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Music Industry Moves: iHeartMedia’s Alissa Pollack Named President of Mediabase

The music industry's operational landscape is shifting, with a wave of executive appointments and strategic alliances reshaping how artists, data, and audiences interact. One of the most notable moves comes from RCS Worldwide, which has elevated Alissa Pollack to the presidency of Mediabase, the prominent airplay tracking and analytics service. Pollack will retain her existing duties as president of global music marketing at iHeartMedia, creating a rare dual-leadership arrangement that bridges the gap between corporate media and data-driven decision-making. Her expanded portfolio at Mediabase includes steering strategic growth, accelerating international reach, and driving product development, a clear signal that the company intends to deepen its footprint in a sector increasingly dominated by streaming metrics. Industry observers note that this type of consolidation is becoming more common as traditional radio analytics providers seek to remain relevant alongside digital platforms. The appointment is a strategic bet on Pollack's ability to merge her deep relationships in the music world with the technical demands of data services. Susan Larkin, president and CEO of RCS Worldwide, framed the decision as a natural progression. "Alissa has spent her career at the intersection of music, data, and relationships, which is exactly where Mediabase lives," Larkin said. "This promotion is a recognition of everything she has already built and a reflection of our confidence in where she will take Mediabase next. As she steps into this role she will have my full support as she leads Mediabase forward." Pollack echoed that sentiment, describing the two roles as highly compatible. "I'm honored to lead Mediabase at such an exciting moment in its evolution while continuing the work I love at iHeartMedia," she remarked. "These roles are incredibly complementary because they share the same purpose: helping the industry make smarter decisions through meaningful insights." Her leadership arrives at a pivotal time when airplay data is being scrutinized against the rise of on-demand streaming, making Mediabase's role as a benchmark even more essential for radio programmers and label strategists. Pollack's first major initiative has been to broaden access to Mediabase's chart information. The revamped Mediabase.com now offers the public, including artists and fans, the ability to view Top 50 charts across all formats in the U.S. and Canada. This transparency is a significant departure from the platform's historical role as a trade-only resource. For emerging acts without the resources of a major label, this shift could prove transformative, giving them the tools to track their radio performance independently. By opening up its data to a wider audience, Mediabase is repositioning itself as a public-facing resource, potentially altering how radio success is measured and discussed outside of professional circles. In a separate but related development, Valerie Pensa, a multiple Clio Award winner and former head of marketing at RCA Records, has left the label system to establish Moonstruck Management & Marketing Inc., based in Los Angeles. Pensa's track record includes work with high-profile artists such as Tate McRae, P!nk, Doja Cat, Miley Cyrus, Sia, and Lisa. She described her new venture's ethos as one of total dedication: "Moonstruck means dreamily entranced — devoted to something you believe in. That's exactly how I feel about artists with real vision, and it's the only way I know how to work. This industry doesn't sit still and my job is to stay dedicated to that vision no matter how the business evolves." Her exit mirrors a broader trend of senior executives leaving major labels to launch boutique firms, a move that offers greater creative freedom and flexible strategies in an era where artist development often requires a more tailored approach than traditional structures allow. Over in the electronic music sphere, Jet Management, the Venice, CA-based firm, has forged a joint management alliance with Debonair (DBNR), a boutique Belgian management company. The partnership's first project involves French electronic duo Polo & Pan, who are currently supporting Empire of the Sun on a North American tour. DBNR's roster features notable names like techno heavyweight Charlotte de Witte, Enrico Sangiuliano, Bazart, and Oliver Symons, while Jet represents acts including Justice, Foster the People, Sam Gellaitry, Neil Frances, and WhoMadeWho, with a stake in Firebird as well. Alexander Vandriessche, founder and CEO of DBNR, expressed genuine excitement about the collaboration: "I've been a longtime fan of Polo & Pan and genuinely enjoyed their records and live shows long before this collaboration came together. We've always had a lot of respect for what Jet built and how they approach artists globally, and with Polo & Pan and this new partnership, there was a very organic fit between both teams and it felt like the right project to start building something together." Jet co-founder Tyler Goldberg returned the praise, calling Vandriessche "one of the best managers in our industry" and lauding the duo as "one of the most creative and talented artists in the world." This transatlantic alliance highlights the increasing importance of international partnerships in electronic music, where touring circuits and fan bases are no longer confined by borders. On the label side, Mom+Pop Music has added singer-songwriter Crash the Party to its roster, a signing spearheaded by co-founder Michael Goldstone and Katie Fagan. The artist's debut single for the label, "Cold Feet," has already been released. Crash the Party, who grew up in rural Georgia, shared a personal reflection on the journey: "Growing up in rural Georgia, pursuing music sometimes felt a little delusional. I knew I wasn't meant to work in a factory, lay cable, or follow the paths a lot of my neighbors took — I just knew I had to make music. Being with Mom+Pop is truly a dream, and it feels like validation that I'm on the right path, crazy or not!" Additional tracks are planned for release later this fall. The signing underscores Mom+Pop's ongoing commitment to nurturing distinctive voices, a strategy that has yielded successes across indie and mainstream audiences since the label's founding in 2008. Fenix Entertainment has also made a significant move, securing a global partnership with Colombian superstar Maluma. The company will lead strategy and development for his upcoming world tour, scheduled for 2027 and 2028. The 35-year-old firm, which already manages Latin heavyweights like Luis Miguel, Ricardo Arjona, and Ricardo Montaner, has also been building strategic ties with Shakira across various markets. Marcelo Fígoli, founder and president of Fenix Entertainment, emphasized the scale of the undertaking: "Working with an artist with Maluma's career and international reach is both a challenge and an enormous responsibility. We believe in his vision, his talent, and the exciting moment he is experiencing in his career. We are incredibly proud to be part of this new chapter and to put our team and experience behind a project of this scale." Maluma, who has consistently sold out arenas across Latin America and Europe, represents a substantial bet for Fenix as it looks to expand its presence in the global touring market, which has rebounded robustly after the pandemic-induced slowdown. Warner Records Nashville has also reorganized its marketing department, announcing a series of promotions and new roles. Addison Nunes is now VP of marketing, overseeing half the roster, while Anna Pittman continues as VP of marketing for the other half. Justin Luffman steps into the newly created position of VP of culture & creative marketing, tasked with shaping artists' identities and cultural resonance. Pittman gains support from Jackson Ammons, now a marketing manager, while Nunes is backed by new hire Jennipher Miller in the same role. Samantha Nepsa has been promoted to senior analyst of data & analytics, Allyson Kim moves up to manager of touring & fan activations, and Alyssa Cohen joins as coordinator under EVP of marketing Victoria Mason. This restructuring signals Warner Nashville's intent to strengthen its marketing capabilities as country music continues to experience a surge in streaming-driven discovery, with acts like Zach Bryan and Morgan Wallen blurring genre lines and reaching broader audiences than ever before. Finally, United Talent Agency has expanded its music division with six new executive hires and 11 internal promotions. This follows a busy stretch for the department, including James Wright's recent elevation to co-head of U.K. music, seven new music partners named in March, and 19 promotions in December. Among the new Los Angeles-based hires are Chris Anderson (Agent), Randy Freedman (Agent, Music Brand Partnerships), Jordan Golenberg (Agent), and Lauren Katzakian (Executive, Business Affairs). Anderson arrives after nearly two decades in artist management and representation, while Katzakian brings over a decade of experience from Universal Music Group, focusing on touring and brand partnerships. Freedman also joins from UMG, and Golenberg comes from Day After Day Productions. In London, Anthony Brown and Becky Drouet have been added as agents—Brown with 13 years at CAA specializing in hip-hop and R&B, and Drouet with 18-plus years at LPO working across touring and corporate events. A fresh cohort of coordinators has also been named across Los Angeles, New York, Nashville, and London, supporting agents and executives in areas like touring, marketing, brand partnerships, and A&R. These moves come as UTA continues to aggressively compete with rivals like CAA and WME, particularly in the live music sector, where demand for touring services remains at an all-time high.

#Sia #Shakira #LP #Maluma

Category:SHOW BIZ NEWS

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