Billboard Promotes Leila Cobo and Jason Lipshutz to Lead Editorial Operations as Co-Chief Content Officers

Billboard, the global authority on the music business, has announced a significant leadership promotion. Leila Cobo and Jason Lipshutz have been elevated to the new roles of co-chief content officers, where they will jointly oversee all editorial operations for the brand. They will report directly to Billboard CEO Mike Van and lead both the newsroom and the brand's busy slate of live events, including its Women in Music, Latin Music Week, and The Stage at SXSW franchises.

This move recognizes two long-tenured experts with deep institutional knowledge. Leila Cobo, a native of Colombia and a former Fulbright scholar, is widely recognized as a foremost authority on Latin music. A classically trained musician and author of two novels and biographies of artists like Jenni Rivera, Cobo joined Billboard in 2001 and is credited with fundamentally elevating the coverage of Latin music in the United States. She was most recently chief content officer of Billboard Latin and is the driving force behind the globally recognized Billboard Latin Music Week franchise. In her expanded role, she will continue to lead Latin coverage while adding country music to her scope.

Jason Lipshutz brings a complementary expertise in pop culture. He began his career at Billboard as an intern in 2008 and steadily climbed the ranks to his most recent position as executive director of music, where he has steered coverage of rock and pop for years. He has extensively covered superstars from Taylor Swift to U2, and in 2024 authored the book "It Starts With One: The Legend and Legacy of Linkin Park." His portfolio will now expand to include oversight of pop, rock, hip-hop, and dance genres. Industry observers note that promoting from within, as seen with Lipshutz's two-decade journey, often fosters editorial continuity and a deep understanding of a brand's core audience.

Billboard, a sibling brand of Variety owned by Penske Media Corporation (PMC), had its editorial operations previously headed by Hannah Karp since 2018. PMC Chairman and CEO Jay Penske praised the appointments, stating, "Leila is one of the most well-regarded voices and leaders in Latin American music today... Similarly, Jason is one of the most trusted voices in modern pop music and brings passion and creativity to his work." CEO Mike Van added that together they bring "unmatched expertise, enthusiasm balanced with vision, and business savvy," positioning the brand for a bold future.

In statements, both new co-chiefs expressed enthusiasm for their shared mission. "It's an honor to steer the content of Billboard, the most respected, forward-looking music media brand in the world," said Cobo, who also highlighted the privilege of working alongside Lipshutz, whom she called "an absolute encyclopedia of musical knowledge." Lipshutz echoed the sentiment, noting his unique perspective from having worked at every level of the editorial team. "I know the beating heart of this brand, understand the talent on our staff, and see the potential for what we can accomplish in the coming years," he said. Their combined leadership is expected to further solidify Billboard's role in chronicling the rapidly evolving, genre-fluid global music industry.