NOISEMAKERS:
A FALL TREAT
In our latest roundup, we present eight rising professionals from various parts of the biz whose dedication and effort make their superiors look good.
Making us look good is above their pay grade.
Katie Kaiser
Digital Marketing Manager, Nice Life Recording Company
Among other career highlights, Kaiser led the TikTok campaign for Tinashe’s “Nasty”—the platform’s #2 Song of the Summer in the U.S. and global and #1 in the U.K.—and helped execute Ru Paul’s Drag Race queens performing as Lizzo alongside Lizzo herself to premiere music from her 2022 album Special. On the heels of a video for Tinashe’s “No Broke Boys,” she’s prepping tours from The Marías and Tinashe, plus a TisaKorean x Don Toliver collab. Kaiser once sang for Steve Harvey and starred in a Macy’s commercial. We’re still waiting for our big break.
Blain Rhodes
President, Tape Room Music
Rhodes vividly recalls the day when, as a Luke Bryan merch seller fresh out of college, he met Ashley Gorley, who later invited him to help build Tape Room Music. Fast forward, and they’re celebrating 50 #1 songs. Now, Rhodes continues to forge creative joint ventures with the likes of Red Light Management, Sony Music Publishing, Warner Chappell, 50 Egg Music, APG and mostly recently Runner Music to amplify their writers’ success. Rhodes has a penchant for Nancy Meyers films—a contrast to his football-watching persona. We’re still trying to tackle our remote.
Crystal Huh
Director of Brands & Ventures, HYBE America
Huh was chuffed to be part of the global launch of LE SSERAFIM’s “smoky pink” noise-canceling headphones with Sony. She was also thrilled to see them win their first MTV VMA, then grant their first wish with the Make-a-Wish Foundation on the same trip. Lately, she’s been planning collaborations for SEVENTEEN’s U.S. tour and KATSEYE following the group’s debut EP while also crafting fan experiences ahead of BTS’s return. Huh was the head drum major for her high school’s marching band and spent 12 years studying classical piano. We’re dropouts.
Warren Hatch
Director of A&R, Republic Records
Hatch facilitated the collaboration between ATL Jacob and Feid in Miami, leading to the global hit “LUNA” from Feid’s album Ferxxocalipsis. The song soared to #7 on Spotify’s global chart and secured RIAA Latin quadruple-platinum certification, amassing 1b+ streams. Now he’s steering Anitta’s next project, following her Funk Generation release, and continuing to cultivate hits with ATL Jacob, Anthony Ramos and more. While Hatch thrives in the music space, he’s also a skilled photographer. We’re still trying to figure out how to do a selfie.
Adelaida Echeverri
General Manager, TITOL™
During the early days of artist-services and merch company TITOL™, Echeverri and team launched Beyoncé’s D2C strategy for her #1 album Renaissance. Lately, she’s been busy with Alex Cooper’s Unwell Network and her Call Her Daddy podcast (which just hosted VP Kamala Harris), as well as Alix Earle’s podcast Hot Mess. And in the music world, they’re all in on Big Sean’s Better Me Than You and Future’s MIXTAPE PLUTO, plus fall tours for André 3000 and Yeat. Born and raised in Medellín, Colombia, Echeverri spent the first decade of her life there. We had to surrender our passport.
Toby Oniyitan
CEO/Co-Founder, Stomp Down
Oniyitan cherishes witnessing the diverse success of his artists—a testament to the culture he and company Prez Ezra Averill crafted at Houston label Stomp Down. Their collective growth from a shared foundation fills him with pride. He’s presently fostering songwriting and producer partnerships, like Sleeping Bear’s upcoming features, including one on A$AP Rocky’s upcoming album. Oniyitan’s attended Camden Military Academy for three years, which instilled in him a broad musical and cultural appreciation. We spent our formative years shoved in lockers.
Julianne Wilson
Senior Director, Creative Sync, Primary Wave
Wilson once got to chat over cocktails with Talking Heads about the creation of one of her favorite concert films, Stop Making Sense. More recently, she’s had her hands full with music supervision on Stealing Pulp Fiction, which will make its world debut at the Newport Beach Film Festival this month. When Wilson’s not handling music over film and TV, she’s lending her voice to commercials for Kodak, Snickers and Turbo Tax. Most people would pay to avoid hearing our voices.
Zach Koche
Senior Director, Business Development (Americas), FUGA
Booking then-indie artist Big Sean for a college gig was Koche’s “I belong in music” moment. Now at B2B distributor FUGA, a Downtown company, he handles a diverse roster that includes Insomniac Music Group, Netflix and more. He’s presently propelling artists like Th3rd Brain’s Zerb to massive streaming success, with his track “Mwaki” hitting 100m+ streams in a matter of months—it now has 200m+ streams on Spotify alone. Koche says he has a strong affinity for diners, drive-ins and dives, both the show and IRL. We’ve avoided both online and in person.
