Music Industry Moves: Karol G’s Con Cora Foundation Unveils Scholarship Program With Geek Girls LatAm
Karol G‘s Con Cora Foundation has partnered with Geek Girls LatAm, a Colombian-based entity focused on encouraging women to progress their education in science and technology, to launch the “Con Cora Geek Girls Scholarships.”
These scholarships will provide recipients with access to two online courses: Cátedra GGL: Desarrolla tu Ser, focused on self- empowerment, and Talentos 4.0: Potencia tu Hacer, focused on mastering cutting-edge technologies. “Con Cora Geek Girls Scholarships” will be implemented in Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, and Guatemala.
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In partnership with Geek Girls LatAm, the foundation grants scholarship recipients access to the largest network of women in STEM across Latin America, connecting them with mentors and Big Sisters from Geek Girls LatAm. Additionally, the program provides the first certification in Women’s Leadership in STEM, with opportunities to earn certifications from Big Tech companies and universities.
“We’re excited to team up with Geek Girls LatAm to make a real difference for women in STEM. Our goal is to help close the gender gap and inspire more women to dive into this dynamic field. STEM is crucial for creating a sustainable economy and a fairer society. By promoting diversity in these areas, we’re sparking innovation and making better decisions for a brighter future,” said Valentina Bueno, executive director of the Con Cora Foundation.
Joanna Prieto, cofounder of Geek Girls LatAm, added, “It is a great milestone for Geek Girls LatAm to continue carrying out our purpose of inspiring, empowering, and connecting the female talent of Latin American women along with Con Cora Foundation through the region to strengthen leadership and STEM skills so more women can be an active part of the future and together we can contribute to closing gender gaps in Science and Technology areas.”
+ Dr. Kenji Kitatani, the chairman of sports media company DAZN Japan, has been appointed to the new role chairman of Warner Music Japan. He will be working closely with Kazuyuki ‘Kaz’ Kobayashi, president and CEO of Warner Music Japan, to further grow the company’s presence.
Kitatani started his career holding faculty positions at Washington State University and Indiana University before moving into the broadcasting industry in the 1980s, serving in senior international executive positions at Nippon Television Network and Tokyo Broadcasting System. In 1989, he was appointed as a board director of Tokyo Dome Corporation and president of its American subsidiaries in New York.
A decade later, Kitatani joined the Sony Corporation and held executive officer and executive VP of Sony Corporation of America positions concurrently. He went on to act as president of Avex International Holdings, Japan’s largest independent music entertainment conglomerate, between 2011 and 2017, actively leading its subsidiaries in China, Hawaii, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan.
Kitatani went on to become EVP, Asia and Executive Director for Japan at AEG, before taking up advisory roles at companies including Broadmedia, Mitsubishi and NTT Docomo, and assuming the Chairmanship of DAZN Japan last year.
+ Capitol Records, in partnership with TheBlackLabel, has signed K-pop girl group Meovv (pronounced “meow”).
The globally minded, five-piece group comes via TheBlackLabel, founder and producer Teddy Park (known as Teddy), whose credits include hits by BigBang, G-Dragon, Blackpink, and 2NE1, among others. Capitol, a label with a rich tradition of signing groundbreaking artists, is also currently home to Doechii, Ice Spice, J Balvin, Kali Uchis and Katy Perry, among others.
The members of Meovv have been announced one at a time on the label’s official YouTube channel, with the final member to be revealed Aug. 29.
+ Warner Music Brazil has announced a series of new hires and promotions: Tatiana Cantinho joins as general manager; Mariana Frensel has been named director of marketing; and a new creative services team will be headed by Thiago Abreu, who will report directly to President of Warner Music Brazil, Leila Oliveira.
The new creative services team support the existing marketing and A&R teams while also working closely on special brand partnership and live music projects. At the same time, the company is reorganising its A&R and Marketing departments to better serve key domestic genres, focusing on sertanejo, forró, samba, funk and urban music. The A&R team will continue to be led by Marcos Kilzer in his current role as A&R Director, and he’ll work closely with Cantinho.
The moves are the latest changes made by Oliveira since she became the first female label head in Brazil back in 2022. Earlier this year, she worked with colleagues at Warner Chappell Music and ADA Brazil to launch the Warner Music Space, a new company headquarters in the Barra da Tijuca area of Rio de Janeiro which is home to various creative areas including studios, lounges, workstations, an acoustic performance stage, and an event area.
+ LA-based Top Drawer Merch, a full-service merchandise and brand management agency, has upped Robbie McPhail to VP of sales. As part of this new role, McPhail will develop and implement tactical sales strategies for e-commerce, touring, and festival merchandising, oversee the touring department to ensure communication with venues, and coordinate logistics for merchandise on tour and to venues, including inventory management and shipping.
McPhail first joined Top Drawer Merch in 2016 handling on-site merch operations for countless events such as a 2017 festival tour run that included 25 festivals in North America, and more recently Portola Music Festival, Cali Vibes Festival, and Invisible Friends NYC Pop Up.
+ The Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC), in partnership with Live Nation, launched the BMAC LIVE Accelerator Program. This initiative offers an all-expenses paid music business intensive course and paid internship program with a focus on career pathways in the live music industry.
For 20 alternative pathway, non-college bound aspiring music business professionals, BMAC LIVE provided a week of access to leadership, mentorship, technical skills, and career resources.
“It has been inspiring to see the participants fully immerse themselves into the program. I’m excited to see where the group goes next as they become our future leaders. BMAC’s core mission is to provide equal opportunity across the entertainment industry, and it starts with the next generation,” said Willie “Prophet” Stiggers, BMAC co-founder, president and CEO. “We are proud to have partnered with Live Nation to create an exclusive and enriching program for non-college bound, aspiring professionals that will go beyond just a “program” but a true pathway to a career in live entertainment. The four-month paid internships in each participant’s city is a real game changer.”
BMAC LIVE’s music business intensive covered different aspects of creating and managing live entertainment including show production, budgeting, artist relations, talent booking, marketing, and ticketing.
Tuesday, Aug. 27
Tove Lo’s independent label, Pretty Swede Records, has signed googly eyes ahead of the release of her debut EP, “Starlet Sellout,” due out Sept. 27.
Pretty Swede Records is an independent label founded in 2022 by Tove Lo. To date, Pretty Swede has released Tove’s 2023 LP “Dirt Femme,” and her collaborative 2024 “Heat” EP with SG Lewis. Googly eyes’ “Starlet Sellout” EP marks the first release by Pretty Swede outside of Tove’s own artist project.
Pretty Swede have signed googly eyes in collaboration with Tove’s longtime collaborators Neon Gold, who worked on Tove’s “Truth Serum” EP in 2014, in addition to music from Charli XCX, Marina & The Diamonds, Christine and the Queens, Ellie Goulding and more.
“Googly eyes is such an incredible artist, writer and producer, and her new EP is full of gold,” said Tove. “I’m very excited for this project to be the first new artist release on Pretty Swede Records! Of course together with my friends at Neon Gold.”
+ Warner Music Nashville has signed William Beckmann to its roster. The 28-year-old, bilingual, Texas native’s first offering post-signing is the single “Not That Strong,” out this Aug. 30.
“William has a swagger that is both retro and youthful. Combine that with his rich, timeless, vocal and the result is a modern-vintage sound that is quite unique not just to the country format, but to all genres of music,” said Stephanie Wright, senior VP of A&R for Warner Music Nashville. “Whether he is serenading in English or in Spanish, you immediately recognize that William Beckmann is in the one of one category of artists.”
“I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity to be a part of the Warner family,” said Beckmann. “From the very beginning they’ve had such a holistic understanding of both my journey to this point and vision for the future, I can’t wait to begin releasing music together.”
+ Beginning today, U.S.-based songwriters can claim and manage their works catalog with Tidal’s new songwriter tools that allow them to manage their royalties, including mechanical royalties.
“As a songwriter who produces my own music, the new Tidal songwriter tool makes a noticeable difference by giving me a straight-forward look at my catalog to make sure I’m getting accurate royalties”, said singer-songwriter Sabrina Song. “The ability to manage my works in one place really allows me to focus more on making music.”
“To begin collecting royalties on their songs, creators need to sign up with the proper rights organizations—altogether a confusing process for most,” added AllTrack Founder and CEO Hayden Bower. “We are proud to partner with TIDAL to introduce new AllTrack technology that makes registering for performing rights and getting paid as simple as possible for creators.”
For more information, visit tidal.com/forsongwriters.
+ Independent publishing company Prescription Songs, in partnership with Disruptive Label publishing, has signed Afrobeats artist Jaya. The Nigerian artist, songwriter and producer was signed into the company by Prescription Songs VP of A&R Eddie Fourcell.
Since teaming up, Jaya has landed a placement on Da Baby’s upcoming album, and is currently working on records for Oxlade, RunTown, Lion King 2, and a number of Nigerian artists.
“I’m thrilled to partner with Disruptive Label and Prescription Songs for my global publishing deal,” said Jaya. “From day one, my mission has been to create Afro-global music while expanding as a multi-genre songwriter. Big thanks to Rob Jua and Eddie Fourcell for their belief in me—exciting times ahead!”
Fourcell adds, “Jaya is an incredible talent and as the world continues to embrace the amazing music and talent coming from Africa, I’m equally as excited to work alongside our team and Rob to help continue to develop and break the next global talent from Nigeria!”
+ UTA has launched a new Christian music division led by Jonathan Roberts, who joined UTA in May. Roberts is an industry veteran with over a decade of experience in Christian-focused music acts and a proven track record as a cultivator of talent.
“UTA is deeply committed to the growth of the Christian music division,” said Scott Clayton, UTA partner and co-head of UTA’s music department. “We are leveraging the full strength of the agency, bringing together agents who are inspired by the genre and its connection with fans.”
“We are witnessing an unprecedented moment in the music industry, where Christian music is resonating with wider audiences,” added Roberts. “UTA’s roster of Christian artists reflects the growing demand for the genre and we are thrilled to be part of this exciting moment alongside these artists.”
UTA’s Christian music division serves as an extension of UTA’s Heartland initiative, which was founded in 2020 by UTA agent Nick Barnes, and will tap into the company’s vast music network and resources, spanning from music crossover to brand partnerships.
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