Music Industry Moves: Jeff Jones steps down as CEO of The Beatles’ Apple Corps

Jeff Jones will go out as the Beatles’ CEO Apple Corps Ltd after 17 years on the job, the company announced Monday.

Apple Corps Ltd was founded in 1968 by the Beatles to manage the group’s interests across music, film, publishing and more. Jones’ last effort as CEO included spearheading the 2023 release of the Beatles’ final single, “Now and Then.”

Jones joined the company in 2007 after serving as an executive vice president at Sony/BMG. In a statement, the company wrote, “The entire Apple Corps family wishes Jeff Jones the best of luck and would like to extend our sincere thanks for his valuable contributions to the company and The Beatles legacy.”

+ Concord purchased “significant portions” of Daddy Yankee’s music catalog and recording catalog. This deal includes songs from 2002 to 2019, including some of his world hits: “Gasolina,” “Con Calma” and “Despacito.” Concord also owns the rights to his name, image and likeness.

The program will be managed from Concord’s Miami office.

+ UK music care company 45RPM has announced the launch of a music publishing arm with the support of Universal Music Publishing Group.

“By joining the music publishing industry, 45RPM will showcase exceptionally talented composers and songwriters who are on a path to success in the worlds of Film, TV, Advertising and Sports,” the company wrote in a press release. “This partnership provides a unique opportunity for composers and songwriters to benefit from the expertise of both, combining the creative abilities of top music directors at 45RPM and renowned facilities and full Universal Music Publishing.”

“We are excited to begin this new partnership with Universal Music Publishing Group,” added Ayla Owen, CEO of 45RPM. “Through this partnership, composers and songwriters can access the best of both worlds: the dedicated attention and industry insight of our experienced music executives, as well as the broad reach and legacy of Universal Music Publishing. Together, we aim to elevate the music-making process and amplify the voices of exceptional talent around the world.”

“What we also hope to do in our partnership with UMPG is to bring more composers into the world of composition and to help assist composers in creating music for Film and TV,” said said Nick Angel, founder and director of 45RPM. “We are well placed to be the second bridge, and we would be glad if in any way we could be an inspiration to both.”

+ THE LAKE announced a new partnership with a Manila-based management and production company, ASINTADA. The retailer also announced new jobs in APAC, including Noorcahyo Istyabudi and Jaya Singh who will lead business development in Indonesia and South Asia respectively.

Founded in 2012, ASINTADA represents some of the local hip-hop stars, including Filipino rapper, Gloc-9. As part of the broader partnership, FUGA will provide global marketing and planning services to ASINTADA which will also benefit from access to distributor practices and statistics.

+ Capitol Records named it Justin Grant VP / urban digital head at the label. In his new role Grant will oversee the creation and execution of digital marketing campaigns for a growing roster of R&B and hip hop artists. The company’s record label includes Capitol, Motown and Priority Records.

Grant comes to Capitol from Atlantic Records where he served as VP of Digital Marketing and Sports Relations. He spent a full decade at Atlantic, starting his career as an intern in 2014 before joining the digital marketing team a year later. Grant will live in New York. In addition, Capitol announced the promotion of Dante Smith to the position of head of Motown Digital. In this new role, Smith will oversee digital marketing campaigns for Motown’s artist roster, D2C initiatives, and the Motown Records brand.

Over the past four years Smith has been an integral part of the digital marketing team, working closely with artists such as Quavo, Toosi, JT, Kali Uchis, Lil Baby, Lil Yachty, Ice Spice, Queen Naija, Migos and City Girls, to name a few. Smith came to Capitol in 2020, after spending time at Revolt TV and HipHopDX.

+ Try the Bolt, Gaia Music Festival and Long live the Women of the Nation they start”Rock the Vote: Make a Good Noise,” a new initiative for 20 pop-up, one-day community musicians and early voting nationwide.

Singers will sing “Beautiful Noise,” a Grammy-nominated song by Alicia Keys and Brandi Carlile, celebrating the power of collective action and the power of diverse voices united in harmony. After each event, participants will be encouraged to vote early.

There will be no auditions or prerequisites — “just faith in the power of the community, the joy of singing along, and the importance of making your voice heard in this election,” reads the press release. Participants will get access to a playlist, demo, exclusive study tracks and digital social media tools upon RSVPing. After the concert, which will begin on Sunday, October 20, in New York City, attendees will have the option of heading to early voting locations.

+ Sony Music Publishing Nashville today announced that it has partnered with One4 Entertainment’s Brian Wright to sign the songwriter Sadie Bass to the global broadcasting agreement. Bass has been writing and recording new music, which should be released in early 2025.

Bass has opened for notable artists including Brantley Gilbert, Thomas Rhett and Hank Williams Jr. He has also recently performed at festivals including Rock The Country, Carolina Music Festival, Tortuga, and Faster Horses in his native Michigan. Additionally, he was featured in season 22 of “The Voice.”

+ Universal Music Group Nashville recommended Damon Moberly to the position of senior VP of promotion, effective immediately. Moberly most recently served as senior VP and head of the radio promo team for Mercury Nashville.

“Damon is such a champion of great artists and songs,” said UMGN Chairman and CEO Cindy Mabe. “His passion for music and his ability to build people and teams make him the perfect person to lead our marketing team deeper. I am honored to have Damon in this new role. “