NOISEMAKERS:
THEY'RE THANKFUL
In our latest Noisemakers roundup, we present a fresh batch of rising professionals from different areas of the biz whose dedication and effort make their superiors look good. This edition's entrants will also find their faces in our recent mag, which could make for good—or disappointing—talking points during Thanksgiving dinner.
Zoe Gillespie
Director, Brand Partnerships, seventeenfifty/Capitol Music Group
While helping lead CMG’s in-house partnership agency, Gillespie has secured major pacts and branded moments involving, among others, Troye Sivan and MAC Cosmetics, FLETCHER and Bulova and Loren Gray and Forever21. She also spearheaded CMG’s partnership with Lyft and Capitol’s first-ever International Women’s Day event. Pre-pandemic, Zoe, who holds a Swiss passport, jetted off to work on Katy Perry’s “Harleys in Hawaii” video shoot on Kauai and Halsey’s Magnum Ice Cream campaign in Paris. C’est magnifique!
Ben Ezaki
Artist Manager, Roc Nation
This unpredictable year has been a momentous one for Ezaki, who handles Roc Nation artists like Kaash Paige, jetsonmade, Charlie Sloth and Jozzy. When the pandemic started, he was still an assistant, with zero clients—he now manages 10 acts who've collectively put out five albums. Ben is currently working with jetson and TP on their label BoyMeetSpace and with Westside Gunn’s Griselda Records, as well as getting Benny the Butcher’s deluxe album across the finish line. Any management growing pains have been alleviated by mass quantities of tacos and drunken Clubhouse sessions.
Malita Rice
CEO/Founder of Mogul Mentality
Rice is the driving force behind management clients OG Parker, Yung Lan, Xeryus, Kilo Keys, $K, Felipe Spain and Beezo, among others. Her work in the studio with some of her favorite artists, representation of Ski Mask the Slump God and expansion of Mogul Mentality led ASCAP to honor her at its 2020 Women Behind the Music event. A former dance teacher, Malita doesn't have time to bust many moves these days, though she wouldn’t rule out a victory dance once hit-making producer Parker’s feature-packed album is completed.
Matt Geffen
Head of A&R and Management Partner, The Revels Group
Just 21, Geffen oversees TRG’s new producer-and-songwriter division, which includes Teddy Walton (“FRANCHISE,” “No Guidance”) (Co-Management with Rose Creative Agency), Ambezza (“Life Is Good”), JULiA LEWIS, Swish and Dounia. He’s also co-A&Ring G-Eazy’s next album, home to the hit singles “Hate the Way I Miss You” f/blackbear and “Down” f/Mulatto, tracks Geffen helped put together. Matt would be graduating from USC this year had he stayed in school, but we’re going to assume the chance to work Drake’s eight sold-out nights at the Forum and Staples Center alongside TRC CEO Jamil Davis was worth the trade-off.
Cory Litwin
EVP, Hallwood Media
A seasoned hip-hop exec, Litwin recently joined Neil Jacobson’s Hallwood Media as EVP, significantly enhancing its A-list roster, including the addition of his all-star client Murda Beatz and Murda Gang Publishing. While running his own 2wenty 2wenty Music Group, Litwin co-produced the #1 Grammy-nominated Drake hit “Nice for What” with Beatz. His international talent stable boasts producers Daysix (Czech Republic) and Zypitano (UAE), who teamed up to co-produce Rod Wave’s “Rags2Riches.”
Aurielle Brooks
Attorney, Arrington & Phillips, LLP; VP/General Counsel, Collective Gallery
The Atlanta-based Brooks recently struck a deal with Atlantic for a groundbreaking new partnership with Collective Gallery, a JV launched by influential creative Cam Kirk that will sign and develop hip-hop photographers. Her clients at Arrington & Phillips include Lil Baby, Lil Keed, Kevin Gates and NBA YoungBoy, whose breakthrough landed Auri her first plaque as she was studying for the bar. A mentor for various nonprofits in ATL, this Renaissance woman is also fluent in German and plays the violin and piano.
Helen Chatham Showalter
Day-to-Day & Marketing Manager, Crowd Surf
Since she helped bring the Backstreet Boys back with their first #1 album in 20 years, Showalter has been busy introducing the world to Loren Gray and working on the return of Why Don’t We, whose new album is due early next year. She knows a thing or two about marketing and promotion—in college Helen re-tracklisted One Direction’s discography into four albums based on genre and influence, which ended up going viral on Tumblr. Pop stans of every generation thank her for her service.
JD Anderson
SVP Marketing, Epic Records
Having worked closely with hip-hop superstars from Kanye West to Future to DJ Khaled, Anderson can be counted on to quarterback a big rollout. He's assisted on Pluto’s run of #1 debuts, for instance, with High Off Life posting the biggest bow of Future’s career—during a pandemic, no less. JD got his feet wet at Def Jam back in 2010 with the launch of Kanye’s Runaway short film, for which he and Ye hit five countries in seven days while West was the biggest artist on the planet. Next stop: Baby Pluto.
