NOISEMAKERS:
MOVIN' & SHAKIN'
In our latest roundup, we present eight rising professionals from various parts of the biz whose dedication and effort make their superiors look good.
This week's entrants will also find their mugs in our latest mag. Thankfully, they can lament this mortifying experience while switching out their Coachella flower crowns for Stagecoach cowboy boots.
Dr. Charlene Thomas
VP, Marketing, Def Jam Recordings
Thomas was name-checked on late-night TV for arranging Tyrese’s performance of “Sweet Lady” at Method Man’s wedding. Today she’s spreading the word about Def Jam’s 40th anniversary, launched with New York City Council Resolution 0450-2022 designating January Def Jam Recognition Month. She’s also championing new music by such artists as Muni Long, Fridayy, Chuck D., Benny the Butcher and Connie Diiamond, advising the Grammy Museum on its “Hip-Hop America” exhibit and serving as a mentor. Thomas is a classically trained pianist, whereas we have no class.
Jentry Salvatore
VP, A&R and Creative Development, EMPIRE
Founder, HIGH IQ
Salvatore’s done shots with Doja Cat; hung with Michael Strahan and Grammy-nominated artist D Smoke at GMA; and picked up 310babii from high school when he became the first student with a gold, #1 hit, “Soak City (Do It),” to top the Rhythm and Urban charts and Shazam U.S. At the moment, he’s “creating the soundtrack to the summer with Tyga, 310babii and G Perico” and mentoring execs affiliated with his own HIGH IQ label. Salvatore and his mom aim to visit every baseball and football stadium in the country. We want to try every available stadium hot dog.
Camila Homberger
VP, Transformation & People, Warner Music Group
Homberger once led a summit in Rio de Janeiro with Alejandro Duque, president of Warner Music Latin America, and the LATAM leadership team to elevate division storytelling and strengthen the services it provides to achieve a sustainable advantage. Attending the 2023 Latin Grammy Person of the Year gala honoring Laura Pausini was another career highlight. She’s currently reinvigorating the company’s approach to business, ensuring that it’s artist-centric and forward-looking. Homberger’s a marathoner, though when she sees us coming, she wishes she were a sprinter.
Joseph Pepin
A&R, Primary Wave
Owner/Manager, Pepin.Works MGMT
Pepin was over the moon about mgmt. client Johan Lenox’s producer credit on the double-platinum “Creepin’,” by Metro Boomin f/The Weeknd & 21 Savage (1b+ streams; #1 at Rhythm, #2 at Top 40). He’s pleased as punch about Lenox’s Warner Chappell deal, not to mention Donny Bravo!’s work on Disclosure’s new album. As we speak, he’s arranging PW collabs with the likes of Steve Aoki, Sofi Tukker and Felix Jaehn. Pepin won the New Jersey Governors Surf Fishing Tournament at the tender age of 12. We forgot the Dramamine—’twas ugly.
Livia Piomelli
Head of A&R, Maison Arts
Co-Founder, Motion Creative
Piomelli inked Fridayy to his first pub deal off a demo. Seeing him perform “GOD DID” at the 2023 Grammys with DJ Khaled, JAY Z, John Legend and Lil Wayne was the cherry on top. In addition to A&Ring Suki Waterhouse’s 2024 album, Piomelli signed MOMBRU to its JV with Tricky Stewart. Client JAB, meanwhile, co-wrote and co-produced Danny Ocean’s double-platinum “Fuera del Mercado.” This A&R woman—who co-founded a 501(c)3 that supports arts and entertainment programming—speaks “four-ish” languages and has been to 32 countries, all of which bar us entry.
Joe Wohlfeld
Agent, UTA
Wohlfeld enjoyed a pinch-me moment when he saw Jake Wesley Rogers perform “Rocketman” with Brandi Carlile at the 2022 Elton John Aids Foundation Oscar party. Fast forward and, among other endeavors, he’s orchestrating Hans Williams’ EP release and headlining tour, Brittney Spencer’s spot on Willie Nelson’s Outlaw Tour, Anees’ 2025 North America headlining tour, Allen Stone’s album release and Christone “Kingfish” Ingram’s global expansion. Wohlfeld played tuba in middle school. We couldn’t choose between euphonium and sousaphone and ran home crying.
Liam Davenport
Senior Director, Artist & Industry Relations, SiriusXM
Davenport fondly recalls working with Chris Cornell in 2015 on an acoustic session for SiriusXM’s Artist Confidential series, for which the former Soundgarden frontman performed “Nothing Compares 2 U.” Says Davenport, “In 2024, we’re going to see some veterans take their careers to the next level and some amazing new voices come to the forefront.” He commemorates visits to cities meaningful to him with tattoos, including a Jimmy Eat World lyric tat he acquired in NYC two decades ago. Ireland’s up this year. We got a tramp stamp in L.A. that says “Hey, buddy.”
Kate Arenson
Music Agent, CAA
After a sold-out, two-year touring cycle for Glass Animals’ Dreamland, Arenson was thrilled to see them perform their #1 hit, “Heat Waves,” at the final show, at Brooklyn Mirage. With new records on the way, she’s booking tours for Glass Animals, Vampire Weekend, Maggie Rogers, The Head and The Heart, Malcolm Todd and The 502s. On top of her music roster, she reps chef and lifestyle personalities, including Alix Traeger and Old Time Hawkey. “Music touring and food touring are my passions,” she says. We wouldn’t know anything about passion.
