NOISEMAKERS:
THEY'RE BLOOMING
In our latest roundup, we present eight more stars of tomorrow from various parts of the biz whose dedication and effort make their superiors look good.
This week's entrants will also find their faces in our most recent mag. Lucky for them, this feature—and $21—will get them a probiotic smoothie at participating Erewhon locations.
Neelam Thadhani
Artist Manager, Range Media Partners
For Thadhani, nothing felt more surreal than seeing her client Jack Harlow work with John Mayer and Justin Timberlake—whose music she grew up on—for his album Come Home the Kids Miss You. Besides handling creative and production for several of Harlow’s music videos (“Tyler Herro,” “THRU THE NIGHT” f/Bryson Tiller) and TV performances (SNL, Fallon), Thadhani’s been prepping for the rapper’s world tour while he shoots his first film role. The Atlanta-bred manager can do just about anything—except ride a bike, she confesses.
Brennen Bryant
Manager, Hallwood Media
Back when Bryant was a senior in college, the first show he coordinated and tour-managed was Murda Beatz’ 2019 Coachella set, which featured the likes of A$AP Ferg and DMX. Now, he not only does tour management and day-to-day work for Murda but also manages a roster of nine writers, producers and engineers, including latest Hallwood signing Nickie Jon Pabón, who’s Jack Harlow’s lead engineer and live sound specialist. The manager is equally skilled in the kitchen, noting, “I can outcook any music executive. No question.” We stick to making PB&J.
Jillian Rutstein
Director, Creative Synch & Digital, Prescription Songs
For Rutstein, it doesn’t get better than working on Lauv’s pub team seven years after they became MySpace friends, in 2008. She was equally excited to help secure Joy Oladokun for The Sims Sessions, an in-game festival experience with Bebe Rexha and Glass Animals. Now, Rutstein continues to build out the IG live series she created on RX’s socials, hoping to give songwriters a face and a voice. Back in high school, she played one show at The Roxy as part of a female-fronted pop-punk band before realizing she was meant for the biz. We still can’t say the same.
Ben Schecter
Head of Partnerships & Manager, The Revels Group
On top of spearheading The Revels Group’s brand-partnerships division this year—locking in partners (10K Projects, Stem, Redbull, Ciroc) across camps, events, the new RVG x PopSockets Studios and more—Schecter’s traveled the world, all while being championed by Co-CEO Jamil Davis, since joining the company in 2020. He’s now focused on duo Ruby Red’s debut project (due 6/10 via Virgin Music) and securing more opportunities for producer clients like Ben10k (YoungBoy NBA, Rico Nasty), among others. Though Schecter’s an avid rock climber, he can’t rappel away from this feature.
James June
Creative Manager, Live Nation Urban
June has art-directed Mary J Blige’s Strength of a Woman fest and The Roots’ Picnic and worked with D-Nice on his Club Quarantine, among other career peaks. Lately, he’s been finishing the artwork for H.E.R.’s Lights on Festival (September), developing a platform for LGBTQ+ musicians called Houses of Luv (October) and launching a partnership with Black Women Photographers, which provides paid opportunities for Black female content creators in live music. Since 2021, June’s curated four exhibits in L.A. and Oakland. We’ve color-coordinated our closets.
Matthew “Matty B” Bernal
Director, Editorial & Programming, RCA
In 2022 Matty B saw the explosion of Nardo Wick’s “Who Want Smoke??” f/G Herbo, Lil Durk & 21 Savage and Latto’s chart-topping “Big Energy.” He’s also constructing streaming strategies and interfacing with DSP partners for RCA’s hip-hop roster, which includes Flo Milli, Buddy, Winners Circle, Maxo Kream and more. In 2017, he worked on Post Malone’s “rockstar” remix with Nicky Jam & Ozuna and recently helped with Sleepy Hallow’s “Mi No Sabe” remix with Casper Mágico, which he describes as “Two-stepping meets salsa,” he notes. We can’t even one-step.
Carly James
Agent, Music Touring, CAA
Among other career highlights, James saw IDLES sell out a 4k-cap venue during their first Mexico City show, watched a crowd at Coachella sing along to girl in red’s “i’ll call you mine” and greeted fans with The Linda Lindas after their sold-out Mercury Lounge set. “My whole roster is made up of my favorite musicians,” notes James, who also works with up-and-comers like NoSo, Dawn Richard, Just Mustard, Cafuné, Chubby & the Gang and Amelia Moore. Off the clock, you can catch James roller-skating (to get as far away from us as possible).
Arhyis Eatmon
SVP, Live Experiences, 237 Global
Entering the biz as a roadie for acts like Ariana Grande, Kanye West and Justin Bieber, Eatmon was excited to arrange VIP experiences for 100k+ during the latter’s 2018 Purpose Tour years later. Recently, he led the design and execution of Hella Mega’s traveling Dive Bar on the first nationwide stadium tour after the pandemic. He’s now devising elevated experiences for concerts by Shawn Mendes, Wiz Khalifa, Smashing Pumpkins, Teyana Taylor and more. Eatmon was a nationally ranked debater in high school. We were just high at school.
