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           NOISEMAKERS




                                                     N OISEM AKER S









               T HE INDU S T R Y F OLK  showcased here haven’t appeared often in our                                                     IN AN Y E VEN T ,   meet another batch of professionals from different parts of the
               publication—and after this mortifying experience, they probably hope they never will again.                               biz whose dedication and effort make their superiors look good.





                                   Marcus Grant                                                                                          Gabz Landman
                                   VP, Digital Strategy, Def Jam                                                                         VP, A&R, Warner Records

                                   We’re certain that Grant has his hands full at the moment, with Jhené Aiko’s Chilombo having a        Being early and right has been a common theme for Landman. Along with championing Dua
                                   breakthrough release week and dominating streaming. This seasoned pro became well acquainted          Lipa from the start, she inked Amy Allen (whom she now manages) to a pub deal and set up
                                   with Def Jam while managing rap royalty Big Boi and fondly recalls the campaign for his first solo    Allen’s hit co-writes, “Without Me” and “Adore You.” At Warner, she’s signed Allen (again)
                                   album, Sir Lucious Left Foot, The Son of Chico Dusty. Grant knocks it outta the park outside the biz   and closed a competitive deal for MyKey, as well as helping U.K. acts Anne-Marie and Lewis
                                   as well, as he’s able to rake inside a 90mph batting cage.                                            Blissett with U.S. collabs. Landman somehow managed to get an invite to Kanye’s wedding-
                                                                                                                                         rehearsal dinner in Versailles, but she won’t be satisfied until she meets Britney Spears.



                                   Aura Harewood                                                                                         Kelly Benini
                                   VP, Urban Marketing, Interscope                                                                       Marketing Director, Altadena
                                   Harewood had a front-row seat to a truly viral ride while handling the marketing campaign for         Benini got her first taste of the music biz when she booked gigs for acts including Travis Scott
                                   Rae Sremmurd during the “Black Beatles” #mannequinchallenge. The impact was so deep that it           and twenty one pilots as a Syracuse undergrad. After graduating from the Bandier Program, she
                                   boosted the song to #1 for seven weeks—and the duo even connected with Paul McCartney. At             accelerated her career, landing at CAA and working under Head of Music Rob Light. Now, she’s
                                   the moment, Harewood is working with the LVRN team on more content for Summer Walker                  knee-deep in marketing campaigns at the late busbee’s Altadena, working with R&B/pop crooner
                                   and with Moneybagg Yo, both of whom had major release weeks. Somehow, she still finds time to         Conor Matthews, Lindsey Lomis and Riley Roth. Benini can make light of any situation; just
                                   teach Zumba three times a week.                                                                       check out the pop art she creates on her socials.




                                   Carter Gregory                                                                                        Tricia Fontneau-Ramos
                                   Director, A&R, Capitol                                                                                A&R Coordinator, Hollywood Records

                                   The Tower creative oversees A&R for FLETCHER and Terrell Hines; the former just dropped               Fontneau-Ramos is using her A&R chops—which she honed while working in the publishing
                                   her new single, “Forever.” Along with seeing FLETCHER make an powerful connection with fans           sector—on current projects with DREAMERS and Sofia Carson, while setting up a songwriting
                                   at a Brooklyn gig last year, Gregory counts witnessing Beychella in person as a personal highlight.   camp for the women’s-empowerment collective She Is the Music. Tricia’s voice—which we
                                   If you need more background on him, check out his appearance on MTV’s Made in 2008, on which          assume is as angelic as they come, since she’s performed in a choir with the L.A. Philharmonic
                                   he attempted to become a bodybuilder. Although he didn’t choose that career, you can still find       under maestro Gustavo Dudamel—will be heard during a handful of panels at several upcoming
                                   him on Instagram, straight-flexin’.                                                                   music expos—unless they get canceled, of course.


                                   Brooke Hardesty                                                                                       Spencer Bistricer
                                   Senior Director, Interactive Marketing, Warner Music Nashville                                        A&R, Primary Wave Entertainment

                                   It certainly makes Hardesty’s job a lot easier that Grammy winners Dan + Shay have a stellar          Bistricer handles an active roster of creators at the Wave, including producer Midi Jones (Alessia
                                   relationship with their fans. She’s watched their career explode to household-name level while being   Cara, Ella Mai, Demi Lovato) and RCA act Audrey Mika. His first signing at PW was producer
                                   on the front lines of interactive, which makes it even more fulfilling. She’s currently connecting fans   Tim Randolph (Imagine Dragons, YUNGBLUD, Whethan). Pop-culture stans will forever
                                   with rising stars Ingrid Andress and Shy Carter, who continue to bend country-music norms. If         thank Bristricer for hopping on a flight from London to L.A. to deliver a dress to Lana Del Rey for
                                   you’re looking to find Hardesty in East Nashville, odds are she’s getting her fix at a local coffee   the “Lust for Life” video shoot while interning at TaP Music. Ironically, this globetrotter still hasn’t
                                   shop, where everybody knows her name.                                                                 learned to drive since moving to L.A.—typical New Yorker.


        20                                                                                         HITS March 16, 2020             HITS March 16, 2020                                                                                      21
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