July 15, 2025
Adrian Ayala
Tour Marketing Executive, CAA
Ayala once worked directly with Jon Bon Jovi and his team to handpick opening acts for a 30-city tour via an online contest (covered on Good Morning America) that gave hundreds of up-and-comers a shot at the stage. Now, he’s cooking up plans for some upcoming major tours—though he’s mum on the details. Ayala has appeared as a backup dancer in videos for Beth Ditto and Margo Price. We still don’t know what “kick-ball-change” means.
Aurea Lemos de Oliveira
Director, International Marketing LATAM, Warner Music Latin America
Lemos de Oliveira helped drive Future Nostalgia to #1 in Brazil by securing a pandemic-era Dua Lipa performance on Big Brother Brasil—streamed live from Dua’s home. More recently, she’s brought viral energy to Linkin Park’s LATAM strategy, including a tamale-truck activation in Mexico. Lately, she’s been busy leading the Latin America marketing strategy for acts like Charli xcx, Benson Boone, Teddy Swims, ROSÉ, The Marías and more. Lemos de Oliveira played volleyball for eight-plus years. We get a volleyball in the face whenever we visit the beach.
David Bason
Head of West Coast, 7s MGMT
Bason will never forget playing guitar on a New York Dolls track after David Johansen handed him an axe—a moment that sealed a lifelong allegiance. Now, he’s focused on Warner-inked Theo Lawrence as well as Hayes Carll, whose new album lands 8/8 via Thirty Tigers—clients he shares with Chris Tetzeli—as well as producer Ryan Hadlock (Zach Bryan/The Lumineers) and new releases from The Devil Makes Three and William Clark Green. Bason once repped Canada in water polo at the World University Games. We’re winded just from typing that.
Jacqueline-Cheng
Senior Director, Marketing & Label Management, ADA
Among other career highlights, Cheng got to help present Macklemore & Ryan Lewis with their second diamond record for “Can’t Hold Us,” a feat fewer than two dozen indie acts have ever pulled off. Most recently, she led the charge on Kesha’s new project, . (yes, just a period), which dropped on July 4. And when she’s not combing through data and advising on marketing strategies, Cheng’s rescuing plants and bringing them back to life with her green thumb. We recently sat on a cactus, which in our world counts as gardening.
Oskar Muller
Director, Pricing & Ticketing, Wasserman Music
Muller still can’t believe his name appeared in the program for Paul McCartney’s 2022 SoFi Stadium show—a profound moment for a lifelong fan who was just breaking into the biz. Now, he’s behind the scenes on major tours by the likes of Tyler Childers, Lorde, Disclosure, Yandel and more, using fan-first pricing and anti-scalping strategies to help deliver packed venues and accessible tickets. After work, you can find Muller playing pickup basketball to unwind. We have never unwound.
Grace Stern
Agent, WME
Stern kicked off her first Grammy experience by accidentally entering from backstage, running down the Grammy steps and landing at front of house in time to catch her clients Dawes opening the show’s post-wildfires tribute with Randy Newman’s “I Love L.A.” Presently, she’s hyped on rising act Ken Pomeroy—whose debut dropped via Rounder in May and who’s playing festivals like Newport Folk and Bristol Rhythm & Roots this summer—while also locking in WME headliners for the 2026 fest circuit. Stern grew 11 varieties of tomatoes last year. We’ve had at least that many thrown at us.
Ryan Raichilson
VP, Business Affairs, Sony Music Publishing
Raichilson has negotiated deals for superstar songwriters and even struck up a friendship with Face to Face’s Trever Keith after answering a cold-call legal question from him, but nothing beats the glory of telling his kids he worked on the song they won’t stop singing. These days, he structures deals for everyone from breakout writers to seasoned pros—though he can’t name names (attorney-client privilege and all). He moonlights in a punk band and releases folk records with his wife. We tried starting a band but got kicked out after attempting a cowbell solo.
Chimene Mantori
Founder, Solace Talent
Mantori has helped clients rack up millions of followers and shape musical tastes on the internet—but one highlight? Watching Annabelle Kline go from bedroom DJ to opening for Doechii, Teezo Touchdown and Rema in under a year. Now, she’s guiding creators into the world of longform video, helping build out music-centric podcasts and shows. She’s also a level two Reiki practitioner. We once went for a massage and got stuck in the face cradle.