Los Angeles’ G-Son Studios — the former rehearsal space, recording studio, and headquarters of the Beastie Boys — is launching a public fundraising initiative via Kickstarter to restore and reopen the space as a community arts center and live music venue.
Located in Atwater Village, G-Son was formerly a ballroom, but inside it was part studio, part clubhouse, part skate spot and part basketball court. The Beastie Boys recorded most of their classic run of ‘90s albums there — “Check Your Head,” “Ill Communication” and “Hello Nasty” — along with videos like “Pass the Mic.” Beck, Biz Markie, Run-DMC, Redd Kross and Luscious Jackson all worked there as well.
The space later housed such tenants as Diplo, Han Cholo Jewelry, X-Large Clothing and Mad Decent Records, but has since fallen into disrepair and was on the verge of being demolished. However, Beastie Boys fan Adam Englander and partner Alex Cherin stepped in and have been “carefully restoring G-Son Studios, removing a collapsing stage, repairing core infrastructure, restoring lighting, and uncovering original artwork that had been hidden for years beneath layers of neglect,” according to the announcement.
“This isn’t just about saving a building,” said Englander. “It’s about preserving a piece of LA’s creative DNA and giving it new life as a space for artists, community, and culture to come together again.”
Supporters of the Kickstarter campaign will have access to exclusive content, behind-the-scenes restoration updates, and “unique experiences” connected to the building’s reopening.
+ Singer-songwriter Kinsley has signed with MCA and released a new single and video titled “Pieces of Me.” She first rose to prominence through her “Midnight Sessions” performances on YouTube, where she showcases her early songs.
+ Weverse Company, the company behind the superfan platform of the same name, has announced the appointment of Zooil Yang as president, effective June 1, 2026.
Yang joins after a stint as CEO of AXZ, an AI-powered content and platform company, and earlier roles with Kakao, Ground X and NHN.
Launched in 2019, Weverse now hosts approximately 180 artist communities, including BTS, Blackpink, Dua Lipa, Megan Thee Stallion, Seventeen, Tomorrow X Together, Gracie Abrams, Enhypen, Le Sserafim and more.
+ Longview Communications, an advisory firm specializing in entertainment, media and technology, has announced its formal launch and leadership team: founder and CEO Andrew Fixmer and executive VP Jamie Diamond, both formerly of Universal Music, with previous roles at Paramount Pictures and the Sphere (Fixmer) and Sunshine Sachs (Diamond).
“Longview was built to help companies and leaders communicate with clarity at pivotal moments,” said Fixmer. “Jamie and I bring complementary experience across corporate reputation, entertainment, media, music and technology, and a shared belief that the strongest communications strategies are grounded in business objectives. We work with clients to sharpen their story, strengthen their positioning and navigate high-stakes situations with credibility and impact.”
+ Atlantic Records has announced a partnership with Zeus Music, the music division of the video-streaming service Zeus Network. The first release under the new deal comes from Dominican Republic-born rapper La Biggie and is titled “Teteo.”
“Partnering with the legacy of Atlantic Records marks a defining moment for us,” said Zeus Network CEO Lemuel Plummer. “This collaboration is about amplifying bold, culture-shifting talent and cultivating new ways where innovation meets influence. We’re excited to build a new blueprint for how music is discovered, developed, and delivered.”
Atlantic Records’ Selim Bouab says: “The Zeus Network has captured a significant audience by thinking outside the box and delivering entertainment to fans where they live. Music has always been a huge part of the culture they drive, so working with the team at Zeus Network on their new label is exciting for all of us at Atlantic.”
+ A new venture called FanClub AI, which uses chip-level API integration to help content owners track, identify, and govern how their IP is used in AI systems, launched this week. The venture was founded by Deborah Harpur, previously a rights and marketing veteran for Netflix, Warner Bros., and Disney franchises, along with an all-female founding team including Emmy-winning VFX producer Kymber Lim and former Revlon CMO Charlotte Amouy Adjchavanich.
According to the announcement, FanClub AI aims to “reshape how intellectual property assets are recognized, managed and monetized through a new infrastructure that protects rights at scale while turning AI training into revenue streams for rights holders and future-proofing for e-commerce.” Its first product is FanClub Library Vault.
“Our Library Vault will be the first secure global repository where AI can be trained to recognize assets, block their unauthorized usage and monetize them while setting clear ethical guidelines for how the IP can be used,” said Harpur.
Wednesday, May 27
+ Sony Music and Julie Swidler, the company’s longtime executive VP of business affairs and general counsel, have announced her “long-planned” departure at the end of June.
In making the announcement, Sony Music Group Chairman Rob Stringer said: “Julie has been a vital component of the Sony Music senior management team for many years and her wisdom, experience and knowledge has been a bedrock of our company’s strategy and growth. She leaves us with our deepest respect and gratitude. As a friend and colleague, on a personal note, as Julie and I have planned together her departure for a while now, she will be missed at Sony Music but I know that her next working chapter will be equally stimulating and rewarding.”
Swidler added, “Every great adventure eventually makes room for a new one, and this feels like the right moment for mine. There are few companies in the world like Sony Music that carry this much history and remain this relevant. Being part of that legacy has been a privilege. That journey would not have been the same without Rob Stringer’s leadership, friendship and trust, and I’m grateful for all of it. I’m just as proud of our global Business and Legal Affairs practice and the extraordinary people in it who are truly second to none. We have always been guided by what is fair and right for artists, and that compass never failed us.”
Since being appointed in 2008, has overseen the company’s business, legal and governmental affairs globally, advising Sony Music’s record labels and operating units on negotiations, talent agreements, litigation, transactions and joint-venture operations. In 2018, she represented the company and others on the Recording Academy’s Task Force that issued a major report on diversity and inclusion in music.
Previously, Swidler held senior legal and business affairs roles at Arista Records, J Records, RCA Records, and BMG. She served as lead counsel for the 1994 Woodstock Festival and assisted with the launch of Clive Davis’ J Records. She began her music industry career with roles at PolyGram Records and Mercury Records.
In 2026, Swidler was named a Music Visionary of the Year by UJA-Federation of New York and has been honored with the Grammy Foundation’s Entertainment Law Initiative Service Award, where she became the first woman and the first record label executive to receive the distinction; the T.J. Martell Foundation’s Lifetime Music Industry Award; and the Music Business Association’s Presidential Honor; and several Variety impact lists.
Monday, May 18
United Talent Agency has signed Latin music star Jay Wheeler for global representation in all areas. UTA will work alongside Wheeler across live touring, media, brand partnerships, filmed entertainment, and additional strategic opportunities worldwide.
The singer has scored three Latin Grammy nominations, most recently for Best Urban/Fusion Performance with “Roma” from his eighth studio album, “Girasoles.” His breakout hit “La Curiosidad” has racked up more than 1.4 billion Spotify streams and more than 1 billion YouTube views. He is also preparing to launch a new podcast venture.
+ U2 has announced the appointment of longtime Spotify executive Sulinna Ong as a management partner, a newly created role that sees her join Irving and Jeffrey Azoff in leading the band’s management. According to the announcement, Ong will work strategically “across the full breadth of the band’s career, with particular focus on creative and innovation, reporting directly to the four band members.”
She joins after over seven years at Spotify, where she most recently served as global head of editorial & curation, music.
In a collective statement, bandmembers Bono, the Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. said, “What’s struck us about Sulinna is the flair, finesse, and clarity she brings to both the art and the audience. She understands what we’ve built and where we want to take it. We’re delighted to have her as a management partner alongside Irving and Jeffrey.”
Irving Azoff added, “The band made the right call. Sulinna is one of the best executives in music, with a career built on judgement, taste, and an instinct for where culture is now and where it’s going. Jeffrey and I are proud to have her alongside us.”
+ Top independent publisher Spirit Music, in partnership with Lyric Capital Group, has named Frank Rogers CEO. A veteran songwriter, producer and publisher, Rogers launched Fluid Music Revolution in 2016 and in 2019 was named the CEO of Spirit Music Nashville, rising to the company’s chief creative officer three years later.
According to the announcement, Rogers will “continue to define the strategic direction to maximize growth, overseeing all aspects of Spirit Music’s global roster and creative and operational activities, while continuing to serve as president of Fluid Music Revolution.”
Spirit, founded in 1995, has a repertoire that includes hits recorded by the Weeknd, Ed Sheeran, Chris Stapleton, Baby Keem, Tim McGraw, Darius Rucker, Hardy, Billy Gibbons, Tom Petty and many more.
According to the announcement, Rogers, who was named Billboard’s No. 2 Hot Country Producer of the 21st Century, is the only producer in this century to have the top three singles with three different acts on the Billboard Country Airplay chart in a given week, with Josh Turner (“Why Don’t We Just Dance”), Brad Paisley (“American Saturday Night”), and Darius Rucker (“History In The Making”) in February 2010. As a producer, Frank has worked with artists such as Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker, Josh Turner, Trace Adkins, Scotty McCreery, Chris Stapleton; his songs have been recorded by Paisley, Turner, Adkins, Darius Rucker, Kenny Rogers, Chris Stapleton, Ed Sheeran, Bruno Mars and more.
Jon Singer, chairman of Spirit Music and co-founding partner of Lyric Capital Group, said, “I have had the privilege of knowing Frank for over 10 years. What began as a joint venture has evolved into one of the most rewarding partnerships of my career. There are few creative talents like Frank, who is not only an exceptional creative force but also a top-tier business leader.”
“Frank is a force,” added co-founding partner Ross Cameron. “We are truly lucky to have his exceptional vision and leadership guiding Spirit Music.”
+ Country stars Reba McEntire, Wynonna, Vince Gill and rising star Belle Frantz came together for Musicians on Call’s “Music Heals Live!” event last week, which raised more than $700,000 to support the organization’s bedside, virtual, songwriting and streaming programs. Held at the Pinnacle in Nashville, the event honored the people who have helped the organization for over 25 years.
McEntire received the Music Heals Golden Ukulele in recognition of her longstanding support of Musicians On Call, while the other three performed at the event. Mitch Glazier, chairman & CEO of the RIAA and Chairman Emeritus of the MOC Board of Directors, received the Leadership in Music Golden Ukulele, presented in a surprise moment by country music star Martina McBride. Glazier has championed the organization’s mission for more than a decade, playing a pivotal role in launching MOC’s Washington, D.C. program and raising millions of dollars in support of its work.
When accepting her award, McEntire said, “Music brings light into dark times and gives hope when everything feels hopeless. That’s the power of music. Tonight is about the caregivers who take care of all of us in our most challenging times. It’s about the patients. This honor is something I’ll always cherish because I get to share it with you all.”
Volunteers Stan Garrison, Daisy Perez, Dianna Perez, Jeff Scornavacca and Keenan Kamae also received honors.
+ Sony Music Publishing has promoted ZaZa Kazadi to senior director of A&R for the U.K. & Europe. He will continue to be based out of the company’s London office. Since first joining the company in 2024, Kazadi has signed such artists as BRIT-winning rapper Dave, rising star EsDeeKid, Kidwild, Shallipopi and Fimiguerrero, as well as producers AOD (Tems, FKA Twigs) and Jo Caleb (Dave, Asake). He also works closely with Wizkid, Producer X and Jester Beats. Last year he received Music Business Worldwide’s award for A&R of the Year: Contemporary Black Music.
Previously, Kazadi managed artists and producers including ZieZie and Sonzi at Never Dies Management, and also spent two years as A&R manager at BMG Music Publishing.
Sarah Gabrielli, head of A&R said, “ZaZa is one of the sharpest A&Rs I’ve worked with – his judgement, clarity of vision, and determination consistently set him apart. He combines real creative instinct with a relentless drive to deliver, making him an exceptional A&R and a key part of our team’s successes.”
+ Amazon Music has named Heran Mamo as its U.S. hip-hop music curator, where she will help to shape the streaming service’s hip-hop programming while championing emerging and established artists across the genre. She was most recently senior R&B/hip-hop/Afrobeats writer at Billboard, where she was recognized in Forbes’ 2026 “30 Under 30 Media List” for being the first writer in the publication’s 130-year history with an African music beat.
+ New York-based PR and marketing agency the Chamber Group has launched a philanthropy, arts & culture department that will be overseen by Edwin Tetteh Jr., who has been promoted to director. He will continue to report to company CEO Chris Chambers. Tetteh joined the company in 2021 after roles at Williamson PR, the Lede and PR Consulting.
“Watching Edwin grow into a seasoned PR executive and brand builder has been a true gift and pleasure,” says Chambers. “Edwin takes his craft seriously as he looks to understand the clients’ goals and their trajectory as he designs plans where research and creative ideas are implemented.”
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