Music Industry Moves: Ryan Tedder’s Runner Music Names Julia Betley Head of Sync

Runner Music, the company founded by OneRepublic frontman and prolific songwriter Ryan Tedder, has appointed Julia Betley as its first-ever Head of Synchronization. Effective immediately, she will operate from the firm's West Hollywood headquarters. Amanda Hill, Runner Music’s President of A&R and Co-Chief Creative Officer, stated that Betley’s "experience, confidence, and perspective" made her the obvious choice from their very first meeting. This hire is a strategic move for the young company, as sync licensing—the placement of music in films, TV, and commercials—has evolved into a vital financial engine within an industry where streaming income can be inconsistent.

Betley arrives from Warner Records, where she served as Senior Vice President of Creative Sync Licensing, leading the label's overall sync strategy and securing high-profile placements for artists such as Zach Bryan, Benson Boone, and Teddy Swims. Her background also includes a ten-year stint at RCA Records, where she developed a specialty in video game licensing and negotiating original recording agreements for visual media. This diverse experience across major labels is seen as a major asset for Runner Music. Industry analysts note that the modern sync marketplace requires not just a great song, but also deep relationships with music supervisors and an ability to match music with narrative, a nuance Betley is well-versed in. For context, Ryan Tedder—known for writing hits for Adele, Taylor Swift, and Beyoncé—launched Runner Music in 2023 as a full-service artist development and publishing venture.

In other executive news, Secretly Distribution has elevated its Chief Operating Officer, Chris Welz, to the status of company partner. Welz, who started with the distributor over two decades ago as an intern and warehouse employee, has been instrumental in building its physical and digital distribution frameworks. Secretly Distribution, the operational arm of the independent Secretly Group, reported its most profitable year to date in 2025. This performance was driven by releases from cornerstone artists like Bon Iver and Japanese Breakfast, as well as distribution agreements with artist-run labels including Hayley Williams's Post Atlantic and Jack White's Third Man Records. CEO Darius Van Arman praised Welz's "inclusive leadership," which he said "elevates everyone around him." This promotion reflects a growing trend of rewarding long-term operational architects within successful independent music entities.

Sony Music Publishing Nashville has signed singer-songwriter Regan Rousseau to her first publishing agreement. Rusty Gaston, the publisher's CEO, described Rousseau as "a brilliant songwriter with a strong creative voice." The artist, who is managed by Milk & Honey Music + Sports, was represented in the deal by attorney Derek Crownover of Loeb & Loeb. Such early-career signings are a fundamental part of publishing strategy, as companies vie to secure relationships with promising talent before their catalogs gain significant value, betting on long-term growth.

Meanwhile, the music investment firm MusicBird has acquired the complete publishing catalog of Toronto-based R&B duo Majid Jordan. The transaction covers 100% of the publishing and writers' shares for their repertoire, which includes their own tracks like "Her" and "Stars Align," as well as their lucrative co-writing credits on major hits. These notably include Drake's diamond-certified single "Hold On, We're Going Home" and DJ Khaled's "For Free," alongside work for Beyoncé and Justin Bieber. Paul Brown, MusicBird's CEO, stated the acquisition aligns with the firm's aim to build a "diverse, hit-driven collection of music rights." This deal exemplifies the continued appetite among institutional investors for catalogs with demonstrable, global streaming success, which are increasingly treated as stable alternative assets. Majid Jordan, signed to Drake's OVO Sound label since 2013, are considered pioneers in the modern alternative R&B scene.

In a separate signing, Big Loud Publishing has inked a first-time publishing deal with songwriter Max Martin. It is crucial to note this is not the legendary Swedish pop producer, but a Nashville-based collaborator of the same name. Katie Flynn, Creative Director at Big Loud Publishing, highlighted his "great ideas, work ethic and positivity" as having an immediate impact in their writing rooms. This signing underscores the publisher's focused approach to identifying unique talent within the blended country and pop landscapes, where genre lines continue to blur. Expert opinion suggests that in a competitive publishing environment, distinguishing an artist with a common name requires clear branding and demonstrated creative merit, which this Max Martin has evidently achieved.