Music Industry Moves: Nashville Vet Leslie Fram Launches FEMco Consulting; Joshua Simons, Dave Lory and Dick Wingate Announce Worldwide Entertainment Group
FEMco will capitalize on Fram's 13-year tenure in Nashville as SVP of music and talent at CMT/Paramount, as well as her many years working in radio. While at CMT, Fram executive-produced the annual CMT Music Awards, booked CMT Crossroads, Storytellers and more. Most recently, she served as Talent Producer on CBS' 'Ringo & Friends at the Ryman.'
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Fram says, 'I've always wanted to start my own company, one that was intentionally designed as a purpose-driven business that aligns with my personal and professional aspirations. Through my time in radio and television I've gained a wealth of knowledge, skills and insights from various roles, industries and projects that are not just a collection of past events but a foundation for this very kind of endeavor.'
FEMco will also create multiple opportunities for female artists to increase their visibility and reach via events, sponsorships and more through its music-focused production arm, FEMco Presents. Its first franchise, FEMcountry is a continuation of Fram's work in creating critically-acclaimed programs like CMT's Next Women of Country and her passion for elevating female voices in country music.
+ Veteran entertainment execs Joshua Simons, Dave Lory and Dick Wingate have announced the formation of Worldwide Entertainment Group, a New York-based company providing musical artists with a 'holistic management experience.' The company offers a full spectrum of services including talent management, marketing, promotion, licensing, event management and career development. The first projects include Brian Fresco, whose first single 'Bad 4 You' features Chance the Rapper and Lil Xel and drops on June 6, and singer/songwriter Hannah Wicklund, who will be recording her new album this month.
Other staffers include president Jeff Riccio as president of WEG Licensed Merchandise Group, Sandy Rizzo as executive VP of WEG Talent Management, Licensed Merchandise and Live Performance Groups, Brad Mooberry as chief marketing officer, and Jenn Federici as GM of artist development. Patrick Clifford will be the company's representative in Nashville and A&R.
WEG has a distribution deal in place with Jeff Brody, owner of Brody Distribution Group through the Orchard and a merchandise deal with JSR/Forward Merch for the independent artists and projects signed to WEG. WEG also has a partnership in place with Tom Linden, whose company CMMN PPL will be assisting with artist bookings as needed and sourcing touring support opportunities.
+ Billboard has promoted Mike Van to the role of the publication's first-ever CEO.. In this position, Van will oversee Billboard's global brand footprint in 15 countries, along with all aspects of strategy, revenue, business operations, live experiences, international licensing, and brand partnerships; he will also oversee both the business and editorial teams, with Billboard's editor-in-chief Hannah Karp now reporting to him directly, according to the announcement.
Van, who was Billboard's president since 2022, will report to Jay Penske, Chairman and CEO, Penske Media Corporation. He previously held leadership roles at Pandora, Electronic Arts, and Complex.
'Mike is a one-of-a-kind leader, visionary and partner,' said Penske. 'His passion for the Billboard brand and clear vision for its future has always set him apart. Mike has fostered a collaborative environment with a team committed to building a formidable global business – innovating and trailblazing at every level. It has been inspiring to watch Billboard's seismic growth over the last several years and I look forward to seeing the brand continue to thrive under Mike's leadership.'
+ Splice has announced the acquisition of Spitfire Audio, a major U.K.-based developer of high-end virtual instrument libraries. The acquisition marks Splice's entry into the fast-growing plugin space, adding to the company's Splice Sounds subscriptions and rent-to-own businesses. The companies are set to start work on new products that blend Spitfire Audio's cinematic and orchestral expertise with Splice's sample catalog and AI-powered discovery engine.
'The teams at Spitfire Audio and Splice have deep respect for composers, musicians and producers and are committed to celebrating and supporting their work', said Kakul Srivastava, CEO of Splice. 'We're both sound-first, creator-led companies who believe great software and technology can supercharge the creative experience. Our shared vision is to develop tools that expand—not replace—human creativity.' Srivastava added. 'With Spitfire's expressive instruments and Splice's AI-powered platform, we're just beginning to explore what's possible.'
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