Music Industry Moves: Tracey Jordan Honored With Louis Armstrong Center for Music and Medicine’s Award in Honor of Her Mother, Jazz Great Sheila Jordan

The Louis Armstrong Center for Music and Medicine, a nonprofit founded at Mount Sinai Hospital in 1994, has established a new annual recognition: the Sheila Jordan Trailblazer Award. This honor memorializes the celebrated jazz vocalist Sheila Jordan, who died in 2025, and its inaugural recipient is her daughter, Tracey Jordan, a longtime music industry executive now affiliated with the Recording Academy and de Passe Entertainment. The Center plans to bestow the award each year at its Wonderful World Gala upon a music business figure whose career demonstrates artistic distinction, cultural resonance, and music's capacity to spark change. Past galas have honored Samara Joy, David Sanborn, Bonnie Raitt, Norah Jones, Eddie Palmieri, Wayne Shorter, Jackson Browne, Dionne Warwick, Jon Batiste, Pete Seeger, Levon Helm, and Dave Brubeck, among numerous others. Notably, the Center's origins are intertwined with Armstrong himself, who received treatment at Mount Sinai until his death in 1971; the trumpeter's five-decade career produced enduring standards such as "What a Wonderful World" and "Hello, Dolly!"

Tracey Jordan, whose parents were Sheila Jordan and pianist Duke "Jordu" Jordan, launched her career at Solters/Roskin/Friedman PR before assuming senior positions at Motown, Arista Records, ABKCO, MTV Networks, SiriusXM, and other major firms. Throughout her career she collaborated with an extraordinary roster of artists, among them Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Tupac, Prince, Tony Bennett, Dolly Parton, Boyz II Men, Johnny Gill, New Edition, the Notorious B.I.G., and Clive Davis. The Louis Armstrong Center for Music and Medicine pioneered a patient care model that integrates music with medicine, a fitting legacy given Armstrong's own connection to the hospital. As one music industry observer noted, honoring a figure like Tracey Jordan—whose behind-the-scenes work shaped countless careers—reflects a broader shift toward recognizing the infrastructure of the music business, not just its most visible stars.

Sony Music Publishing Nashville and Verse 2 Music have renewed and broadened their global publishing agreement with country songwriter Joybeth Taylor, celebrated for co-penning Ella Langley's record-shattering hit and 2026 ACM Song of the Year, "Choosin' Texas." The two companies also revealed an expanded partnership through the addition of TAYCAN Entertainment. Beyond her role as one of Langley's key collaborators, Taylor has secured cuts with Morgan Wallen—including co-writing his hit duet with Langley, "I Can't Love You Anymore"—as well as Jordan Davis, Kane Brown, Hudson Westbrook, Chase Matthew, Vincent Mason, Warren Zeiders, Koe Wetzel, and many others. "To extend with Sony / Verse 2 and add Taycan on is a dream come true," Taylor said. "I couldn't have a better team championing me and my songs! Excited for everything to come!"

In other industry moves, PR agency Huxley has branched into creative management, now representing stylist Edda Gudmundsdottir; stylists and creative directors Alexandra Cronan and Kate Foley (Studio &); hair stylists Jacob Kajrup and Emilie Bromley; creative agency Zak Group; make-up artist Marcelo Gutierrez; and Mata Mariélle and casting director Najia Li Saad. Separately, Grammy-nominated artist-actor Vic Mensa has signed a distribution deal with independent powerhouse UnitedMasters. Under the agreement, his debut project "Innanetape" will arrive on streaming platforms for the first time on Sept. 30, with a new album planned for 2027. Mensa's additional ventures include "The Vic Mensa Show," his new conversational series, his Webby Award-winning "The Orange Tree Series," and the forthcoming film project "Halfrican." Alyssa Castiglia, UnitedMasters Senior Director of A&R/Head of A&R Research, said, "Vic Mensa is a rare artist whose timeless music, multidisciplinary creativity, and commitment to truth make him exactly the kind of visionary UnitedMasters is proud to champion."

Jessica Thomas has been named Head of A&R for 100 Management/100 Publishing, reporting to founder Luke Mitzman. She brings long-term management clients, songwriters JBach and Trey Campbell, and will be based in the company's Los Angeles offices. She previously worked as an A&R consultant for Adam Lambert and, in 2024, served as Director of A&R, Ads & Brand Partnerships for Milk & Honey Silo. "Jess has very deep relationships in the artist/songwriter/producer community and is extremely well liked and respected by her peers in the industry," Mitzman said. In additional personnel news, BMI has promoted Mason Hunter to Vice President, Creative, Partnerships & Events. Hunter will continue to identify new brand partners aligned with BMI's business needs and creative opportunities, generating new revenue streams to benefit BMI's affiliated songwriters, composers, and publishers, while maximizing existing partnerships to build mutual brand awareness. "Mason's leadership, creativity, and deep understanding of BMI's mission have been instrumental in strengthening our brand partnerships and expanding the opportunities they create for BMI and our affiliates across major festivals and events nationwide," said Mike Steinberg, Executive Vice President, Chief Revenue & Creative Officer, BMI. Hunter joined BMI in 2000 and held various executive roles in General Licensing and Industry Relations, working closely with key accounts and trade associations in media and hospitality before moving to the Creative department in 2014 as Executive Director, Partnerships and Events. Before BMI, Hunter worked at Deloitte, where he earned his CPA license.

AEG Presents has announced a partnership with Greenhouse Talent, one of Europe's leading independent concert promoters. This investment formalizes a long-standing relationship between the two companies and integrates Greenhouse Talent into AEG Presents' expanding European network of distinguished promoters. Greenhouse Talent will continue to operate under its existing leadership. Founded by Pascal Van De Velde in 2005, Greenhouse Talent has become the largest independent concert promoter in Benelux, employing 60 people across Belgium and the Netherlands. The company promotes nearly 1,500 events annually featuring international artists across music, live entertainment, and comedy, with a roster including Hans Zimmer, Massive Attack, Laufey, Ludovico Einaudi, Bryan Adams, Erykah Badu, Luke Combs, Diana Ross, WWE, and many more. "We know each other very well, understand how the other works, and most importantly, we genuinely love working together," said Van De Velde. "What started as a partnership has grown into a strong, powerful and trusted relationship with a shared ambition to excellence, innovation, and integrity in everything we do. After 20 years of working together, it feels like the right moment to take this next step."