Muesexpo, the annual global music industry conference and showcase event, will be honoring Republic Records Co-President Wendy Goldstein with its inaugural Seymour Stein Global A&R Award.
Seymour Stein, known for his discovery of such iconic artists as Madonna and the Ramones, serves as the inspiration behind the award that recognizes the dedication to nurturing and signing talent. Goldstein, who will be celebrating 30 years in A&R next year, has overseen the careers of renowned artists such as the Weeknd, Ariana Grande, Jonas Brothers, John Legend, Nicki Minaj, Anitta and more.
Goldstein staretd her music industry stint as an assistant in the A&R department of Epic Records, followed by impactful runs at Geffen Records where she signed the Roots, Common, GZA, Mos Def, and The Bloodhound Gang. She then joined Priority Records/Capitol where she orchestrated a label deal with Disturbing The Peace and oversaw projects for Snoop Dogg, Chingy, Latoya Luckett, and others.
Goldstein later joined Republic Records in 2009, initially as an A&R Consultant, later assuming the role of senior VP of A&R in 2011. In 2014, she was appointed executive VP and head of A&R and in 2021 she was named co-president alongside Jim Roppo.
Sat Bisla, president and founder of A&R Worldwide and Musexpo, said: “Wendy Goldstein’s career is a testament to her unwavering commitment to the art of A&R and her exceptional talent for identifying and developing artists who shape the music industry and impact global pop culture. Wendy’s unique abilities, instincts and musical foresight make her truly remarkable and impactful as an A&R afficionado. She is the embodiment of the spirit of Seymour Stein’s legacy.”
The award ceremony will occur at the conference in Burbank from March 17 to 20, 2024.
+ Elizabeth Matthews, ASCAP‘s chief executive officer, was honored on Oct. 29 at the annual Songwriters of North America (SONA) Warrior Awards gala in West Hollywood.
ASCAP Chairman of the Board and President Paul Williams lauded her achievements along with songwriters and producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. In video tributes, music industry giants ranging from Stephen Schwartz, Ne-Yo, Marcus Miller, Desmond Child, Jon Platt and Ashley Gorley echoed similar sentiments.
Matthews commented, “To be recognized by SONA means the world to me. I know that songwriters are the true musical warriors–unbelievably brave and remaining strong in the face of uncertainty every day as new technology challenges their livelihoods. Yet, songwriters are still able to remain vulnerable and go deep creatively, opening their hearts to write the music that we all love. I am constantly inspired by songwriters and it has been an honor of a lifetime to work for and alongside music creators.”
The SONA Warrior Awards celebrate the immense talent and hard work of individuals known for their high-profile accomplishments within the music industry, while honoring their tireless efforts advocating for songwriters’ rights.
+ Music industry veteran Mike Caren has been tapped by AI and metaverse tech startup Futureverse as a founding partner of JEN, the company’s text-to-music AI generator.
According to the company, Caren will lead music industry alignment and expansion. He joins as a founding partner of JEN alongside longtime collaborator and fellow music industry entrepreneur Shara Senderoff, Futureverse Co-Founder; Aaron McDonald, Futureverse Co-Founder; and Dr. Alex Wang, Futureverse Head of AI Research.
Caren is the founder and CEO of Artist Partner Group, the record label and music publishing company. He also brings decades of music industry experience as an executive at labels including Warner Music Group, Elektra Records and Atlantic Records. He has written and produced records with a variety of global music artists including Beyoncé, Kanye West, Bruno Mars and more. .
“We’ve been working with Mike on JEN for nearly a year now, and are honored to formally announce his addition to our founding team,” said Shara Senderoff and Aaron McDonald, co-founders of Futureverse. “Mike’s ethos and relentless mission to innovate the industry in terms of technology, business model and creator opportunity aligns identically with ours. We strongly believe that including producers and artists into the process of developing AI tools is critical to its success and expansion.”
+ SoundExchange honored multi-platinum singer-songwriter Prince Royce with the SoundExchange Hall of Fame Award for being among one of the most streamed Latin artists in the organization’s 20-year history.
“Prince Royce is an extraordinary talent and a force to be reckoned with,” said Michael Huppe, president and CEO of SoundExchange. “It is no surprise that he is one of SoundExchange’s most streamed creators – every single one of his albums is multi-platinum and laced with hits bringing bachata to new audiences through collaborations and infusion into R&B, hip-hop, and more. It’s my pleasure to honor Prince Royce’s artistry and success with the SoundExchange Hall of Fame Award.”