Key Takeaways
- Appointment Announcement: ASCAP has appointed Marc Zelanko as chief of staff to enhance operational efficiency.
- Experience Background: Zelanko has over 20 years of experience in business operations within media and entertainment.
- Leadership Praise: CEO Elizabeth Matthews expressed confidence in Zelanko’s ability to drive ASCAP’s mission.
- Recent Hires: The announcement follows the hiring of John Pershing as Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer.
ASCAP has named media veteran Marc Zelanko as chief of staff, reporting directly to CEO Elizabeth Matthews. In this newly created role, Zelanko will help drive ASCAP’s mission to grow revenues and improve operational efficiency for its 1.1 million songwriters, composers, and music publishers.
Zelanko brings more than 20 years of experience in business operations and transformation within IP-driven media and entertainment companies. Most recently, he served as senior vice president at Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS), where he led strategic initiatives to strengthen operations and streamline processes across global teams. His wins include organizing CEO-level leadership forums, managing the COVID Task Force to maintain operations for over 15,000 U.S. employees, reducing liabilities through HR process improvements, and coordinating the Viacom Marketing Council.
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In the aughts, he spent five years at MTV Networks, where he rose to senior vp of business operations and notably helped scale Scratch, a creative consultancy launched by the network.
Earlier in his career, Zelanko worked in the Media & Entertainment Group at Booz Allen Hamilton. He holds a degree from Harvard University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Matthews praised Zelanko’s appointment, stating: “Marc is the perfect fit to help ASCAP deliver on our mission to grow revenues and drive efficiencies for the benefit of our more than 1.1 million songwriters, composers, and music publishers. He brings a wealth of experience working cross-functionally to lead complex global initiatives, and we are excited to add him to our senior leadership team.”
Zelanko added: “ASCAP has a mindset of innovation and evolution to meet the changing needs of its members and licensees. I look forward to bringing my expertise to ASCAP’s mission in support of improving the future for its songwriters, composers, and music publishers.”
This announcement follows ASCAP’s recent hire of John Pershing as Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer. Pershing, formerly with What If Media Group, brings extensive experience in IT, product development, and data engineering, further strengthening ASCAP’s leadership team.
Check out a full rundown of this week’s staffing news below.
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Anne-Marie Pearce & Chris Barton (PPL)
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo UK-based collective management organization, PPL has appointed Anne-Marie Pearce as chief financial officer, succeeding Chris Barton, who will leave at the end of 2025 after seven years in the role. Reporting to CEO Peter Leathem, Pearce joins the executive leadership team and will oversee finance and distribution, ensuring royalty payments to recording rightsholders and performer members. She’ll also serve on the board of PPL PRS, the joint venture with PRS for Music. Pearce brings over 20 years of senior finance experience across media and entertainment, most recently as UK Country CFO at Publicis Groupe. Her career also includes leadership roles at Global Media & Entertainment and The Walt Disney Company. Leathem called Pearce “the ideal choice to help drive PPL’s next phase of growth,” and praised Barton’s “integrity and wisdom” as having been “invaluable to the company.”
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Dr. Steve Abrams (SoundCloud)
Image Credit: Courtesy of Soundcloud SoundCloud has appointed Dr. Steve Abrams as chief technology officer, where he will lead the company’s global engineering team and drive its technology roadmap with a focus on AI/ML innovation, deeper artist-to-fan engagement, and advancing its creator-first product strategy. Based in NYC, he reports directly to CEO Eliah Seton. Abrams previously led engineering for YouTube Music’s Knowledge & Discovery team at Google, where he oversaw development of artist tools, personalized recommendations, and music intelligence. His career also includes launching IBM Watson, leading global data science at United Technologies, and building large-scale data platforms at Bridgewater Associates.
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Alex Black (Peermusic)
Image Credit: Yulissa Mendoza Indie publisher Peermusic has appointed Alex Black as vp of A&R. Based in Los Angeles, Black will report to Jamie Cerreta, president of U.S. and Canada, and lead efforts to sign and develop songwriters and producers for Peermusic’s U.S. roster. Black brings over 18 years of A&R experience, previously serving as vp at Hipgnosis Songs Group and Big Deal Music Group where he signed artists like Beach House, Amber Mark and Lucy Dacus among others. His career also includes roles at Warner Records and Interscope working with acts such as Tegan and Sara and Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Black also runs Home Run Management on the side representing cktrl and others. This appointment follows recent A&R leadership changes at Peermusic including the August hiring of Cerreta (also ex-Hipgnosis) and then appointment of Dave Ayers to evp of A&R in September. Cerretta noted: “I know that [Black] is a talented A&R executive whose dedication creativity and expertise will help bring our songwriters even more success artistically and commercially.”
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Christopher Winters (Sphere)
Image Credit: Alive Coverage Sphere Entertainment has appointed Christopher Winters as senior vice president controller and principal accounting officer effective Nov.24. Winters previously served as vp of accounting at Madison Square Garden Entertainment overseeing technical accounting policy matters as well as divisional controller duties for marketing partnerships hospitality. His career spans roles at MSG Sports earlier at Ernst & Young where he specialized in media technology clients. Winters’ promotion comes on the heels of Lath Taki’s departure as svp controller PAO at his old digs at MSGE.
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Kenny ‘Tick’ Salcido (Renaissance Entertainment Company)
K Kenny “Tick” Salcido has launched Renaissance Entertainment Company a creative services firm offering A&R artist development strategic support artists managers labels publishers Salcido’s vision emphasizes authentic collaboration revival true artist development rooted decades experience passion nurturing talent Formerly SVP Head A&R Red Bull Records Salcido oversaw signings partnerships artists like Beartooth Blxst Albert Hammond Jr The Aces His career began Grand Royal Records includes roles DreamWorks Epic Warner signed Wiz Khalifa Terrace Martin Renaissance aims combine Salcido’s industry expertise hands-on advocacy offering personalized support creative resources including private studio space empower artists partners.
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Andrew Friedman (Stage Left Global)
‘Stage Left Global’, a Philly-based independent international touring agency officially launches under veteran agent ‘Andrew Friedman’. Built on an artist-first DIY ethos the agency represents diverse roster spanning genres cultures including Button Masher Taylor Eigsti Sungazer Thundersmack Lau Noah more Stage Left Global says it is one few U.S agencies booking globally while ensuring artists maintain full creative control Friedman who previously founded Candlewick Artists worked Royal Artist Group sees company movement rooted strong relationships long-term strategy Partnering Peter Bozem Frankfurt Stage Left Global offers comprehensive worldwide touring strategies.
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‘Rupert Hollier + Rosie Hill (Atlantic Screen Group)
'Atlantic Screen Group' has announced an expansion its music publishing sync operations alongside key promotions partnerships ‘Rupert Hollier’ has been promoted chief operating officer while 'Rosie Hill' becomes president Nightjar Music Nightjar Songs Publishing after driving significant growth since Former Decca Records sync executive ‘Tom Paul’ joins Nightjar sync team Nightjar entered exclusive creative publishing partnership with ‘Alex Eden Smith’. Founded in ASG operates globally across music publishing supervision film TV music services Atlantic Screen Music Atlantic Screen Scores Nightjar Simon Fawcett CEO off ASG said latest moves underscores commitment expanding creative ecosystem while remaining independent collaborative writer artist focused fast evolving global music landscape.
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‘ICYMI’
‘Wasserman Music’ strengthened its U.K division three senior hires‘Paul Ryan’ joined SVP agent bringing extensive experience rock metal including work Bring Me Horizon‘Rebecca Laurie’ became tour marketing manager leveraging over decade festival tour marketing AEG DICE‘Chris Lander’ now vp artist services following senior roles Global Media …‘Austin Daboh'</strong exited his senior role Atlantic Records five years where served EVP Atlantic Records U.K since '23 President Black Music … Finally lost‘Claire Rothman’(pictured former president general manager‘The Forum’) near L.A She was .
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