Warner Music Group announced the beta launch of WMG Pulse, a new platform that provides artists, songwriters and their teams with data on streaming performance, fan engagement, and earnings across multiple platforms, along with a snapshot of an artist’s earnings across royalties, physical, sync, and more.
Currently in beta, Pulse is being tested by more than 100 WMG artists and songwriters globally whose input is helping to shape the platform before it rolls out later this year. Their partnership plays a key role in refining the experience and ensuring it will continue to provide value to the artist and songwriter community. In the months ahead, artist and songwriter feedback will help fine-tune the app as it expands to include advanced features such as forecasting, release planning, and collaboration tools.
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+ Grammy-nominated artist-producer-songwriter Illenium has signed with Republic Records, the company announced. His first release with the label is the single “In My Arms,” out today.
Glenn Mendlinger, EVP of Republic Records and president of Imperial & Casablanca, said, “We are thrilled to welcome Illenium and his expert team to the Republic family. His anthemic, emotional music and signature production has touched people globally and his landmark live shows have created incredible communal moments for his fans.
+ Record label and music publisher Slang has announced a joint venture with recording artist and entrepreneur Rob49 called Vulture Mode. The company’s first artist is fellow New Orleans rapper Moskino and his upcoming debut release, “King of the Underdogs.” While launching this new venture, Rob49 remains signed to Geffen Records. Slang and its affiliated company Influence Media Partners have launched projects with Will Smith, Future, DJ Khaled, and others, and the label’s roster includes rising artists including RaiNao, TruththeBull, and Camper.
“We’ve always believed in building platforms, not just moments,” says Slang principal Rene McLean. “Partnering with Rob49 to launch Vulture Mode was a natural step. He represents everything Slang values, originality, vision, authenticity, and a relentless work ethic. Together, we’re building something that’s not just reactive to culture, but ahead of it.”
+ The Boyarski Fritz LLP law firm has named Alex Stolls partner. In that role, he will continue to build upon his expertise in entertainment law and intellectual property matters. Over the years he has worked closely with many of the firm’s clients, including the estate of Earth Wind & Fire’s Maurice White, Lil Kim, Will Smith, Jisoo of Blackpink, and such hitmakers as Louis Bell, Cirkut, Stargate, Hit-Boy, Tainy and Federico Vindver; and such executives and businesses as Create Music Group, Tommy Mottola, BMG, Electric Feel and Austin Rosen, Neon16 and Lex Borrero, Slipstream and Invisible Universe.
“Alex’s well-deserved promotion was an easy choice for our firm” said firm founding partner Jason Boyarski. “We identified Alex right out of law school as a dedicated, strategic thinking and hardworking attorney and he has proven to be a homegrown success story.”
+ Range Music has launched a new composer division representing music-for-media composers, songwriters, music supervisors, and executive music producers. The company has long represented such music supervisors as Andrea von Forester (“Yellowstone,” “Landman”), Jordan Carroll (“Better Man,” “Dear Evan Hansen”), Alison Moses and Kayla (“Ginny & Georgia,” “Idiotka”) and Angela Asistio (“Interior Chinatown,” “Val”).
The first hire will be industry veteran Jeff Jernigan, whose clients include Oscar-winning composer Steven Price (“Gravity”), Emmy-nominated composer and songwriter Tom Howe (“Ted Lasso”), Emmy-nominated music supervisor Amanda Krieg Thomas (“Halston”), Tony-nominated composer Helen Park (“KPOP”), and Grammy-winning music supervisor Steven Gizicki (“Maestro”), among others.
Tuesday, May 6
Sara Nix and Joe Mortimer are the new co-heads of creative at Capitol Music Group, the company announced Monday.
Nix joins the team at Capitol after a lengthy tenure at Partizan, the company founded by director Michel Gondry, where she served as executive producer for the last six years. During her career, Sara has worked with artists as diverse as Pharrell Williams, Daft Punk, Travis Scott, Usher, Dua Lipa, A$AP Rocky, Burna Boy, Doja Cat and SZA.
Mortimer joins Capitol after serving as creative director at Astralwerks since 2018. At Astralwerks he built global campaigns for Marshmello, Illenium, Avalanches, SG Lewis and Zhu and a frequent collaborator with Capitol artists such as the Beatles, Katy Perry and Beck, as well as working closely on the Grammy nominated campaign for Troye Sivan’s “Something to Give Each Other.”
“Sara and Joe come to Capitol after having worked with some of the most acclaimed artists, directors and creative visionaries in the world,” said Tom March Chairman and CEO of Capitol Music Group. “Together they form a potent team to help the incredible artists on our label reach their full creative potential and drive our ongoing transformation at Capitol.”
Prior to being in Los Angeles Mortimer was working in London, acting as an art director for artists such as Jungle and Bob Moses. Over the past decade he has also worked with photographers and directors such as Jack Bridgland, Gordon Von Steiner and Hannah Lux Davis, among others. In 2025, he co-created the California Picture Project, a photographic print sale that raised funds for the Los Angeles wildfires, through contributions by over 160 artists including Spike Jonze, Sofia Coppola, Gabriel Moses, Nadia Lee Cohen and Petra Collins to name a few.
Nix, meanwhile, has worked closely with such acclaimed directors as Warren Fu, Nono Ayuso and Rodrigo Inada and Ally Pankiw and others on music videos, branded documentaries and short films.
+ Heather Vassar, former senior VP of Nashville operations at Empire and a key player in the success of Shaboozey, has launched her own company, Casual Media Partners. Its stated goal is to become “a leading media company that discovers, nurtures, manages and elevates diverse talent in music, sports and literature.” Prior to Empire, Vassar, who is a member of Variety‘s inaugural Power of Women Nashville Impact list, was previously with Universal Music Nashville …
+ CD Baby, Downtown Music’s artist direct distribution and music services platform, today announced the appointment of Sean Hallarman as senior VP of product and Craig May as senior vice president of artist and fan development. These strategic hires mark a significant step in strengthening CD Baby’s leadership team and driving continued growth and innovation. Both roles report to CD Baby President, Molly Neuman.
Sean Hallarman brings extensive experience from his previous roles at Sonos, Meta and Amazon Music, where he contributed to key product development and strategy initiatives. Craig May joins CD Baby from Downtown company FUGA, where he served as senior VP of global marketing services. In his new role, Craig will oversee artist and fan development initiatives, leveraging his deep industry knowledge to enhance artist support, engagement, and growth.
In addition to Hallarman and May’s new roles, Jean Mischler will expand her duties as senior VP of marketing to include marketing and revenue. VP of Finance Whitney Thomas will also expand her remit to include finance and business operations.
+ Fat Joe and Jadakiss have launched a new music, sports and culture podcast, “Joe & Jada,” presented by Boost Mobile and produced by the Volume and Roc Nation. Starting this week, episodes will air twice a week on YouTube and all audio platforms.
“My brother Jadakiss and I will be delivering a podcast experience like none other,” said Joe. “We’re both passionate and opinionated about music, sports, entertainment and culture, so you can definitely expect to get unfiltered analysis, versatile interviews and untold stories. We’re coming to shake up the podcast game and set a new blueprint.”
“I’m looking forward to teaming up with Joe on this podcast and showing another side of my personality,” said Jadakiss. “We’ve been friends for a long time, so we have the right chemistry and foundation to make this a really special show. Everyone is finally going to get to hear what we debate and discuss all the time behind the scenes.”
+ Audius has signed a global deal with Downtown Music. The deal, which encompasses both the recording and publishing side of Downtown’s business, paves the way for millions of licensed recordings from Downtown’s catalog to be added to Audius. The move also unlocks a new way for Downtown’s artists and labels to directly connect with their fans and control how their music is monetized beyond the typical streaming model.
“Downtown’s rich client base is one of the most respected in the industry, and we’re thrilled to bring it to the Audius community,” said Roneil Rumburg, co-founder and CEO of Audius. “When artists and labels can maintain full control over how their work is shared and monetized, and fans can directly support the music they love, everyone wins.”
Downtown joins a growing list of artists, independent record labels, distributors and rights holders that have used Audius including Skrillex, deadmau5, Disclosure, Zedd, Dillon Francis, Diplo, DistroKid and Kobalt, among others.
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