to come.”  — Ariel King

See more music industry hires and promotions below.

• Nici Ochmann (Warner Music Central Europe)

  Warner Music Central Europe has appointed Nici Ochmann as head of culture and creator marketing, based out of the Berlin headquarters. She previously served as global culture marketing cluster lead for GSA at Adidas.

  “Niels, Sub and the team show commitment to reimagining what a modern music company looks like, as music doesn’t exist in a vacuum, it sits at the center of lifestyle, fashion, sports, art and culture,” Ochmann said in a statement. “I look forward to building on that vision, empowering our artists to lead conversations across culture and communities, and creating meaningful connections with creators and influential cultural networks.”

  Niels Walboomers, president of WM Central Europe, said, “Nici brings an invaluable perspective from the lifestyle space, where its culture moves at lightning speed. Her ability to bridge brand narrative with creator dynamics makes her the perfect fit for our vision of the company and will play a vital role in ensuring our artists stay at the bleeding edge of fan connection.” — Ariel King

• Yusim Aladro (Warner Music Mexico)

  Warner Music Mexico has promoted Yusim Aladro to general manager.

  “Yusim represents the modern, holistic music executive — combining a deep, intuitive understanding of artist development and creative strategy with sharp commercial acumen,” Thomas Rodriguez, president of Warner Music Mexico, said in a statement. “Her leadership will not only accelerate the growth of our domestic roster but also inspire the next generation of women leaders across the Latin music industry.”

  Aladro added, “I’m delighted to take on this expanded role at a time when Mexican music and Latin culture are holding unprecedented influence on the global stage. I look forward to leading our incredible teams, championing our roster, and continuing to elevate Warner Music Mexico as a premier home for domestic and international artists.” — Ariel King

• Nick LaPointe and Jay Sudarma (Music Services)

  Music Services has hired Nick LaPointe as senior director of business development and elevated Jay Sudarma to vp of marketing for music services and CCLI Group.

  “We’re thrilled to welcome Nick to the team,” Rose Cook, chief operating officer at Music Services, said in a statement. “He brings a relationship-driven approach that aligns perfectly with our commitment to delivering best-in-class service to our clients.”

  Cook said of Sudarma, “During his tenure at CCLI, Jay has proven the disciplined, data-driven approach to marketing, and this expanded role is a natural next step. He will work across brands in the Music Services portfolio, including AudioSalad, Audiam, Music Services Inc., The Harry Fox Agency, HAAWK and CCLI, bringing a unified voice to a growing collection of brands while preserving the qualities that make each one unique.”  — Ariel King

• Dave Johnston, Merisanda Finley, Lory Hagopian (Vibee)

  Live Nation-founded music destination company Vibee has promoted three people within its marketing team: Dave Johnston is now associate director, marketing; Merisanda Finley is now digital marketing manager and Lory Hagopian is now lead creative/brand design.

  “As Vibee continues to grow, so does the incredible marketing tream responsible for bringing our packages and immersive experiences to life and getting them in front of music fans around the world,” Doneen Lombardi, vp and head of marketing at Vibee, said in a statement. “Dave, Merisanda and Lory have each made meaningful contributions to our valuable partnerships and overall business. These promotions recognize the impact they’ve already made and the leadership they’ll bring to Vibee’s next chapter.” — Ariel King

• Paul Shaver (SoundExchange)

  Paul Shaver has joined SoundExchange as senior vp, business development, coming from the Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency (CMRRA), where he served as president of CMRRA and SX Works. He will report to president and CEO Michael Huppe.

  “Paul is a respected and forward-thinking executive with experience across many aspects of the music industry,” Huppe said in a statement. “He has a proven ability to anticipate change, build innovative solutions, and turn opportunity into growth. As technology reshapes how music is created, distributed and monetized, Paul’s leadership will help SoundExchange expands its impact and remain at the forefront of the industry’s evolution.”

  Shaver said of the new role, “SoundExchange has the expertise, relationships and data assets to help shape the next chapter of the music industry. I am excited to join the team and work with creators, rights owners, licensees, and industry partners to build meaningful partnerships, identify new opportunities for growth, and ensure those we serve continue to benefit as technology reshapes the music ecosystem.” — Ariel King

• Chelsea Fodero & Mak Symmonds (Activist Artists Management)

  Chelsea Fodero and Mak Symmonds have joined Activist Artists Management as managers, the company announced. Fodero most recently served as day-to-day manager for Usher, and she previously managed Andrew Watt and used to work with Alicia Keys. Symmonds most recently served as director of marketing at SMACK, and previously served as day-to-day manager for Chris Tomlin, Patrick Droney and Redferrin.

  “Chelsea has worked at the highest levels of the business and knows firsthand what it takes to manage the day-to-day of a global artist career,” Bernie Cahill, founding parter at Activist Artists Managemetnt, said in a statement. “She’s thoughtful, relentless about the details, and deeply committed to the artists she works with. We’re thrilled to have her join Activist and excited for what she’ll bring to the team.”

  Matt Maher, founding partner at Activist Artists Management, said, “Mak is the kind of person who instantly puts people at ease. She brings experience, curiosity, a deep love of music, and a collaborative, roll-up-your-sleeves approach that’s exactly how we like to work at Activist. She understands how to build meaningful, long-term careers for artists, and we’re excited to have her bring that perspective to our team.” — Ariel King

• Gregory Diamond (Vydia)

  Gregory Diamond has been promoted to vp, label and artist relations and Vydia, Inc., the company announced. He manages more than 250 artists and label partnerships, with his portfolio generating over 1 billion streams per month. His roster Elley Duhe, Sueco, Skillet and Jeris Johnson. — Ariel King

• Hitskope Music Group Launches

  Danny Barros has launched distribution platform Hitskope Music Group, and will serve as the company’s founder and CEO.

  “The old deal was: give up your masters, get the machine,” Barros said in a statement. “The new deal is: keep your masters, lose the machine. That trade-off is over. The music business has never had more open doors and fewer people helping artists walk through them. We build the company that walks through those doors with you.”

  Throughout Barros’ career,  he’s worked on campaigns for artists including Harry Styles, Silk Sonic, BTS and Metallica. Kitt Wakeley joins as co-founder and president of Hitskope Music Group. — Ariel King

• Lydia Kanuga (When There Are Nine)

  Lydia Kanuga has launched her own agency as founder/CEO of When There Are Nine PR. The company’s name is inspired by Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s famous response to a question she was sometimes asked after becoming the second woman to serve on the nation’s highest court: “When will there be enough women on the Supreme Court?” Her answer: “When there are nine.”

  With more than 20 years’ experience — including posts with Columbia Records, Def Jam Recordings, 12Tone Music and The Chamber Group — Kanuga has worked with stars ranging from Dolly Parton and Usher to Erykah Badu and Teyana Taylor. In her new role, Kanuga also serves as head of publicity for the Otis Redding Foundation. “I’m striving to create an environment where anyone—from employee to client—never walks away feeling unworthy or undeserving of their accolades,” says Kanuga. — Gail Mitchell

• Jordan Evans (The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences)

  Jordan Evans, the Toronto-based producer who has worked with Drake, Jay-Z and currently manages Daniel Caesar alongside Matthew Burnett, has been appointed to the board of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

  “Jordan has built an incredible career working across every facet of the music industry as a producer, songwriter, manager and executive,” Allan Reid, president & CEO of CARAS/The JUNO Awards, said in a statement. “His passion for artists and experience working in Canada and around the world will bring a valuable perspective to our Board. We’re thrilled to welcome him as we continue our work to champion Canadian music globally.” — Ariel King

• Matt Brinkworth (DeepMatter Records)

  

  Matt Brinkworth was appointed co-owner and COO of DeepMatter Records. His hire expands DeepMatter’s presence into New York, where Brinkworth will be based. The announcement dovetails with two more new developments: the launch of Matters of Note Publishing, co-founded by Brinkworth and Tom Pickford, and a new global distribution partnership with Virgin Music Group. Founded in 2017, DeepMatter has released projects by artists including vbnd, The Offline, SHOLTO, Paul Grant, Blue Earth Sound and Jerk.

  Brinkworth joins DeepMatter from Omnian Music Group, where he was most recently director of global sales and spearheaded the development of Omnian’s digital division. Alongside that work, he founded Parlance Management, where he spent more than seven years managing L.A. artist NoSo before stepping away to focus on his work in the indie label sector. — Chris Eggertsen

• Jordan Evans (CARAS)

  The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) appointed Jordan Evans, founder of S&R Management and co-founder of Golden Child Recordings, to its board of directors. Evans is also a record producer and songwriter who has collaborated with artists including Jay-Z, Eminem, Drake, John Legend and H.E.R. He manages Daniel Caesar alongside Matthew Burnett. — Chris Eggertsen

• Chantal Epp, Will Hughes (Music Technology U.K.)

  London-based trade association MTUK (Music Technology U.K.) has appointed Chantal Epp, founder of ClicknClear, and Will Hughes, chief revenue officer at Sound Patrol, as directors for its board. MTUK’s board is the association’s principal decision-making body and sets the association’s strategy and priorities.

  Epp’s ClicknClear is a global micro-licensing and compliance technology platform. The service has signed global blanket licensing deals with all major record labels and publishers, and its licensing compliance technology is used by the International Olympic Committee.

  Hughes is SoundPatrol’s chief revenue officer and spent more than a decade working at the intersection between music, technology and rights, with previous roles in label management, music licensing and rights technology at Audible Magic and Songtradr. 

  Epp and Hughes join MTUK’s existing board: Cliff Fluet, chair; Matt Cartmell, chief executive; Helen Sartory, president and COO, Beatport; Gareth Deakin, founding partner, Sonorous Global Consulting; and Claire Mas, strategic advisor, CriticalMas. — Thomas Smith

• Evergreen Artist Group

  

  Independent music booking agency Evergreen Artist Group has planted roots in Austin, Texas and Buda, Texas, with a primary headquarters in Buda, Texas and a satellite office in downtown Austin.

  The firm was founded in 2022 by Andrew McWilliams and represents artists including Treaty Oak Revival, Hudson Westbrook, Gabe Lee, Jason Boland & The Stragglers, Slade Coulter, Logan Ryan Band, Tyce Delk, Kyle Gates, Parker Ryan, Huser Brothers, Gannon Fremin & CCREV, Dylan Wheeler, and Dustin De La Garza. 

  Evergreen Artist Group includes staffers McWilliams (founder / owner), Jodi Cockrell (agent), Kaylee Hitter (agent), Lila Woodland (agent), and Elise Steffen (operations manager).

  “For decades, Texas has produced more than its fair share of national and international touring artists, including some we’re fortunate and proud to represent,” McWilliams said in a statement. “It’s a scene where artists still focus on what matters most: selling tickets and playing live. We’re proud to plant our flag right in the middle of it all while working towards bringing these acts into the national spotlight.” — Jessica Nicholson

• Erika Savage (King Holmes Paterno & Soriano)

  Music attorney Erika Savage has been promoted to partner at King Holmes Paterno & Soriano (KHPS). Savage handles transactional matters, including recorded music, live performance and endorsement deals, for artists clients P!nk, Dr. Dre, Tyler, The Creator, blink-182, Carole King, Sia and Melanie Martinez. She also represents independent labels and management companies like Sub Pop, Ghetto Youths International, Nice Life Records and The Core.

  Savage has worked in the music industry for more than 25 years — the first 19 of which she spent at Universal Music Group, including as SVP of strategic development for Interscope Records. She was later SVP of global music operations at United Talent Agency, overseeing worldwide touring operations and heading the business affairs team. Savage joined KHPS in 2024.

  “We are delighted to acknowledge Erika’s hard work and strategic vision in helping the firm provide superb service to our clients,” said managing partner Howard King of the promotion. 

  Savage said, “Becoming a partner at KHPS is an incredibly special milestone for me. I’ve been fortunate throughout my career to work in support of superstar artists, and now I have the privilege of working alongside superstar lawyers to advocate for those artists and creators. I’m grateful to the entire KHPS team for this opportunity, honored to continue building together and excited to keep fighting the good fight to protect creators and their rights.” — Rachel Scharf