Sony Music Publishing has promoted Ari Gelaw to Senior Vice President, Creative A&R, expanding her role to lead the publisher's US R&B/Hip-Hop team across its New York, Atlanta and Los Angeles offices. The move, announced on 27 July, recognises her contribution to SMP's creative growth and roster expansion since joining in 2022, and comes amid a run of leadership changes and industry accolades for the company.

Gelaw, who will remain based in Los Angeles and report to SMP President Katie Welle, has signed artists including BigXthaPlug, Monaleo, Victoria Monét, FLO and Samara Cyn, and worked with writers such as Mustard, Yeat and Leon Thomas. Her promotion follows SMP being named Publisher of the Year at both the 2026 ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Awards and the 2025 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards, and mirrors an earlier promotion this year of Shane Knotts to SVP, Global Royalties. Before joining Sony, Gelaw was Director of A&R at Universal Music Publishing Group, where she worked with Megan Thee Stallion, DaBaby and Coi Leray, having started her career in Atlantic Records' Urban A&R department.