NOISEMAKERS:
THE FALL KICKOFF
In our latest roundup, we present eight rising professionals from various parts of the biz whose dedication and effort make their superiors look good.
This week's entrants will also find their faces in our most recent mag. Lucky for them, this feature—and $6.95—will get them a commemorative pumpkin spice latte from participating Starbucks locations.
Juan Pablo “JP” Victoria
VP, Head of Producer & Songwriter Management, NEON16
From watching Shakira on Colombian stadium stages when he was 12 to seeing client Albert Hype produce her “Te Felicito” (certified 13x platinum by the Latin RIAA)—which earned Hype his first Latin Grammy nom—and “Monotonia” (septuple platinum), Victoria’s come a long way. He’s focused today on actor Aron Piper’s music project (due next year), with Venezuelan Manuel Lara as executive producer, as well as Dillon Francis & Hype’s collab blending punk rock with electronic and Latin elements. Victoria is a level 1 sommelier. Our wine consumption is next-level.
Ashley May
Senior Marketing Director, Warner Records
In her 10 years at Warner Records, May has been key to marketing campaigns for acts like Madonna, FIFTY FIFTY and Brandy Clark. She even got to meet Madonna—a “pinch me” moment—and was thanked by RÜFÜS DU SOL in the trio’s Grammy acceptance speech for 2022’s Best Dance Recording (“Alive”). She’s now strategizing for releases by Bebe Rexha, David Guetta, aespa and Ashnikko and is the marketing lead for Cher’s Christmas album, her first. May dabbles in the art of entomology taxidermy. Plenty of people would like to see us mounted on a pinning board.
Chris Visconti
Music Agent, UTA
Visconti has taken Wage War from club act to arena opener for Slipknot and Godsmack to theater headliner. He also celebrated Mammoth WVH’s first U.S. stadium show―with Metallica. He’s presently transforming Loveless from TikTok sensation into club headliner; the band is on its first tour, having played Lollapalooza and Boston Calling. And he helped reunite Sunny Day Real Estate, putting the alt fave on the most successful tour of its long career. After honeymooning in Paris, Visconti is learning French via Duolingo. Our own French is limited to “ooh la la.”
Diana Beas
Associate Director, Licensing (Film/TV Music), RCA Records
Beas relishes the opportunity to represent her culture and was thus thrilled to work on the sync deal for Becky G’s “The Fire Inside,” which plays over the end titles of the Eva Longoria-directed Flamin’ Hot, which was screened at the White House as part of the Biden administration’s commitment to elevating Latine voices. Also in the works: further syncs for Ms. G as well as placements for Doja Cat, Miguel and South Korea’s ATEEZ. In her spare time, Beas is learning Korean. She aspires to write an award-winning K-drama series. We can barely speak English.
Thomas Fitzner
Lead, UMG Label Partnerships, Spotify
For Fitzner, nothing tops working with Swedish House Mafia to bring its Paradise Again to life at a 2022 Coachella after-party. He also secured the playlist This Is the Weeknd for Delta Airlines’ onboard entertainment and once listened to Kid Cudi’s Man on the Moon III with Kid Cudi. Fitzner’s lately been focused on launching Spotify features like Countdown Pages and Clips and leading partnerships for UMG artists like Olivia Rodrigo, Post Malone and NewJeans. When he retires, he wants to run a champagne vineyard―where we presumably will not be welcome.
Simone Dixon
A&R Manager, Sony Music Publishing
Dixon is thrilled to be working with creators like Toosii (whose double-platinum “Favorite Song” hit #1 at Urban and Rhythm radio this year), Dizzy Banko (Lola Brooke f/Billy B.’s 2021 gold “Don’t Play With It,” #1 Urban) and 2300 Beats (Chlöe’s 2023 “Body Do,” seen in a Beats Fit Pro commercial), all of whom she inked to SMP. She’s currently diving into new projects by, among others, Nardo Wick, which has found her collaborating with the RCA A&R team. Dixon, who’s worked in entertainment since she was three, was a child actress and dancer. As were we.
Juan Jose Quijano
Senior Director Artist Relations and Strategy, Warner Music Latina
Quijano fondly recalls landing Tiago PZK a gig at Spotify Camp Nou Stadium during the first Final Four of the Kings League—a new football league featuring the top-streaming Spanish-language songs—in front of 95k fans and 2m online viewers. “Listening to the crowd was a ‘wow’ moment for me that consolidated my love of the job,” he says. He’s now going after the gaming sector, among other endeavors. On a personal note, Quijano has been driven to tears by Mumford & Sons live and makes a point of bringing tissues to their performances. We make people cry, too.
Candace Mitchell
Founder/Owner, CLM Management
Mitchell remembers with glee being embraced by industry power players during a dinner for Gunna’s #1 album Drip Season 4—her client AJ Stay Workin’ contributed to the production—which led to client credits on albums by Young Thug (Punk and BUSINESS IS BUSINESS), Kodak Black (Kutthroat Bill: Vol. 1) and Metro Boomin (Heroes & Villains), among others. She’s now working on AJ’s recently launched StayWorkin’ Tour. Mitchell previously helped produce major sporting events, including Super Bowl LIII and the Final Four. Our involvement in sports is limited to cornhole.
