NOISEMAKERS:
SPOOKY SEASON
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 $2.25—will get them a commemorative fun-sized chocolate bar at participating Trader Joe's locations.
Jonathan Hicks
Head of A&R, Internet Money Records
Co-Founder, Undeniable Management
Hicks rose from intern to head of A&R at Internet Money in a mere three years, discovering, signing and developed rising 10K Projects acts Dro Kenji and Rot Ken. In 2020, he and Joshua Hall launched Undeniable Management, home to clients Scorey—signed by Polo G to his Columbia imprint—and producer Synthetic, who placed five songs on Yeat’s 2 Alivë, as well as cuts with Lil Uzi Vert and Lil Gotit before signing a pub deal with Internet Money/10K Publishing. All we’ve done since 2020 is consume yeast.
Elle Cameron
Co-Founder & CEO, The Creatives Group
Founder, Elle Records
Cameron once pitched Taylor Swift on an idea that ended up breaking a record, has interviewed Stevie Nicks about “Landslide” and learned to play drums from Tommy Lee. Having spent over two years at Universal as pop curator/strategy, working with Swift, Justin Bieber, Halsey and Shawn Mendes, she recently launched Elle Records with TikTok. At The Creatives Group, she manages Grey, Gia Woods and Friendzone. When Cameron was seven, she “opened” for Britney Spears, singing “Lucky” at Staples Center to a sold-out audience. We’re lucky no one’s ever heard us sing.
Justin Hunter
Chief of Staff, S10 Entertainment
After preparing for Anitta’s Coachella set, Hunter danced on top of a riser wearing an authentic Brazilian bate-bola costume, an experience he’ll never forget. He’s presently focused on Anitta and Normani’s next studio albums and building out S10’s venture fund and film division. When Hunter was five, he begged his parents for over a year to get him a dog but was instead given a fish, which he then named “dog” so he could tell everyone he had a dog. We tell people we’re a reputable publication, but no one really believes us.
Brigitte Alanis
Attorney, King, Holmes, Paterno & Soriano LLP
Since joining King, Holmes, Paterno & Soriano, Alanis has worked firm clients Roddy Ricch (now out with Post Malone), Calvin Harris, Dominic Fike (the face of YSL and Calvin Klein), Ava Max (whose sophomore set is due next year) and Nicole Scherzinger. She’s closed major-label deals for Alex Warren and Alexa Cappelli and is avidly anticipating the success of BabyJake, Becca Means, Emei, Noah Davis and Michal Leah. Alanis was once a nationally ranked figure skater; she coaches kids in her free time. We’ve been known to need life coaching.
Mathew Hyun
Senior Manager, Keel
A&R, Thirty Knots
From assisting on projects by artists like Louis the Child, EKALI, SNBRN and Dr. Fresch to scouting, signing and developing Jingle Ball participant Nicky Youre―his first management client―whose platinum-certified “Sunroof” hit #1 at Top 40 and Hot AC and was nominated for an MTV VMA for Song of Summer, Hyun’s proud to have joined the Keel team right out of college. He’s excited to be working on the rollout of SEBASTIAN PAUL’s debut album, scheduled for 2023. A hockey lover, Hyun has started a team with other industry folks. We were not asked to join.
Sonali Mehta
Director, Digital Marketing, Arista Records
While at YouTube, Mehta not only got to Zoom with Justin Bieber but also managed to secure the largest billboard in Times Square to promote four artists with Asian heritage, a proud moment for this Indian American. At Arista, she’s running digital activations for Grammy nominee JP Saxe and assisting with digital strategy for Måneskin. She’s also excited to be working with artists like Bishop Briggs, Tempest and new signee Katie Gregson-MacLeod. Mehta’s certified in the art of baking and decorating multitiered cakes. Our cooking skills are limited to popcorn.
Sean Moran
Director, Global Digital Commercial Strategy, Ingrooves
Among Moran’s claims to fame: He was thanked in the liner notes to one of Gang Starr’s albums. In 2016 he used Seattle singer-songwriter Rocky Votolato as a reference to help him land his job at Ingrooves, where he’s now focused on The 1975’s new album, Being Funny in a Foreign Language, and the remastered version of Cursive’s Domestica. In another life, Moran plays guitar for a band that’s released two EPs and has opened for Thrice, Saosin, Tigers Jaw and Frank Iero of My Chemical Romance. We’re just tone-deaf.
Macie Spear
Global Music Partnerships, TikTok
Spear was stoked to oversee TikTok’s 2021 Pride celebration with Charli XCX and Paula Abdul at The Abbey in West Hollywood. After nearly three years leading pop artist relations on the North America Music team, a tenure marked by initiatives on behalf of Camila Cabello and Tai Verdes, she’s today amplifying campaigns and contributing to tentpole events under the aegis of Global Music Partnerships. Spear got her start as a runner for The Village, where she engineered sessions for Usher and Denzel Curry. Bet she wishes she could run away from this feature.
