Executive Turntable: Samantha Juneman Named Head of Music at Mattel
Billboard's Executive Turntable column rounds up several music industry appointments and business launches, most notably Samantha Juneman's move to toy giant Mattel as its new head of music. She started the role on 31 August and will report to Natalia Premovic, Mattel's chief consumer productions and experiences officer, bringing experience from senior roles at Irving Azoff's Iconic Artists Group, IPG Media Group, Universal Music Group and Warner Music.
Other items include Warner Music Group launching a new label, Warner Records Germany, in Berlin under director Lea Londa, who will report to Jean-Sebastien Perman; independent distributor Xelon opening a London office with several new hires, including a global streaming manager and a UK/Europe label manager; and Ben Mench-Thurlow joining Paladin Artists as a Nashville-based agent, bringing acts including Anberlin, Hawthorne Heights and Hellogoodbye with him from Reliant Talent Agency.
– Samantha Juneman becomes Mattel's head of music, effective 31 August. – Warner Music Group launches Warner Records Germany in Berlin, led by Lea Londa. – Distributor Xelon opens a London office; Ben Mench-Thurlow joins Paladin Artists.
Explained simply
Mattel is a toy company whose brands include characters and properties that can also be used in music and entertainment. A head of music oversees how the company develops and manages those music activities, working with other parts of the business.
The other moves involve different parts of the music industry: Warner Music Group is a major record company, Xelon distributes music for independent labels and artists, and Paladin Artists represents performers. Their appointments and launches reflect how companies organise the work of releasing, distributing and representing music.
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