May 19, 2026
Jamin Whatley
Senior Director, Creative A&R, Sony Music Publishing
Whatley had a front-row seat to Rod Wave’s creative evolution, helping sign producer Eelmatic and shaping records like 25, Nostalgia and Last Lap before watching them come alive in front of 18,000 fans. He’s currently focused on Pooh Shiesty’s comeback single, “FDO,” (which debuted at #1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart and peaked at #12 on the Hot 100) and was involved in the publishing and creative side of Playboi Carti’s I AM MUSIC. At age 10 he spent six months in a full-body cast. That would’ve been a step up for our tween years.
Amy Beard
VP, Marketing, Big Loud Records
Being the marketing lead on Alan Jackson’s final album was a full-circle moment for Beard—a lifelong fan, she interviewed him at his home and brought her mom to his farewell show. More recently, she watched from backstage as Stephen Wilson Jr. performed at the 2025 CMA Awards. At BLR, she’s steering a stacked release slate with new albums from Charles Wesley Godwin this summer, plus Wilson Jr. and Dylan Gossett this fall. She once slow-danced with Bill Nye the Science Guy at a wedding. Preliminary calculations say 63.4% of the bridesmaids were jealous.
Alessandro ‘Moz’ Moro
Senior A&R Consultant, UnitedMasters
Touring Europe with Major Lazer, Chance the Rapper and Freddie Gibbs provided unforgettable experiences for Moro, but his proudest moment was managing an artist who took the stage at Coachella—oh, and he played roulette with Nas and YG in Vegas. Now he’s been tapped to expand UnitedMasters’ global footprint into the U.K., with finishing touches being put on a Grace Carter album and a Kid Apollo mixtape, both due this year. Before breaking into music, Moro was a PE teacher and football coach. We still have PTSD from dodgeball.
Nevin Sanitsky
Director, A&R, Avex Music Group
Watching Kamal Wilson climb the charts with double-platinum hit “Folded” by Kehlani (#1 at radio and Grammy R&B Song of the Year) was surreal for Sanitsky. At Avex Music Group, he’s building the company’s publishing arm into a major player, with a roster that’s penned hits for Drake, Tate McRae and Tommy Richman, while signing new talent like Kyle Reith, Elie and Austen Healey—who engineered Chappell Roan’s debut The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess. He grew up hooping and played in The Crew League. We have never made a free throw.
Sydney Vann
Senior Director, Marketing, Def Jam
Earning her first RIAA platinum plaque for GELO’s “Tweaker,” the fastest-selling rap record of 2025, was a true highlight for Vann. At Def Jam, she’s leading marketing strategy for the FIFA World Cup 2026 soundtrack while steering campaigns for Teyana Taylor’s Escape Room deluxe, ODUMODUBLVCK’s Industry Machine deluxe and Wale’s summer tour, and developing 2BYG as the next-gen R&B group. She can recommend the best restaurant in any major city, down to exactly what to order—and run an eight-minute mile. We’re winded from going to the kitchen for more Cheetos.
Edenized Perez
Director, Brand Partnerships, THE·TEAM
From buying Spice Girls lollipops as a kid to eventually working with Mel C on GAP’s campaign with Palace Skateboard, Perez has a knack for turning fandom into career moments. At THE·TEAM, she orchestrated Taco Bell’s first LATAM music campaign with Myke Towers spanning 10-plus countries, executed Everlane’s first Face-Of campaign with Laufey and secured Kehlani as a performer at REVOLVE Festival during Coachella. International service is a huge passion—she’s built homes and schools in Brazil and Ecuador. In related news, our Barbie’s Dream House was just “renovated” by a Roomba.
Eli Hanavan
Agent, UTA
From Björk’s DJ set Under the K Bridge to four sold-out nights of David Byrne at Radio City Music Hall, Basement Jaxx’s first live show in over a decade at Coachella and more, Hanavan’s had no shortage of “pinch-me” moments. At UTA, he’s guiding the rollout of Kelsey Lu’s first album in seven years, So Help Me God, arriving this June via Dirty Hit, anchored by a four-night residency at Blue Note in NYC and L.A. He grew up on a small island in the Pacific Northwest, treating trips to the local record shop like a major event. Perhaps he’d be interested in our Montavani collection?
Carson Vickrey
Director of Business Development, A2IM
As site operations lead for NIVA’s 2025 conference, Vickrey scored an impromptu private soundcheck performance from Tank and the Bangas while waiting on a delivery between venues. She joined A2IM in December 2025 and is now building out the sponsorship program for Indie Week 2026 and the Libera Awards, the organization’s annual ceremony celebrating the indie ecosystem, which this year features live performances. She hosts a podcast called Now That’s a Good Question and does improv comedy. We freeze up at “yes, and.”