Tuesday, March 17, 2020
NOISEMAKERS: THEY HAVE THE HEAT
In our latest roundoup of Noisemakers, we present a fresh batch of rising professionals from different parts of the biz whose dedication and effort make their superiors look good.
At the very least, we’re told copies of our mag make for decent paper towels, which could come in handy during this pandemic.
Marcus Grant
VP, Digital Strategy, Def Jam We’re certain that Grant has his hands full at the moment, with Jhené Aiko’s Chilombo having a breakthrough release week and dominating streaming. This seasoned pro became well acquainted with Def Jam while managing rap royalty Big Boi and fondly recalls the campaign for his first solo album, Sir Lucious Left Foot, The Son of Chico Dusty. Grant knocks it outta the park outside the biz as well, as he’s able to rake inside a 90mph batting cage.
Aura Harewood
VP, Urban Marketing, Interscope Harewood had a front-row seat to a truly viral ride while handling the marketing campaign for Rae Sremmurd during the “Black Beatles” #mannequinchallenge. The impact was so deep that it boosted the song to #1 for seven weeks—and the duo even connected with Paul McCartney. At the moment, Harewood is working with the LVRN team on more content for Summer Walker and with Moneybagg Yo, both of whom had major release weeks. Somehow, she still finds time to teach Zumba three times a week.
Carter Gregory
Director, A&R, Capitol The Tower creative oversees A&R for FLETCHER and Terrell Hines; the former just dropped her new single, “Forever.” Along with seeing FLETCHER make a powerful connection with fans at a Brooklyn gig last year, Gregory counts witnessing Beychella in person as a personal highlight. If you need more background on him, check out his appearance on MTV’s Made in 2008, on which he attempted to become a bodybuilder. Although he didn’t choose that career, you can still find him on Instagram, straight-flexin’.
Brooke Hardesty
Senior Director, Interactive Marketing, Warner Music Nashville It certainly makes Hardesty’s job a lot easier that Grammy winners Dan + Shay have a stellar relationship with their fans. She’s watched their career explode to household-name level while being on the front lines of interactive, which makes it even more fulfilling. She’s currently connecting fans with rising stars Ingrid Andress and Shy Carter, who continue to bend country-music norms. If you’re looking to find Hardesty in East Nashville, odds are she’s getting her fix at a local coffee shop, where everybody knows her name.
Gabz Landman
VP, A&R, Warner Records
Being early and right has been a common theme for Landman. Along with championing Dua Lipa from the start, she inked Amy Allen (whom she now manages) to a pub deal and set up Allen’s hit co-writes, “Without Me” and “Adore You.” At Warner, she’s signed Allen (again) and closed a competitive deal for MyKey, as well as helping U.K. acts Anne-Marie and Lewis Blissett with U.S. collabs. Landman somehow managed to get an invite to Kanye’s wedding-rehearsal dinner in Versailles, but she won’t be satisfied until she meets Britney Spears.
Kelly Benini
Marketing Director, Altadena
Benini got her first taste of the music biz when she booked gigs for acts including Travis Scott and twenty one pilots as a Syracuse undergrad. After graduating from the Bandier Program, she accelerated her career, landing at CAA and working under Head of Music Rob Light. Now, she’s knee-deep in marketing campaigns at the late busbee’s Altadena, working with R&B/pop crooner Conor Matthews, Lindsey Lomis and Riley Roth. Benini can make light of any situation; just check out the pop art she creates on her socials.
Tricia Fontneau-Ramos
A&R Coordinator, Hollywood Records
Fontneau-Ramos is using her A&R chops—which she honed while working in the publishing sector—on current projects with DREAMERS and Sofia Carson, while setting up a songwriting camp for the women’s-empowerment collective She Is the Music. Tricia’s voice—which we assume is as angelic as they come, since she’s performed in a choir with the L.A. Philharmonic under maestro Gustavo Dudamel—will be heard during a handful of panels at several upcoming music expos—unless they get canceled, of course.
Spencer Bistricer
A&R, Primary Wave Entertainment
Bistricer handles an active roster of creators at the Wave, including producer M-Phazes, DJ Whiteshadow and Mitch Allan. He also manages Midi Jones (Alessia Cara, Ella Mai, Demi Lovato) under his own management company, Reignbow. His first signing at PW was producer Tim Randolph (Imagine Dragons, YUNGBLUD, Whethan). Pop-culture stans will forever thank Bistricer for hopping on a flight from London to L.A. to deliver a dress to Lana Del Rey for the “Lust for Life” video shoot while interning at TaP Music. Ironically, this globetrotter still hasn’t learned to drive since moving to L.A.—typical New Yorker.
At the very least, we’re told copies of our mag make for decent paper towels, which could come in handy during this pandemic.
Marcus Grant
VP, Digital Strategy, Def Jam We’re certain that Grant has his hands full at the moment, with Jhené Aiko’s Chilombo having a breakthrough release week and dominating streaming. This seasoned pro became well acquainted with Def Jam while managing rap royalty Big Boi and fondly recalls the campaign for his first solo album, Sir Lucious Left Foot, The Son of Chico Dusty. Grant knocks it outta the park outside the biz as well, as he’s able to rake inside a 90mph batting cage.
Aura Harewood
VP, Urban Marketing, Interscope Harewood had a front-row seat to a truly viral ride while handling the marketing campaign for Rae Sremmurd during the “Black Beatles” #mannequinchallenge. The impact was so deep that it boosted the song to #1 for seven weeks—and the duo even connected with Paul McCartney. At the moment, Harewood is working with the LVRN team on more content for Summer Walker and with Moneybagg Yo, both of whom had major release weeks. Somehow, she still finds time to teach Zumba three times a week.
Carter Gregory
Director, A&R, Capitol The Tower creative oversees A&R for FLETCHER and Terrell Hines; the former just dropped her new single, “Forever.” Along with seeing FLETCHER make a powerful connection with fans at a Brooklyn gig last year, Gregory counts witnessing Beychella in person as a personal highlight. If you need more background on him, check out his appearance on MTV’s Made in 2008, on which he attempted to become a bodybuilder. Although he didn’t choose that career, you can still find him on Instagram, straight-flexin’.
Brooke Hardesty
Senior Director, Interactive Marketing, Warner Music Nashville It certainly makes Hardesty’s job a lot easier that Grammy winners Dan + Shay have a stellar relationship with their fans. She’s watched their career explode to household-name level while being on the front lines of interactive, which makes it even more fulfilling. She’s currently connecting fans with rising stars Ingrid Andress and Shy Carter, who continue to bend country-music norms. If you’re looking to find Hardesty in East Nashville, odds are she’s getting her fix at a local coffee shop, where everybody knows her name.
Gabz Landman
VP, A&R, Warner Records
Being early and right has been a common theme for Landman. Along with championing Dua Lipa from the start, she inked Amy Allen (whom she now manages) to a pub deal and set up Allen’s hit co-writes, “Without Me” and “Adore You.” At Warner, she’s signed Allen (again) and closed a competitive deal for MyKey, as well as helping U.K. acts Anne-Marie and Lewis Blissett with U.S. collabs. Landman somehow managed to get an invite to Kanye’s wedding-rehearsal dinner in Versailles, but she won’t be satisfied until she meets Britney Spears.
Kelly Benini
Marketing Director, Altadena
Benini got her first taste of the music biz when she booked gigs for acts including Travis Scott and twenty one pilots as a Syracuse undergrad. After graduating from the Bandier Program, she accelerated her career, landing at CAA and working under Head of Music Rob Light. Now, she’s knee-deep in marketing campaigns at the late busbee’s Altadena, working with R&B/pop crooner Conor Matthews, Lindsey Lomis and Riley Roth. Benini can make light of any situation; just check out the pop art she creates on her socials.
Tricia Fontneau-Ramos
A&R Coordinator, Hollywood Records
Fontneau-Ramos is using her A&R chops—which she honed while working in the publishing sector—on current projects with DREAMERS and Sofia Carson, while setting up a songwriting camp for the women’s-empowerment collective She Is the Music. Tricia’s voice—which we assume is as angelic as they come, since she’s performed in a choir with the L.A. Philharmonic under maestro Gustavo Dudamel—will be heard during a handful of panels at several upcoming music expos—unless they get canceled, of course.
Spencer Bistricer
A&R, Primary Wave Entertainment
Bistricer handles an active roster of creators at the Wave, including producer M-Phazes, DJ Whiteshadow and Mitch Allan. He also manages Midi Jones (Alessia Cara, Ella Mai, Demi Lovato) under his own management company, Reignbow. His first signing at PW was producer Tim Randolph (Imagine Dragons, YUNGBLUD, Whethan). Pop-culture stans will forever thank Bistricer for hopping on a flight from London to L.A. to deliver a dress to Lana Del Rey for the “Lust for Life” video shoot while interning at TaP Music. Ironically, this globetrotter still hasn’t learned to drive since moving to L.A.—typical New Yorker.