Included in this year’s Billboard’s 2021 International Power Players list is Sony Music Entertainment South Africa’s Managing Director, Sean Watson.
Watson, a 30-year veteran of the African music industry, guides a roster that includes AKA, Shekinah, Mlindo, Sha Sha, Black Motion, KDDO and Dice Ailes. He is also a member of the board of the South African Music Performance Rights Association and its nonprofit division supporting the growth of the South African music industry.
Here’s the full list of Billboard International Power Players
- Dominique Casimir – Executive VP global repertoire and marketing, Continental Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America, BMG
- Justus Haerder – Executive VP group strategy and M&A, BMG
- Sebastian Hentzschel – Chief information officer, BMG
- Adam Granite – Executive VP market development, Universal Music Group
- Dickon Stainer – President / CEO, global classics and jazz and Verve Label Group, Universal Music Group
- Wouter Jansen – VP streaming and digital marketing strategy, Sony Music Entertainment
- Monica Cornia – Senior VP international marketing, RCA Records and Arista Records, Sony Music Entertainment
- 8. Melissa Thomas – Senior VP international marketing, Columbia Records and Epic Records, Sony Music Entertainment
- Donny Novakovic – VP international marketing, Disney Music Group
- Simon Robson – President, international, Warner Recorded Music, Warner Music Group
- Eric Wong – President/chief marketing officer, Warner Recorded Music, Warner Music Group
- Jess Keeley-Carter – Senior VP global marketing, Warner Recorded Music, Warner Music Group
- Fred Gillham – Managing director, Concord Recorded Music UK
- Vivien Goodwin – Senior VP, Concord Theatricals (UK and Europe)
- Tony Harlow – CEO, Warner Music UK
- Bernd Dopp – Chairman/CEO, Warner Music Central Europe
- Mark Fry – President, Warner Music Nordics
- Alfonso Perez Soto – President of emerging markets, Warner Music
- Victor Aroldoss – Senior VP international marketing, Warner Music UK.
- Jason Iley – Chairman/CEO, Sony Music U.K. and Ireland
- Nicola Tuer – COO, Sony Music UK and Ireland
- Daniel Lieberberg – President, Sony Music Entertainment Continental Europe and Africa
- Patrick Mushatsi-Kareba – CEO, Sony Music Entertainment Germany, Switzerland, Austria
- Sean Watson – Managing director, Sony Music Entertainment South Africa
- David Joseph – Chairman/CEO, Universal Music UK and Ireland
- Frank Briegmann – Chairman/president, Universal Music Central Europe and Deutsche Grammophon
- Olivier Nusse – CEO, Universal Music France
- Sipho Dlamini – CEO, Universal Music South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa
- Franck Kacou – Managing director, Universal Music Africa
- Chindedu Okeke – Managing director, Universal Music Nigeria
- Jesús López – Chairman/CEO, Universal Music Latin America and Iberian Peninsula
- Luis Estrada – President, Universal Music Southern Cone
- Victor Gonzalez – President, Universal Music Latin Entertainment
- Paulo Lima – President, Universal Music Brazil
- Afo Verde – Chairman/CEO, Latin-Iberia region, Sony Music Entertainment
- Maria Fernandez – Executive VP/COO, Sony Music Entertainment Latin-Iberia
- José María Barbat – President, Sony Music Iberia
- Iñigo Zabala – President, Warner Music Latin America & Iberia
- Sergio Affonso – President, Warner Music Brazil
- Tomas Rodriguez – President, Warner Music Mexico
- George Ash – President, Universal Music Asia Pacific
- Naoshi Fujikura – President/CEO, Universal Music Japan
- Devraj Sanyal – Managing director/CEO, Universal Music Group and EMI Music, India and South Asia; managing director, Universal Music Publishing Group, India and South Asia
- Calvin Wong – Senior VP Asia/CEO, Universal Music Southeast Asia
- Andrew Hajgato – Label manager, Australia, Concord Recorded Music
- Denis Handlin – Chairman/CEO, Australia & New Zealand, Sony Music Entertainment
- Andrew Chan – Managing director, China, Sony Music Entertainment
- Joseph Chang – Managing director, Korea, Sony Music Entertainment
- Shridhar Subramaniam – President, strategy and market development, Asia and Middle East, Sony Music Entertainment
- Dan Rosen – President, Warner Music Australasia
- Jonathan Serbin – CEO, Warner Music Greater China
- Pawan Agarwal – Head of music partnerships, India and South Asia, and business development, Asia Pacific, YouTube
- Dan Chalmers – Director, YouTube Music, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, YouTube
- Sandra Jimenez – Director, YouTube Music partnerships, Latin America, YouTube
- Sun Lee – Head of music partnerships, Korea and Greater China, and artist relations, Asia Pacific, YouTube
- Ruuben van den Heuvel – Director, YouTube Music partnerships, Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia, and label relations, Asia Pacific, YouTube
- Hans-Holger Albrecht – CEO, Deezer
- Raoul Chatterjee – VP/head of content partnerships, SoundCloud
- Josh Nicoll – VP independent label services, SoundCloud
- Paul Firth – Director, Amazon Music International
- Rene Fasco – Director, Amazon Music Japan
- Jillian Gerngross – Director, Amazon Music Europe
- Sahas Malhotra – Director, Amazon Music India
- Federico Pedersen – Head of music, Latin America, Amazon Music
- Mathieu Jaton – CEO, Montreux Jazz Festival
- Khee Lee – Chief monetization officer, Kiswe
- Rishi Malhotra – Co-founder/CEO, JioSaavn
- Robb McDaniels – CEO, Beatport
- Mia Nygren – Managing director, Latin America, Spotify
- Federica Tremolada – Managing director, Southern and Eastern Europe, Spotify
- Ola Sars – CEO, Soundtrack Your Brand
- Jen Walsh – Senior director of Apple content and services, international, Apple
- Jay Winship – CEO, Asia, GoDigital Media Group
- Bang Si-Hyuk – Chairman/CEO, HYBE
- Lenzo Yoon – Global CEO, HYBE
- Rob Cowling – GM, Gallo Music Group
- André de Raaff – CEO, CTM Entertainment
- Colin Gayle – Founder/CEO, Africa Creative Agency
- Jeremy Lascelles – Co-founder/CEO, Blue Raincoat Music
- Robin Millar – Co-founder/chairman, Blue Raincoat Music
- Suhel Nafar – VP strategy and marketing development, West Asia, North Africa and the diaspora, EMPIRE
- Bose Ogulu – Co-founder, Spaceship Collective
- Cussion Kar Shun Pang – Executive chairman, board of directors, Tencent Music Entertainment Group
- Phil Sales – Partner, Three Six Zero
- Pete Tong – President, Three Six Zero Recordings; Partner, WME
- Peter Coquillard – Head of international, Milk & Honey Music + Sports + Ventures
- Eshy Gazit – Partner, Maverick Management; CEO, Gramophone Media
- Walter Kolm – President/CEO, Walter Kolm Entertainment
- Ben Mawson & Ed Millett – Co-founders/co-CEOs, TaP Music
- Polo Molina – Artist manager, Grassroots Music
- James Sandom – UK managing director, Red Light Management
- Wassim “Sal” Slaiby – Co-manager, The Weeknd; founder/CEO, SALXCO and XO Records; board adviser, Global Citizen; head of international partnerships, Anghami; board member, HXOUSE
- Amir “Cash” Esmailian Co-manager, The Weeknd; co-founder, XO Records; founder, YCFU
- La Mar C. Taylor – Creative director, The Weeknd; co-founder, XO records and HXOUSE
- Kaz Aida – Head, ADA Japan’
- Alassane Konaté – Head, ADA France
- Juan Paz – Head, ADA Latin
- Sander Stijnen – Head, ADA Benelux
- Chee Meng Tan – Head, ADA Asia
- Rebecca Allen – President, EMI Records
- Stacey Bedford – CEO, Bandzoogle
- Alec Boateng – Co-presidents, 0207 Def Jam, Universal Music UK
- Marisa Lauro-Norris – Senior VP international marketing, Def Jam Recordings
- Chris Cannon – Head of international strategy, Secretly Distribution
- Irene Lydon – Head of project management, Secretly Distribution
- Priya Dewan – VP South Korea and Southeast Asia, The Orchard
- Laura Tesoriero – VP Latin, The Orchard
- Albert Torres – VP Latin, The Orchard
- Arthur Fitzgibbon – Managing director, Brazil, ONErpm
- Andreea Gleeson – Co-head/chief revenue officer, TuneCore
- Jurgen Grebner – Executive VP international, Interscope Geffen A&M
- Cindy Gu – Head of Astralwerks Asia, Astralwerks
- Drew Hill – Managing director, Proper Music Group
- Ben Larsen – Senior VP international, Warner Records
- Fede Lauría – Founder, Dale Play Records
- Nando Luaces – Founder/CEO, Altafonte
- Torsten Luth – Executive vp international marketing, Atlantic Records
- Scott Macrae – Marketing manager, Glassnote Music
- Gary Mandel – VP creative, Entertainment One U.K.
- Ted May – Managing director, UK/head of international, music, Entertainment One
- Victoria Needs – VP international, AWAL
- Maykel Piron – Co-founder/CEO, Armada Music
- Ilich Rausa – Founder, Rude Records
- Bob Roback – CEO, Ingrooves Music Group
- Adriana Sein – VP international, Columbia Records
- Marcelo Soares – CEO, Som Livre
- Jonathan Strauss – Co-founder/CEO, Create Music Group
- Alexandre Williams – Co-founder/COO, Create Music Group
- Brian Sutnick – Senior VP global marketing, Republic Records
- Mez Tara – VP international, Epic Records
- Frances Moore – CEO, IFPI
- Jenny Wong – Asia regional director, IFPI
- Jeremy Sirota – CEO, Merlin
- Leslie Ahrens – Senior VP creative, Kobalt Music, Latin America
- Johan Ekelund – Managing director, Kobalt Music, Scandinavia
- Simon Moor – Managing director, Kobalt Music, Asia Pacific
- David Alexander – Founder/managing director, Sheer Publishing Africa
- Jackie Alway – Executive VP international legal and industry affairs, Universal Music Publishing Group
- Bertil David – Managing director, Universal Music Publishing France
- Joe Fang – Managing director, Universal Music Publishing Beijing
- Tom Foster – European head of film and TV, Universal Music Publishing Group
- Alexandra Lioutikoff – President, Universal Music Publishing Group, Latin America
- Ichiro Asatsuma – Chairman, FujiPacific Music
- Mandy Aubry – Director of business development, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific, Songtrust
- Lara Baker – Director of business development, U.K. and Ireland, Songtrust
- Annette Barrett – Managing director/global strategic liaison, Reservoir
- Hussain “Spek” Yoosuf – Founder/president, PopArabia; executive VP international and emerging markets, Reservoir
- Laura Bedikian – Senior creative manager, Downtown Music Publishing
- Charles Braud – Head of sync, France, Downtown Music Publishing
- Dean Francis – GM, Downtown Neighbouring Rights
- Benjamin Budde – President, Budde Music
- Justin Dowling – GM, Blue Mountain Music; executive VP, Primary Wave U.K. and Europe
- Gustavo Menendez – President, Warner Chappell Latin America’
- Shani Gonzales – Managing director, Warner Chappell U.K.; head of international A&R, Warner Chappell Music
- Santiago Menéndez-Pidal – Managing director, Warner Chappell Music Spain
- Matthieu Tessier – Managing director, Warner Chappell Music France
- Jorge Mejia – President/CEO, Latin America and U.S. Latin, Sony Music Publishing
- Sharon Boyse – Senior VP international operations and society relations, Sony Music Publishing
- Sarah Lockhart – Head of A&R, U.K., Sony Music Publishing
- Johnny Tennander – Managing director, Scandinavia/senior VP A&R, Europe, Sony Music Publishing
- Merck Mercuriadis – Founder/CEO, Hipgnosis Songs Fund
- John Minch – President, international publishing, Concord
- Kim Frankiewicz – Executive VP worldwide A&R, Concord Music Publishing
- Kent Hoskins – CFO, Concord
- Ralph Peer II – Executive chair, peermusic
- Mary Megan Peer – CEO, peermusic
- Robert Wise – Chairman, Wise Music Group
- Marcos Araújo – CEO, Villa Mix
- Henry Cárdenas – Founder/CEO, CMN
- Denis Desmond – Chairman, Live Nation U.K. and Ireland
- John Reid – President, Live Nation Europe, the Middle East and Africa
- Roger Field – President, Live Nation Asia Pacific
- Selina Emeny – International group counsel, Live Nation
- Steve Homer & Toby Leighton-Pope – Co-CEOs, U.K., AEG Presents
- Alex Hill – President/CEO, AEG Europe
- Adam Wilkes – President/CEO, AEG Asia
- Jim King – CEO of European festivals, AEG Presents U.K.
- Simon Jones – Senior VP international touring, AEG Presents
- Harvey Lister – Chairman/CEO, Asia Pacific, ASM Global
- John Sharkey – Executive VP, ASM Global
- Tim Worton – Group director, Australia arenas, ASM Global’
- Marie Lindqvist – Senior VP Europe, ASM Global
- Dana DuFine – VP global booking, content and development, ASM Global
- Alejandro Soberon Kuri – President/CEO, Ocesa/CIE
- Emma Banks, Chris Dalston, Mike Greek & Marlene Tsuchii – Co-heads, international touring, Creative Artists Agency
- Maria May – Music agent, Creative Artists Agency
- Amy Davidman & Devin Landau – Co-founders/partners/agents, TBA Agency
- Lucy Dickins – Co-head, music, WME
- Tony Goldring – Partner/head of international music department, WME
- Brett Murrihy – Partner/head of Asia Pacific, music, WME
- James Rubin – Partner/co-head of hip-hop department, WME
- Ashley Gonzalez – Music agent, WME
- Peter Elliott – Managing director, Primary Talent International
- Matt Bates – ICM Partners, head of international/head of Europe and director, Primary Talent International
- Ben Winchester – Director, Primary Talent International
- Craig D’Souza – Agent, Primary Talent International
- Alex Hardee, Tom Schroeder & James Whitting – Partners, Paradigm Agency
- John Jackson – President, K2 Agency
- Scott Mantell – Co-head of international, ICM Partners
- Ari Bernstein – Agent, ICM Partners
- Steve Strange – Director/agent, X-ray Touring
- Beckie Sugden – Senior agent, X-ray Touring
- Neil Warnock – Obi Asika – Co-heads of UK office, UTA
- Jules De Lattre – Agent, music, UTA
- Sean Hill – Director of tour marketing, music, UTA
- Cleo Thompson – Executive, music brand partnerships, UTA
We would to congratulate Sean Watson and everyone else who has made it onto this list.
Watch this space for updates in the Music News category on SA Music Zone.
To stay in the loop with all things SA Music, subscribe to our newsletter or join our WhatsApp Community.
If you like this website is doing for the SA Music Scene, feel free to buy us a beer!
If you're looking for something to do, check out our SA Gig Guide. Alternatively. feel free to check out our Featured Posts or scroll down to see a list of related posts.
Want to discover fresh music? Follow our editor's 2024 playlist on Spotify or YouTube Music or check out his 2024 Music Videos playlist on YouTube. These playlists are updated regularly.
Feel free to follow @hennokruger on TikTok or subscribe to SA Music Zone on YouTube.
If you're looking for the latest entertainment news, check out Running Wolf's Rant.
Feeling factual? Check out Interesting Facts.
Living in South Africa? Need to save up some moolah? Start investing today with Easy Equities, the simple and affordable platform for everyone. Access local and international stocks, ETFs, and more with no minimum investment required. Sign up now and take control of your financial future!
