Busta Rhymes to Receive Hip-Hop Icon Award During Harlem Week

Busta Rhymes will be presented with the “Hip Hop Icon Award” by Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce executive board on Sunday as part of Harlem Day, the final event closing out Harlem Week, a series of free, local community events for residents and NYC residents. The presentation will take place at St. Nicholas Park, where Busta’s son Trillian Wood-Smith will be performing on the Harlem Week stage.

Also taking place this weekend is a Harlem Week Block Party honoring DJ and record producer DJ Clark Kent and singer/songwriter Angie Stone; a street renaming in honor of singer, actor and civil rights activist Harry Belafonte; and a tribute to musical genius and composer Quincy Jones by “Dancing with the Stars” luminary Ray Chew to close the celebration.

+ Dina LaPolt, a veteran music attorney and advocate and cofounder of Songwriters of North America is set to launch her new podcast, “The Stiletto Room,” on August 20. The premiere episode features Grammy-winning and Oscar-nominated singer-songwriter Siedah Garrett, known for co-penning Michael Jackson’s iconic “Man in the Mirror” and other hits.

New episodes will release every Wednesday; this season’s guests include Tinashe, Deadmau5, Morgan Wade, Chaz Bono, Prophet, Shani Darden, Liz Hernandez and Jason Lee, among others.

“I’ve spent my career fighting for creators, amplifying voices, and telling the stories others are afraid to tell,” LaPolt says. “This podcast is an extension of that — an open invitation to sit at my table and talk about what really matters.”

Directed by Mike Melendy, the podcast marks the first project under the newly launched LaPolt Media, which also includes her forthcoming book “Street Smart: Succeeding in a Man’s World,” out Oct. 6 on Burman Books.

+ Stem is launching a new partnership with producer Dímelo Flow.

Known for his work with artists including Arcangel, Ozuna, Sech, Daddy Yankee, Bad Bunny, Rauw Alejandro, Chencho Corleone and more, Flow is stepping into releasing music independently.

“This next chapter is all about freedom,” said Dímelo Flow. “Freedom to move how I want, release what I want, and build something for the long run. I’ve always worked to elevate the genre and the artists around me—now I’m doing that with full control. Stem is the right partner to help bring that vision to life.”

Stem will support Flow through personalized artist services, distribution, and release strategy, acting as an extension of his team. The partnership allows him to maintain ownership while scaling his creative output.

“Dímelo Flow is a pillar of latin urban music and a driving force behind its global evolution,” said Chris Allen, head of artist and label Rrlations, at Stem. “His decision to go independent—and to do it with us—means a great deal. We’re excited to help him bring this new chapter to life and to support more artists in the Latin space who want to build on their own terms.”

Thursday, August 14

Jessica Eason and Dante Smith are Capitol Music Group’s newest senior vice presidents, the company announced Wednesday. Eason and Smith will join Justin Grant, named last year as svp/head of urban digital, to lead the group’s urban marketing department.

Eason joined Capitol Music Group seven years prior, and began her career as a publicist for PMK*BNC.

“Working alongside this incredible team of executives, partners and artists at Capitol during my time at the label has been hugely gratifying,” said Eason in a statement. “I look forward to collaborating with Justin, Dante and the entire marketing team to launch the next generation of artists at Capitol.”

Smith, who was named head of Motown digital last year, joined the group four years ago and has worked with artists including Offset, Quavo, Ice Spice and Kali Uchis.

“Together, Jessica, Dante and Justin form a team of marketing all-stars that can help us to supercharge our campaigns and help to build and brand true career artists,” said Tom March, chairman and CEO of Capitol Music Group, in a statement.

+ The Hispanic Heritage Foundation has named Rauw Alejandro as this year’s recipient of its Hispanic Heritage Award for Vision, the organization announced this week. Alejandro will be recognized at the Warner Theater in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 4; the ceremony will air later on PBS.

“Thank you for this Vision Award at the Hispanic Heritage Awards. It’s an honor to join the list of incredible creatives who have received this recognition. This is just the beginning,” said Alejandro in a statement.

Previous recipients of the Vision award include Bad Bunny, Wisin, Gael Garcia Bernal and Robert Rodriguez, among others. The Hispanic Heritage Awards were established by the White House in 1988 to mark the creation of Hispanic Heritage Month in America, celebrated from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 each year.

In tandem with the announcement, Alejandro also named his next record: “With my next project, ‘Capítulo 0,’ I want to keep showcasing not only Puerto Rico, but the full essence of the Caribbean,” Alejandro continued.

Alejandro’s most recent album, “Cosa Nuestra,” peaked at No. 6 on the all-inclusive Billboard 200 albums chart and spent six weeks atop Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart.

+ Zoe Barton has been named Mom+Pop’s newest executive vice president of digital, viral, commerce and marketing, overseeing these departments globally. Barton will report to Mom+Pop founder and co-owner Michael Gladstone and co-owner/co-president Thaddeus Rudd.

“[Zoe] is an artist in her own right, a visionary, and we deeply value her acumen and creative instincts,” said Michael Goldstone in a statement. “We are looking forward to seeing her soar at Mom+Pop.”

Barton comes to Mom+Pop from Origin, where she was general manager and head of creative.

+ Big Machine Label Group (BMLG) has named Justin Ford as its new vp, creative design and branding. Ford was most recently senior creative director at the label group.

“Justin is the ultimate creative executive,” said BMLG Founder, Chairman and CEO Scott Borchetta in a statement. “He always over-delivers with extraordinary speed and a smile, which also makes him one of the company’s most popular execs.”

Ford has spent a decade with Big Machine and has worked with artists such as Thomas Rhett, Carly Pearce and Sheryl Crow, among others.

Thursday, Aug. 14

Spotify and Kobalt have signed a direct and multi-year licensing agreement in the United States. The agreement will expand the licensing framework to allow and protect songwriters’ participation on streaming platforms.

“We’ve always believed that better partnerships lead to better outcomes,” said Alex Norström, co-president and chief business officer, Spotify. “This agreement with Kobalt boosts our support of songwriters through a licensing model that unlocks new growth and will expand the way music is made and shared today.”

Kobalt represents songwriters including Roddy Ricch, Max Martin, Karol G, Andrew Watt, Stevie Nicks, Phoebe Bridgers, The Lumineers, Gunna, Justin Quiles, The Foo Fighters, Paul McCartney, and many more.

+ Concord Music Publishing has signed producer, songwriter and musician Fraser T Smith to a new worldwide publishing agreement. The deal encompasses Smith’s future works as well as select existing compositions from his catalog.

Smith has a career spanning more than two decades and collaborations with Adele, Stormzy, Dave, Sam Smith, Kano, Celine Dion, James Morrison and Snow Patrol. He has won a Grammy Award winner, an Ivor Novello Award recipient and a Brit Award.

Smith comments: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be joining the Concord family. Kim’s reputation and global success speak for themselves, and she’s built an exceptionally creative team and culture that feel completely aligned with our vision for this exciting new chapter.”

+ Downtown Artist and Label Services has announced a slate of signings, artist wins and promotions. At the heart of this growth are recent partnerships with leading regional artists and labels, including a newly expanded partnership with Genesis Records to include Mexican singer-songwriter, Edgardo Nuñez’s catalog; a partnership with singer and composer, Virlan Garcia and partnerships with norteño ensemble, Conjunto Nuevo Amanecer, rising música mexicana artist, Hernán Trejo and Movic Records, the influential label behind iconic rock bands PXNDX and Los Claxons.

Downtown’s growth is further underscored by the promotion of Lorena Cabral to director, A&R, Mexico. Since joining Downtown in 2024 as senior manager, A&R, Cabral has played a pivotal role in identifying and developing talent in the música mexicana space, contributing to the signings of Virlan Garcia, Conjunto Nuevo Amanecer, Movic Records and more.

In addition, Daniela Gutiérrez has been elevated to director, marketing, Latin, Downtown Artist and Label Services. Based in Mexico City, Gutiérrez has led marketing campaigns across Mexico, driving regional success for artists and labels including, Netón Vega (Josa Records), Luis R Conriquez (Kartel Music) and the late Lefty SM (Alzada).

“By helping our artists stay true to themselves while reaching new global audiences, Lorena and Daniela’s leadership has been a huge part of Downtown’s success in the region,” said Downtown Artist and Label Services VP, A&R (Latin), Raymond Tapia. “Their work has helped lay the foundation for the next generation of Música Mexicana, we’re excited to keep showing up and supporting however we can.”

Tuesday, Aug. 12

Folk singer-songwriter Bebe Stockwell, currently on Columbia Records, has signed with TMWRK for management and Wasserman for touring. Andrew McInnes and Nick Palmacci will oversee for TMWRK, Kiely Mosiman for Wasserman.

“Bebe represents the best of the next generation of folk and Americana artists,” says Andrew McInnes, CEO and founder of TMWRK, in a statement. “She’s not only bringing a new, fresh perspective to the genre but an entire new age group of fans.”

Stockwell next performs Aug. 31 in Seattle during the Bumbershoot festival.

+ Country star Morgan Wallen and agent Austin Neal’s Nashville-based Sticks Management is expanding, the company has announced, signing Warner Nashville singer-songwriter Gavin Adcock.

Adcock’s manager, Saxon Curry, is also joining Sticks Management. Adcock is also signed to WME for booking and Farris, Self & Moore for business management. Adcock recently came under fire for criticizing the perceived “country-ness” of Beyoncé’s album Cowboy Carter.

Adcock, who was nominated for new male artist of the year at the 2025 Academy of Country Music Awards, will open for Wallen this weekend at two performances in Cleveland. Adcock’s single “A Cigarette” was certified Platinum by the RIAA, while his sophomore album, Own Worst Enemy, is set to be released this Friday, Aug. 15.

+ Rob Inadomi, most recently vp of A&R at RCA Records, is joining the new venture Nebula17 as a founding partner, head of global A&R and president of label. Nebula17 was launched by former AVEX USA CEO Naoki Osada.

In his new role Inadomi will lead the development of Nebula17’s U.S. label operations and lead creative strategy and curation of songwriters and producers for Japanese artists in partnership with Nebula17, with a focus on the U.S. market.

“Nebula17 is about building a culture that truly puts artists and their music first,” Inadomi said in a statement. “Together at Nebula17, we’re committed to creating an environment where artists at every stage of their careers receive true support — from A&R to strategic marketing and long-term career development.”

“Rob is an exceptional executive who seamlessly blends creative intuition with a strategic mindset,” said Naoki Osada, founder & CEO of Nebula17, in a statement. “His proven A&R success and genuine passion for artist development make him the ideal partner to shape the future of Nebula17’s label and create new opportunities for Japanese artists worldwide.”

+ Benny Brown, founder of BBR Music Group and Quartz Hill Music Group, has announced his newest project, a music publishing company called North Chapel Music, along with its first big move.

In announcing the launch of North Chapel, Brown also announced the acquisition of all assets of Wide Open Music Publishing and the transfer of those assets to the new company. The catalog of Wide Open included Brett Young’s “In Case You Didn’t Know,” George Birge’s “Mind On You” and Matt Stell’s “Prayed For You.”

In addition to catalog, Wide Open Music’s roster of songwriters was also brought over to North Chapel. Those artists include Jaron Boyer, Neal Coty, Matt Gorman and Joe Hanson, among others. The company also announced the signing of publishing deals with five more songwriters: Matt Cooper, Spencer Hatcher, Connor Hatcher, Jason Sellers and Jennifer Wayne.

Former Wide Open executive Paul Compton was named executive vp of North Chapel Music, responsible for all day-to-day creative and administrative management. As well as being signed to the company as a songwriter, Jason Sellers was named North Chapel Music’s senior creative director. Wendy Buckner was named creative director, reporting to Compton.

“I’m excited to launch North Chapel Music, where great songs and great songwriters will always be our greatest assets,” Brown said in a statement. “There’s so much value in our catalog, and especially in our people, so I jumped at the chance to get back into the publishing business.”

Monday, Aug. 11

Musexpo has announced Kirk Sommer, WME’s senior partner and global co-head of music, as their International Music Person of the Year for 2025.

Sommer will be recognized for his years-long efforts in aiding the careers of Amy Winehouse, Adele, Andrea Bocelli, Artic Monkeys, Benson Boone, Billie Eilish, the Killers and many more at a VIP Awards Gala Luncheon on March 24, 2026 in Burbank, Calif.

As part of a weeklong series of industry gatherings including the global synch and brands summit, the A&R summit, and other marquee events, Musexpo will bring together key decision-makers and innovators from around the world to examine the future of music, media and technology.

Prior to the luncheon, Musexpo will host a keynote conversation with Sommer, offering a rare, in-depth look into his professional journey — from starting in the WME mailroom in 2000 to becoming an industry leader in global music representation.

Sat Bisla, president and founder of A&R Worldwide and Musexpo, stated, “Kirk M. Sommer has not only shaped the careers of some of the world’s greatest musical voices but has also helped redefine what it means to be a leader in today’s ever-evolving music industry. His deep respect for artists, his commitment to mentorship, as well as his strong global perspective and vision make him an exceptional choice for this honor. It’s our privilege to recognize his outstanding contributions to the worldwide music ecosystem.”

+ Lo Ting-Fai, known as Lofai, has been appointed president of Warner Music APAC, at Warner Music Group. Effective Aug. 11, he will be based in Hong Kong, reporting to Robert Kyncl, CEO of WMG. All of the company’s recorded music territory heads across the Asia-Pacific region will report to Lofai.

Lofai joins WMG from telecoms giant PCCW, where he most recently served as CEO of its subsidiary MakerVille, a leading entertainment company which focuses on content creation, artist management, and live events, and COO of Viu, its regional OTT streaming platform. He has also written hit songs under the pseudonym “Yu Ri.”

Lofai said: “I’m excited to be taking up this incredible role. WMG has been rewriting the rules when it comes to how a music company works in our changing industry, and it has massive ambitions for growth in the APAC region. I look forward to collaborating with Robert and WMG’s teams around the world as we help more Asian artists hit the global stage, strengthen our incredible catalog, and find fresh, innovative ways to build passionate, loyal fanbases.”

Kyncl adds: “Lofai will oversee many of our highest priority markets both today and in the future, with culturally diverse music scenes, filled with next generation talent and iconic copyrights. He brings his creative flair, business acumen, and connections throughout the digital economy to this super important role. Together, we’re committed to finding and developing artists with massive creative and commercial impact, evolving our suite of services, and growing our market share across the region.”

+ Red Bull Records has signed country artist and award-winning songwriter Pynk Beard (Sebastian Kole) alongside the release of his new single, “Sip,” the third offering from his debut EP, “Red Dirt Diaries,” coming this fall.

On the signing, Greg Hammer, managing director of Red Bull Records states: “Pynk Beard effortlessly blends his traditional Southern roots with culturally resonant lyrics, creating a sound that is truly original. To watch him build a loyal following before releasing any music officially has been incredibly impressive and speaks to how special he is. We’re thrilled to welcome him to Red Bull Records and we’re confident he has a bright future ahead of him that we’re proud to champion.”

“I’m so grateful to be a part of the Red Bull Records family!” Pynk Beard added. “They have been nothing short of amazing in supporting me in the release of my first two singles ‘I Lived’ and ‘Mine Lord Willing’, and their genuine interest and care for me as an artist has shown in every action. The future here is bright and Pynk.”

+ Los Angeles-based lifestyle and fitness apparel brand YoungLA has tapped artist Lil Baby to star in the brand’s latest campaign drop launching online Aug. 13. “YoungLA x Lil Baby” merges streetwear with Lil Baby’s signature style and influence, and includes standout denim outerwear and bottoms, graphic tees, and a statement leather jacket featuring the Batman emblem.

+ Adidas has announced multi-platinum international DJ-producer Uncle Waffles as the latest global talent to join “Superstar: The Original” a campaign celebrating the sneaker’s long-lasting influence in sports, culture and beyond. The partnership with Uncle Waffles is adidas’ newest installment of its global campaign starring a multi-generational cast of original voices, including Samuel L. Jackson, who narrates the campaign, as well as Missy Elliott, Jennie, Anthony Edwards, Mark Gonzales, GloRilla, Teezo Touchdown and Gabbriette.

+ 5020 Records, a division of Sony Music, has signed singer-songwriter Carla Morrison to its roster, in the representation of her music catalog.

A three-time Latin Grammy winner and two-time Grammy nominee, Morrison is widely recognized for her blend of indie pop and alternative styles. Originally from Tecate, Baja California, Morrison shared news of her signing with 5020 Records via her official social media channels, posting a welcome letter from the label thanking her for entrusting them with her music.

Launched in 2022, 5020 Records is a Sony Music imprint that represents a dynamic lineup of talent, including Residente, Beele, Ca7riel and Paco Amoroso, Christina Aguilera, Kany García, Nathy Peluso, Kenia OS, and Tini.