*Top black executives are making moves on two fronts, according to new reports.
Troy Carter, who has served as Spotify’s global head of creator services since June 2016, will be leaving the company in early September, the company confirmed Monday.
In April 2017, he took on the additional role as entertainment advisor for the Prince estate, following the artist’s sudden death the year prior.
Just last month, Carter was honored with the UJA-Federation’s Music Visionary of the Year award along with Spotify CEO Daniel Ek. He has worked with the artist community and music industry at large to help facilitate a conversation between the traditional music business and the streaming service, and helped shepherd in the company’s emerging artist program, several playlist and subscription initiatives and the latest large-scale upgrade to its free tier, announced earlier this year, according to The Hollywood Reporter. He previously worked as CEO of the Atom Factory, a management and digital-music firm he founded several years ago, and managed artists such as Lady Gaga, Meghan Trainor and Charlie Puth, among others.
“I came to this company to help bridge the gap between Spotify and the creative community,” Carter said in a statement. “Over time, that goal evolved from fixing a challenge to building a global team focused on changing the game for artists around the world, partnering with them to help bring their creative visions to life in new and innovative ways. I’m very proud of what we’ve achieved but with so much accomplished, it was the right time to move out of the day-to-day into an advisory role. The knowledge, relationships and personal experiences will remain with me and I know that this talented team is committed to continuing this important work.”
Carter will remain as an advisor with the world’s largest streaming service. His replacement is Nick Holmsten, currently Spotify’s head of shows and editorial, which includes its playlists. Holmsten and Carter’s teams will be combined under the new structure.
And over at Jay-Z’s Roc Nation…
Co-founder and CEO Jay Brown has joined the Board of Directors of MedMen, the aggressive farm-to-counter retail chain dubbed the Apple Store or Starbucks of weed dispensaries, reports Variety.
The 20-year music industry vet has worked with Hov to develop the careers of multiple artists (among them Rihanna and DJ Khaled). He began his career as a publishing executive with Quincy Jones’ Qwest Records, later joining Elektra Entertainment Group as senior VP, and Def Jam as executive VP.
Since Roc Nation’s inception in 2008, Brown has branched out into the world of touring and merchandising, television and film, content creation, apparel, mobile gaming and new business ventures such as cannabis.
“Over the years, I’ve met great talent and passionate people who helped shape our view of the world through music. I see that same intensity in today’s emerging cannabis industry and MedMen is definitely at the head of the pack,” stated Brown. “I believe in their mission and I believe in their ability to execute.”
MedMen operates 19 licensed facilities in California, Nevada and New York, ranging from cultivation and manufacturing to retail. MedMen has several stores in the Los Angeles area, including West Hollywood, downtown L.A. and Venice’s Abbott Kinney District, while recently opening a flagship location on Fifth Avenue in New York. MedMen also completed a deal with Canadian cannabis company Cronos Group, the first pure-play cannabis company to trade on the Nasdaq stock exchange.
MedMen co-founder and CEO Adam Bierman reiterated the company’s lifestyle approach to selling cannabis. “Marijuana today is less about smoking a joint, and much more about culture,” he said in announcing Brown’s arrival. “It is about healthier, safer choices for mind and body, and community. For more than two decades, Jay Brown has had his finger on the pulse of pop culture. We are honored to have him on our Board and look forward to working with him as MedMen continues on its mission to mainstream marijuana.”
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