Rondor Music Publishing promoted Kevin Hall to Senior Vice President of Urban Music, as announced by the company’s president Lance Freed.

“Kevin is intrinsically skilled at cultivating that most precious of all musical commodities: a great song,” said Mr. Freed. “He is an extremely talented publishing executive who always puts our songwriters and their craft first, above all else.”

Hall will continue working with songwriters and signing new artists, writers, and producers, in addition to soliciting new opportunities in television and film for the talent on the Rondor roster. In his new position, Hall is also responsible for building the company’s Urban Music department, adding support staff to further the possibilities available to Rondor writers. 

Hall joined Rondor Music Publishing in 2003, and mostly recently held the position of Vice President of Urban Music. Some of Hall’s signings at Randor have included James Fauntleroy, Sly Jordan, Jason Derulo, Kwame, Trak Starz, Underdog Entertainment, Bobby Valentino, Steve Russell, and DOC. His signings have received 14 BMI and 13 ASCAP Most Performed Song Awards.

Hall is based in Los Angeles and reports to Mr. Freed.

  

Warner Bros. Records has announced that industry veteran Todd Moscowitz, along with Asylum Records, have joined the Warner Bros. label. In his new role, Moscowitz will serve as Executive Vice President, reporting directly to Warner Bros. chairman and CEO Tom Whalley.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to work even more closely with Tom and his team and to provide Asylum artists the unparalleled resources of Warner Bros. Records,” says Moscowitz. “It’s an honor to be a part of a label so deeply-rooted in the history and culture of our business.”

“Todd’s success in urban music and his commitment to artist development make him the perfect partner for Warner Bros. Records,” says Whalley. “As the music business continues to evolve, executives such as Todd, who appreciate the importance of great artists and understand the complexities of the business, will shape the future of our industry. I am thrilled that Todd will be leading the way with me at Warner Bros. Records.”

Although Moscowitz has joined the Warner Bros. team, he will still continue to operate as the CEO of Warner Music Group’s Independent Label Group (ILG), which includes the label East West Records. In this position, Moscowitz will report to WEA Corp.’s president and CEO John Esposito.

Part of Moscowitz’s new role is to oversee the expansion of the label’s urban roster. Under the new arrangement, Asylum Records plans to take advantage of Warner Bros. Records’ marketing and promotions staff to help its up-and-coming artists, while Asylum will serve as an A&R and artist development resource for Warner Bros. Records, as the latter label tries to expand its presence in urban music. 

In 2004, Moscowitz was named president of Asylum Records, a label designed to provide full promotion, marketing and sales support to independent labels and artists in the urban genre. Some of the artists on the Asylum roster include Scarface, Bun B., Mike Jones, Paul Wall, Cam’ron, Ginuwine, Slim (of 112), and many others.

According to Variety Magazine, singer/songwriter Amanda Ghost has been named president of Epic Records, replacing Charlie Walk, who left the label at the end of last year. 

Ghost has written for many of today’s pop stars, including: James Blunt (”Beautiful”), Beyonce & Shakira (”Beautiful Liar”), and Jordin Sparks (”Tattoo”). She also co-wrote the theme for NBC’s drama Journeyman.

Columbia/Epic Label Group chairman Rob Stringer wrote in an email to staff, “In the changing environment of the music business, record labels undoubtedly need to be complete partners with the artistic community, and Amanda will be the perfect executive to meet that challenge.”

Ghost noted, “I’m not a conventional choice as an executive in the music business, but it is testament to the new mood at Sony where content is now king and the music business is being put back in the hands of creative talent such as myself. I’m here to draw on my experiences as an artist, songwriter and producer.”

Ghost, who most recently wrote songs for Beyonce’s current album, “I Am…Sasha Fierce,” released a digital-only compilation, “Blood On The Line. The Download Collection,” in April on her own Plan A Records label. She starts as president February 16th.

Former Atlantic Records and Warner/Chappell executive, Chris Hicks, has been appointed Executive Vice President at Def Jam, taking over the vacant position that became available following the death of Shakir Stewart in November of last year.

Hicks joined the Warner/Chappell staff as Vice President, Urban A&R in 2004, and was later promoted to Senior Vice President, Urban A&R for Atlantic Records and Senior Vice President, A&R and Head of Urban Music for Warner/Chappell Music in April 2007.

Hicks founded the publishing company, Noontime, in 1997, where he identified and developed numerous artists, including writers Brian Michael Cox, Jazze Pha, Dave Young and Teddy Bishop. At Warner/Chappell, he was an important figure in striking publishing agreements with T.I., Lil’ Wayne, Yung Joc, LeToya, Eric Hudson and Lloyd, in addition to helping re-sign Timbaland and Dr. Dre.

It has been confirmed by various media outlets that Jermaine Dupri has exited his executive position as the president of Urban Music at Island Records, subsidiary label of Island Def Jam. 

The Atlanta producer was appointed the Island Def Jam position back in February 2007, just after stepping down from his position as president of Urban Music at Virgin Records in October 2006.

In his role at Island Records, Dupri oversaw the label’s urban music operations and reported directly to label chairman Antonio “L.A.” Reid and Steve Bartels, president of Island Music and COO of the Island Def Jam Music Group.

During Dupri’s tenure at Island Records, he oversaw the releases of Jagged Edge’s “Baby Makin’ Project,” and his girlfriend, Janet Jackson’s “Discipline,” considered a commercial disappointment by selling only 428,000 copies. Jackson left Island Records in September 2008.

Another venture Dupri managed at the label was Tag Records, a partnership between Island Def Jam and Procter and Gamble’s TAG brand. Formed in April 2008, the project intended to create a new marketing module that allowed for new talent, like So So Def/Tag artist Q, to be cross-promoted with TAG Body sprays through print, television, radio and digital advertising.

At the present time there is no word of how Dupri’s departure will affect the So So Def/Tag partnership.