MOVES AT DEF JAM: SHEER BRILLIANCE

Noah Sheer will head up Def Jam’s radio promotion team at the national level. Based in Santa Monica, he will report jointly to incoming Chairman/CEO Tunji Balogun and EVP/GM Nicki Farag.

Sheer, who has perfected “hey buddy” over his 22 years at the company, has in turn promoted two of his lieutenants, Laurie LaMartina and Mundo Garcia to Vice President, Promotion.

“I have had the pleasure and honor of working with Noah for 20 years,” Farag said. “His love, respect and reverence for the Def Jam logo—its artists and legacy and most of all music—is unmatched. I’m beyond proud to see him elevated in this capacity and to continue to work alongside him every day. Noah’s leadership, passion and talent will continue to leave its mark on the future of this company.”

Sheer has served as Executive Vice President, Rhythm/Crossover & Lifestyle Promotion, since 2018, following a two-year stint as Senior Vice President, Rhythm/Crossover & Dance Promotion.

He began his music career in 1998 as a promotion assistant at Arista Records, then joined Def Jam in 2000 as Mid-Atlantic Regional Promotion Manager. After four years, he was promoted to Senior Director, Rhythm Promotion.

His new VPs are based in New York, where Garcia will lead radio promotion nationally at the Rhythm format and LaMartina will do so at the Top 40, Hot AC and AC formats.

“I am constantly beyond impressed by what Laurie and Mundo have been able to achieve—in both promotion and overall as executives—in their time here at Def Jam,” Sheer said. “Their growth and evolution have been nothing short of remarkable.”

LaMartina, who began her career in music in 2002, joined Def Jam in 2015 as Northeast Regional Promotion Manager; Garcia started as an intern at IDJ in 2009 and has served as Vice President, Rhythm Promotion, since 2018.