INDUSTRY NEWS IN AN INSTANT

Ezekiel Lewis Named President Epic Records

Ezekiel Lewis has been appointed as the President of Epic Records, assuming the role under Sylvia Rhone, the Chairwoman and CEO of Epic Records. In his new position, Lewis will oversee the A&R division and actively participate in the company's day-to-day operations. Since 2020, Lewis has held the position of Executive Vice President and Head of A&R at Epic Records, where he has collaborated closely with notable artists such as 21 Savage, Bia, Black Eyed Peas, DDG, Future, Giveon, Madison Beer, Meghan Trainor, Mimi Webb, Southside, Zara Larsson, and more. Prior to joining Epic in 2017, Lewis served as the Senior Vice President of A&R at Motown Records starting from 2011. During his tenure at Motown, he worked alongside renowned artists, including Ne-Yo, Erykah Badu, Migos, Lil Yachty, T.I., and Rich Homie Quan. Lewis is also a Grammy-winning songwriter, having co-written and co-produced songs for Justin Bieber, Mary J. Blige, and Usher. Additionally, he has collaborated closely with Mariah Carey and Yo Gotti. In 2010, he founded Bar Music Group, a music publishing company that featured projects with Chris Brown, Future, Trey Songz, and others. As a musician himself, he signed with David Foster's 143 Records and played a significant role in Trey Songz's career. In 2004, Lewis co-founded the Clutch, a collective of songwriter-producers who have been instrumental in creating hits for artists like Omarion, Ciara, Britney Spears, Timbaland, and more.

AUDACY PROMOTES SKIP DILLARD TO FORMAT VICE PRESIDENT OF RHYTHMIC AC AND THROWBACK FORMATS

Audacy has elevated Skip Dillard to Format Vice President to lead brand and format strategy and execution for the company’s Rhythmic AC and Throwback portfolio. He will continue to serve as Brand Manager of 94.7 The Block (WXBK-FM) in New York. Skip Dillard joined Audacy in 2021 after 12 years as Vice President of Programming and Operations Manager for WBLS and WLIB in New York. Before joining the company, Dillard also served in a new role as Vice President of National and Community Partnerships for Mediaco's WBLS and WQHT. He has received numerous honors, including “Radio Ink’s Top Program Directors in America” in 2009, 2011 and 2012, a Certificate of Merit for Community Service - U.S. Congress in 2002, the Living Legend's Foundation honor in 2011 and a Proclamation of Service to New York State and New York City Hall in 2017. He is a member of the Executive Board of the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, a northeast board member for Operation Hope and is on the FCC's Communications Equity and Diversity Council.

BLACK MUSIC MONTH SPECIAL ISSUE - June 7

AD SPACE STILL AVAILABLE

Contact staff@radiofacts.com

AUDACY PROMOTES DREW BLAND TO REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT OF COUNTRY

Audacy has promoted Drew Bland to Regional Vice President of Country. In this expanded role, Bland will add regional oversight of 93.1 The Wolf (WPAW-FM) in Greensboro. He will continue to have regional oversight as Brand Manager of 100.7 The Wolf (KKWF-FM) in Seattle and KMLE Country @ 107.9 (KMLE-FM) in Phoenix. Bland has been leading radio brands and teams for nearly 20 years, including KMLE-FM in Phoenix, KKWF-FM in Seattle and WWKA-FM in Orlando. In 2021, following a stint as Vice President of Promotion for Sony's Monument Records, Bland returned to Audacy to reclaim the Brand Manager position at KMLE Country @ 107.9. In 2022, he added KKWF in Seattle to his oversight for a second time. For 93.1 The Wolf in Greensboro, Bland will replace Clay Walker, who was recently elevated to Vice President of Content Operations for the company.

The 2023 Living Legends Foundation Awards Dinner & Gala Celebrates Hip-Hop at 50 on Friday, October 6, in Los Angeles

Honorees Include Media, Music, and Entertainment Legends Nelson George, Vernon Brown, Esq., Ed Lover,

Walt “Baby” Love, Lionel Ridenour, Rocky Bucano,

Tracey Jordan, and Shanti Das

The Living Legends Foundation (LLF) today announces its 2023 Annual Awards Dinner and Gala. This year’s event – which celebrates the historic Hip-Hop At 50 milestone – will be held on Friday, October 6, 2023, at Taglyan Cultural Complex, 1201 N. Vine Street, Hollywood, CA. The red carpet and cocktail reception begin at 6:30 p.m., with the awards dinner at 7:30 p.m. The esteemed group of eight honorees includes: Walt “Baby” Love, syndicated air personality Gospel Traxx, who will be presented with the Ray Harris Lifetime Achievement Award; Ed Lover, syndicated air personality of The Ed Lover Show with Monie Love, who will receive the Jerry Boulding Radio Award; Lionel Ridenour, founder, and CEO of Anchor Promotions, will be presented with the Music Executive Award; Tracey Jordan, partner of Lazin/Jordan Productions, will receive the Mike Bernardo Female Executive Award; Rocky Bucano, executive director of the Universal Hip Hop Museum, will be presented with the Hip Hop Visionary Award; Nelson George, author and filmmaker, will receive the Media Icon Award; Vernon Brown, Esq., founder of V. Brown & Company, will be presented with the Entertainment Advocate Award; and Shanti Das, former music executive and founder of Silence The Shame, will receive the A.D. Washington Chairman’s Award.

Multifaceted Entertainer Wayne Brady to Receive NABLF Service to America Leadership Award

-- Brady to be honored at Celebration of Service to America Awards on June 6 --

Multi-hyphenate entertainer Wayne Brady will receive the Service to America Leadership Award from the National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation (NABLF) during the Celebration of Service to America Awards on June 6 at The Anthem in Washington, D.C. The award, NABLF’s highest individual citation, is presented in recognition of honorees’ charitable work and public service. For more information about the awards and event, visit servicetoamerica.org.

BMI WINS FAVORABLE RULING AGAINST THE RMLC’S

ATTEMPTED JOINT RATE COURT PROCEEDING

RMLC Continues Effort to Deny Songwriters Fair Compensation and Files Appeal

BMI has prevailed in its motion to prevent the Radio Music Licensing Committee (RMLC) from relying on a mischaracterization of the Music Modernization Act (MMA) to commence a joint rate court proceeding against BMI and ASCAP before a single Judge. On Friday, May 26, the Hon. Louis L. Stanton (Southern District of NY), the Judge responsible for the interpretation of the BMI Consent Decree, concluded that neither the BMI Consent Decree nor the MMA justified the RMLC’s June 2022 joint rate petition against BMI and ASCAP. Judge Stanton ordered the RMLC’s rate petition against ASCAP to be assigned to another Judge and tried separately. Unsurprisingly, the RMLC appealed the decision today.

Mike O’Neill, President & CEO of BMI, commented:

“We are extremely pleased that the RMLC’s latest attempt to deny fair compensation to songwriters was dismissed, and that its end run around the clear language of the BMI consent decree and the MMA was properly rejected by the Court. This would have cleared the way for BMI to secure the appropriate value of our affiliates’ music without the distractions the RMLC was trying to create. Unfortunately, the RMLC is once again opting for litigation over negotiation, and we will continue to do what is needed to protect the essential contributions our affiliates make to the radio industry.”