Bass has helped bring to life campaigns for 300 artists such as Megan Thee Stallion, Young Thug, Gunna, Mary J. Blige, Fetty Wap, Migos, Tee Grizzley, and others. She has been recognized on Billboard’s Women in Music, Hip Hop Power Players, 40 Under 40, and Indie Power Players lists, as well as Variety Magazine’s Hitmakers and Women’s Impact lists, and has won Libera, Webby, Clio Music, Shorty, and Telly awards in marketing. Bass began her career as an intern at Island Def Jam before joining the company as a full-time Marketing Assistant. In January of 2014, she became 300’s first marketing hire, and due to an impeccable track record, was promoted to Sr. Vice President of Marketing in 2019.

As the head of 300’s A&R department, Bouab has been key in signing and developing some of the label’s biggest talents – from Megan Thee Stallion to Fetty Wap and Tee Grizzley. Bouab has also facilitated notable releases from Young Thug, Gunna, Mary J. Blige, $NOT, Phony Ppl, and Shy Glizzy, with whom he launched Glizzy Gang, as well as Atlanta breakout artist Hunxho. Bouab also launched the label Unauthorized Entertainment, and he has previously worked with Def Jam, Asylum, and Sony Music Entertainment.

Picken will be based in Sydney and will forge new partnerships for artists with other Sony companies and identify opportunities across multiple entertainment channels including music, TV, film, podcasting, gaming, and more.

“After a careful and thorough recruitment process, we are delighted to have Vanessa join our company in such a key role,” said Rob Stringer, Chairman, Sony Music Group. “Her impressive background covers so many areas of the modern music business in Australia and New Zealand and her recent leadership experience in the US adds a global understanding to those existing skills. We believe Vanessa will be a trailblazing executive leading Sony Music Australia to an exciting future.”

“I’m delighted to be coming home to join Sony Music Australia and New Zealand to take the company into a transformative next chapter. Our strategies will focus on music, allyship, and innovation, with a global mindset,” added Picken. “Sony Music has a renowned reputation for empowering its artists and creators, breaking down traditional barriers to put them at the center of everything it does. We will reaffirm our commitment to the discovery and development of new and emerging talent across both countries, as well as expanding the commercial and creative opportunities for our roster of artists locally and internationally.”

Most recently, Picken served as Managing Director of PIAS in Los Angeles, where she oversaw the growth and restructuring of the company’s label group and distribution business. Picken’s focus was on repertoire and campaign development. Picken is also the founder of the digital agency and label services company, Comes With Fries.

She started her career in the music industry at EMI Music Australia in 2006 where she spent five years working with the label’s local and international artists. She is also the co-curator of Fastforward Sydney, a music technology conference for industry leaders.

Blaustein has previously held A&R positions at Capitol (EMI) Records and Warner Music Group where he directed artist development and marketing strategies for A-list talent including My Chemical Romance, Avenged Sevenfold, 30 Seconds To Mars, and GRAMMY award-winning band Mastodon, amongst others.

In addition, Blaustein also held the position as Global Director, Music & Artist Relations at Hard Rock International, whereas he was based in Miami, FL and helped facilitate global music initiatives and strategies for the company.

Blaustein stated, “I’ve accepted a role with Universal Music Group as Vice President, A&R – the world leader in music-based entertainment. Flattered to collaborate with an elite team making a profound impact on industry and culture by redefining the role of the modern label. An enormous debt of gratitude to Dennis Wolfe, Jason Flom, Jane Gowen and Bruce Resnikoff for entrusting me with this enormous responsibility, can’t wait to begin this next chapter.”

Blaustein will be based at the company’s headquarters in Santa Monica, CA.

Aukoustics is a producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist artist with strengths in piano and guitar. Aukoustics produced and co-wrote Galantis and Dolly Parton’s single “Faith” featuring Mr. Probz, which topped the U.S. iTunes Dance Charts as well as debuted No.1 on both Billboard’s Dance/Electronic and Dance Radio Chart. He also co-produced Galantis and JVKE’s single “Dandelion,” which also amassed success across all streaming platforms and was named the No.40 dance song of 2021 by Billboard.

His most recent cuts are “Losing My Religion” where he teamed up with Steve Aoki and GATTUSO as an artist and producer as well as Cheat Codes’ “How Do You Love” featuring Lee Brice and Lindsay Ell. Aukoustics has worked across genres including Bhad Bhabie’s “Get Like Me” featuring NLE Choppa and Kash Doll’s “Mobb’n,”, Dzeko’s “Never Gonna Love” featuring Sam James and Dynoro’s “Monsters” featuring 24kGoldn.

He’s been working with and has upcoming releases with Tiesto, Galantis, Lovelytheband, Nicky Romero, Internet Money, Moneybagg Yo, Acraze and others.

The deal was signed with the support of Greg Hammer, GM, Red Bull Records; Kenny “ Tick” Salcido, Sr. VP/Head of A&R, Red Bull Records and Jared Lane, Director of Publishing/Creative, Red Bull Records.

Maison Arts is the sister company of JET Management with the addition of partner Simon Kessler, who Scholz and Goldberg met when he was a talent buyer at C3 Presents. Also joining the Maison Arts team is Livia Piomelli Head of A&R, who was previously Director of A&R at Big Noise Music Group and was A&R Manager at Arthouse Entertainment prior to Big Noise.

Maison Arts has already achieved success with Suki Waterhouse’s “Good Looking,” which has amassed over 36 million streams on Spotify alone. The record peaked at No.1 on Spotify’s US Viral 50 chart, No.3 on the Global Viral 50 chart, and reached Top 10 in 26 countries. On TikTok, “Good Looking” has generated 400k+ videos and 475 million views to date and is currently set to impact pop radio later this month.

Suki will be on tour this fall with Father John Misty in support of her debut album I Can’t Let Go, produced by Brad Cook (Bon Iver, War On Drugs, Big Red Machine, Waxahatchee) and available via Sub Pop.