+ Nick Petropoulos, who joined Arista Records early last year after an 11-year run at Glassnote Records, has been upped by Arista to oversee the label’s promotion department. He takes on the new role of senior VP and head of promotion, overseeing promotion strategy across all radio formats as well as working with digital partners and streaming services.
Said CEO-president David Massey, to whom the New York-based Petropoulos will report, “Nick has made an immediate impact since joining Arista, and his vision has been a crucial element in developing and executing our promotion strategy. We have great confidence that he will continue to find unique and engaging ways to help elevate our roster globally.”
“I am thrilled to be stepping into this new role,” Petropoulos said in a statement, “and look forward to leading an incredible team as we create strategic moments and exciting opportunities for our artists to break through around the world.”
Since joining the Arista promo team in early 2021, Petropoulos worked on promotion strategy for artists including Carolesdaughter, KennyHoopla, Sigala, Tai Verdes and Tom Grennan. In his previous gig as head of promotion at Glassnote, he developed strategy for such acts as Mumford & Sons, Childish Gambino, Phoenix, CHVRCHES, the Strumbellas and Two Door Cinema Club.
+ Rising country star Jimmie Allen has signed the first songwriter to join his new publishing company, Bettie James Music Publishing, in partnership with Sony Music Publishing Nashville. The debut signing is Tate Howell, who’s been one of Allen’s key collaborators, as his bass player as well as a frequent co-writer. Recent Allen-Howell collaborations include “Why Things Happen,” which had Allen sharing vocals with Charley Pride and Darius Rucker.
Said Allen in a statement, “From the first time I met Tate, he showed me he was motivated and willing to work. Not only is he one of my best friends, but he is also one of the hardest working and kindest people I know. I feel like when a person comes along as talented as Tate, it’s easy to want to build a business around him. I’m honored to have him as the first signing to Bettie James Music Publishing, and I look forward to watching his career grow as a songwriter.”
Tate Howell signing: Anna Weisband, Jimmie Allen, Tate Howell, Rusty Gaston
“It’s truly surreal to get to work with such a distinct and historic company like Sony Music Publishing,” added Howell. “I am so grateful for Anna Weisband and my team over at Sony, my road boss Mr. Jimmie Allen, and my manager Melissa Spillman for working so hard to help me make music and live out my dreams.”
Said Weisband, VP of creative at Sony Publishing, “I have been impressed by Tate’s songwriting from the very first song Jimmie ever played for me. His work ethic, talent, and drive are unstoppable and inspiring.” (Weisband is pictured above with [l-r] Allen, Howell and Rusty Gaston, CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing.)
Allen, whose latest single is “Freedom Was a Highway,” a duet with Brad Paisley, named Bettie James Music Publishing after his late grandmother, Bettie Snead, and his late father, James Allen. The singer also named the recent EP on which he worked with Howell “Bettie James.”