Music Week’s round-up of essential biz stories you might have missed…
PIAS of the action
Vanessa Picken has joined PIAS as head of digital for America, Asia Pacific, Australia and New Zealand. For this newly created role she will relocate to Los Angeles. Picken will continue to oversee the Comes With Fries digital agency she founded, while working in her new role at PIAS.
Colin Daniels, MD for America and Asia Pacific, said: “Vanessa has an impressive track record for constantly delivering successful digital campaigns for artists and labels through her agency, Comes With Fries. I’m ecstatic Vanessa has agreed to join us as we continue to broaden our American and Australian businesses and strengthen our commitment to the fast growing Asian market.”
Learning the lessons
The BRIT School has launched BRIT for Business, a new venture that will draw on the knowledge of business coaches and trainers that have worked with the school over the past 25 years. The programme’s main goal is to create a unique training offer for businesses looking to develop their talent creatively.
BRIT for business will make the BRIT schools resources available by offering 90-minute workshops, a suite of creative business courses and team activities with a direct focus on key business issues. Courses are available to book both as open tickets on selected dates in a central London location, as well as being available on a bespoke basis, tailored to suit specific business needs and delivered in-house.
Growing Tree
Music programmer and radio personality Ben Harvey has been named president of Palm Tree Records, the new joint venture label from Kygo, music manager Myles Shear and Sony Music Entertainment.
In this new role, Harvey will report to Kygo and Shear, and work closely with them to supervise the overall management and day-to-day operations of Palm Tree. He will be responsible for identifying and developing artists and projects for the label. Harvey is based in New York City at the Palm Tree offices in Sony Music headquarters.
New Wave
Primary Wave has announced the promotion of Catie Monck to VP of communications & artist relations. In her third year with Primary Wave, Monck will be responsible for the company’s media strategy and press relationships.
Previously, Monck was a director of publicity for Primary Wave. In this role she secured media placements such as Melissa Etheridge on CBS Sunday Morning and Steve Cropper on Conan to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his co-write (Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay.
Sony/ATV strengthens business and legal
Sony/ATV has announced a series of promotions and appointments within the business & legal affairs department in New York.
Nicole Giacco has been promoted to SVP, business & legal affairs; Ryan Raichilson has been promoted to director, business & legal affairs; Melissa Yermes joins the department as associate director after three and a half years at Sony Music Entertainment in New York; and Molly O’Neill has joined the department as coordinator.
By Carol Wright
