NOISEMAKERS: THEY'VE GOT MOVES

The industry folk showcased here haven’t appeared often in our publication—and after this mortifying experience, they probably hope they never will again.

In any event, meet another batch of professionals from different parts of the biz whose dedication and effort make their superiors look good.

Ashley Dingess
Digital Platform Strategy and Promotions, Mad Decent

When Dingess was at Power 106 as Social Media Director (2013-2017), she made the radio station the most socially followed on the West Coast and second nationwide. She’s currently focused on streaming and promo for Poppy, as well as introducing the biz to Mad Decent’s newest signing, Dylan Brady, and grooming management client Stockz. Dingess, who’s been collecting merch since a 1997 Doheny Days show with Sugar Ray and Violent Femmes, has a storage unit’s worth of goodies. How much of that is G-Eazy-related, though? You don’t want to know.

Lawrence Lam
Operations, Visionary Music Group

Lam remembers Logic’s show at Madison Square Garden as a remarkable experience. That gig also marked the first time his mom ever came to anything he’d worked on, which made the evening that much more special. Lam’s now working on launching the first headline tours for Jeremy Zucker and Chelsea Cutler. And when he’s not doing that, he’s trying to perfect his omelet flip. We’ll take ours with extra cheese, bacon and cannabutter, please.

Katherine Susemichel
Director, Project Management, Big Machine Label Group

When Thomas Rhett dropped Life Changes a year ago, he played intimate acoustic shows in three different cities on release day. Susemichel says seeing fans sing back songs that had been released only hours earlier was exhilarating. She and the BMLG team just announced Brett Young’s sophomore album and are plotting to wrap up 2018 in a big way with that release. She’s also loving the four already-released tracks from Florida Georgia Line’s upcoming fourth album. Oh, and a few years ago, she had the distinct honor of picking up Snoop Dogg’s 40th birthday cake.

Jordan Wolosky
GM & COO, AG Artists

Before Illuminate, Shawn Mendes played to a sold-out Madison Square Garden. According to Wolosky, it was only his second arena show ever. He says it’s surreal moments like those that make you snap out of go-mode and appreciate everything. Two albums and two world tours later, he swears it’s only the beginning. Most recently, his team launched year two of Shawn’s Armani campaign and celebrated the NFL kickoff the other week. When Wolosky was 12, he played guitar and sang lead in a band called Moofus. The website—complete with photos—is still active.

Markell Casey
Senior Creative Director, A&R, Pulse

Casey’s career highlights include seeing CHVRCHES at Glastonbury, closing the Jai Wolf deal in his trailer at Coachella—20 minutes before he packed out the Gobi Tent—and signing the “exceptional talent” that is YEBBA. Casey wants you to be on the lookout for upcoming Jai Wolf and YEBBA albums, as well as some exciting releases in the pipeline from Whethan and LIDO. And if you can’t trust someone who plays the piano with his eyes closed and masquerades as Kaytranada in his spare time, who can you trust?

Patch Culbertson
VP A&R, Big Loud

Culbertson, who taught beatboxing in college, was once called a “powerful and attractive man” by Gene Simmons. He’d like you to know that Morgan Wallen’s debut album—the #1 bow from a solo country artist by consumption YTD—is closing in on 400m global streams. And “Up Down” f/Florida Georgia Line is now platinum. Wallen also co-penned “You Make It Easy,” Jason Aldean’s recent platinum-selling #1. Then there’s new Nashville hitmaker HARDY, who’s got the exec all fired up. His artist project will be unveiled in October, before an 80-date run.

Nicole Johnson
Director of Artist Marketing, Pandora

Building hip-hop and R&B marketing opportunities for the Internet radio giant keeps Johnson rather busy, especially when you tack on the planning for two events this fall with Cardi B. She’s very excited—just not as excited as the time she worked a BET event at the White House and ended up dancing with President Obama to Aly-Us’ “Follow Me” at the end of the night. Also, she’s a ventriloquist. So, yeah, you could be doing life better.

Casey Robison
Partner, SVP of A&R, Big Deal Music Group

Since Robison began overseeing Big Deal’s pop songwriters, they’ve penned gems for Shawn Mendes, Halsey, Panic! At the Disco, Maroon 5, One Direction, Jason Derulo, 5SOS, Nick Jonas, Fifth Harmony, Thomas Rhettand more. The roster, which Robison built from the ground up with his partners, includes Teddy Geiger, Dan Wilson, Jake Sinclair, John Ryan, Julian Bunetta, Joe London, Danny Parker and Steph Jones. His dad’s a drum tech who worked with The Doobie Brothers, Billy Idol, Yes, Madonna and John Mellencamp, among others, so Robison grew up drumming and hanging on tour buses.