musexpo news

8/28/23

Steve Schnur, the Worldwide Executive & President Music at Electronic Arts, has been confirmed as an exclusive keynote panelist at next year’s MUSEXPO “United Nations of Music” event, scheduled for March 17 – 20, 2024 in Burbank, CA, “The Media Capital of The World.” Schnur’s extensive career and expertise will take center stage during a highly anticipated interview, moderated by renowned music journalist Mark Sutherland, a notable contributor to publications like Rolling Stone, The Times, Sunday Times, and Music Business Worldwide.

The keynote session will delve into the intersection of music and interactive video games, exploring their interconnected ecosystem and the role of artists, songs, and scores in enhancing the auditory and gaming experience for a vast global audience.

Steve Schnur’s multifaceted journey includes roles as a label and music publishing company President, TV executive producer, music supervisor, professional musician, songwriter, composer, and record producer. His significant impact spans music, movies, television, sports, video games, and digital interactive entertainment worldwide.

His achievements have garnered recognition from Forbes, Rolling Stone, CNN, ESPN, The London Financial Times, and The New York Times. Schnur has been labeled “One of the Most Creative People in Entertainment” byEntertainment Weekly, “One of the Most Powerful People in the Music Business” and “One of the Top 20 Power Players in Digital Entertainment” by Billboard, and “One of the Top 25 Power Players in the New Hollywood” by The Wall Street Journal.

Schnur’s dedication to music supervision has led to numerous awards, including the Guild of Music Supervisorsaward for “Best Music Supervision in a Video Game” original in 2023, highlighting his work on Battlefield 2042 DLC. His philanthropic efforts are also notable, as evidenced by his receipt of The Beacon of Hope Award from The Lili Claire Foundation.

From early beginnings at MTV to executive roles at major record labels, including Elektra Records and Capitol Records, Schnur’s influence has been pivotal in shaping the industry. As the Worldwide Executive of EA Music Group, he has orchestrated international breakthroughs for artists like Green Day, CHVRCHES, Imagine Dragons, Billie Eilish, and many others positioning video game soundtracks as cultural touchpoints.

Schnur’s impact extends to his involvement in various boards, foundations, and initiatives, reflecting his commitment to music, entertainment, and social change. His keynote at MUSEXPO promises valuable insights into the evolving landscape of music in gaming, as well as music and gaming’s evolution into other technologies and platforms.

Schnur joins MUSEXPO’s prominent recent announcements confirming the exclusive keynote with the music team from Universal Pictures, and Mike Knobloch, President, Music & Publishing, NBCUniversal, as well as various other high-profile executives and companies already unveiled for next year’s 24^th global edition of MUSEXPO.

8/21/23

MUSEXPO 2024 (www.musexpo.net) “United Nations of Music,” which returns next year to the “Media Capital of The World,” Burbank, California from March 17^th – 20^th for its annual global music business and showcase event will present its coveted “International Music Person of the Year” award to one of the most influential and respected music executives, Jacqueline Saturn, President, Virgin Music.

MUSEXPO joins a week-long series of events that includes the Global Synch & Brands Summit, A&R Summit, and more, as it brings together the international music community for key insights and discussions on the evolution of the worldwide music business.

The event will bring together music executives from around the world, as well as Jacqueline’s colleagues and friends from across the industry, to recognize her significant achievements and contributions to the U.S. and global music industry during a special VIP Awards Gala Luncheon on Tuesday, March 19^th. The luncheon will feature a special awards honorarium and presentations from the City of Burbank; County of Los Angeles and representatives from the State of California to pay tribute to Jacqueline’s remarkable and indelible career in the music business.

The awards luncheon will also be preceded by an exclusive keynote interview with Jacqueline Saturn at MUSEXPO, which will highlight her personal and professional journey from the beginning to being one of the world’s most respected and capable executives today.

Jacqueline Saturn is the President of Virgin Music, the industry-leading artist-development focused, full label services company, which is part of Virgin Music Group, the newly formed global independent music division of Universal Music Group. Saturn’s influence is well-acknowledged, garnering recognition on Billboard’s “Power 100,” “Women in Music,” and numerous “Power Players” lists, as well as Variety’s Women’s Impact Report. Her extensive career in the music domain has been spotlighted in Rolling Stone, Music Business Worldwide, Variety, and more. She is also on the Los Angeles Chapter Board of the Recording Academy® and holds the position of Chapter Governor.

Saturn embarked on her trajectory as a graduate of Syracuse University. She went on to thrive for 19 years at Epic Records, where she ascended to Sr. Vice President of Radio Promotion and helmed campaigns for many iconic artists. She later joined Capitol Music Group where she served as General Manager of Harvest Records and later became President of Caroline, now Virgin Music.

Under her leadership at Virgin, the team has reached incredible milestones with artists across genres, including massive success with Rema’s “Calm Down (with Selena Gomez),” which became the No.1 most-streamed Afrobeat song of all time on Spotify, notched No.1 singles in multiple countries, hit No.1 at four formats of radio (Pop, Urban, Rhythmic and Hot AC), and made history as the No.1 most viewed African artist video of all time on YouTube. David Kushner’s global hit “Daylight” is now at 18 straight weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, with Platinum or Gold certification in 17 countries and approaching 1 billion global streams. As a pioneer in the K-Pop business as early as 2018, NCT 127 was the second K-Pop artist ever to land three albums in the Top 5 of the Billboard 200 under the helm of Virgin Music. Rapper NF recently soared to the top of the charts with his third top-three album on theBillboard 200, with Hope at No.2.  XXXTENTACION’s “SAD!” has made the landmark achievement of reaching RIAADiamond certification.

Amidst her professional eminence, Saturn remains deeply committed to philanthropy, supporting various charitable causes, including Gilda’s Club, The Friendship Circle, and Creative Community for Peace. Her role extends to being a sought-after speaker at esteemed industry events and universities, including USC and her alma mater Syracuse. Residing in Los Angeles with her family, Saturn’s dynamic presence continues to elevate the music industry, fostering success and positive change.

Sat Bisla, President & Founder, A&R Worldwide and MUSEXPO stated, “Jacqueline’s remarkable contributions to the music and related industries have earned her the well-deserved recognition as the esteemed “International Music Person of the Year” honoree at next year’s MUSEXPO. Over the course of Jacqueline’s illustrious three-decade career, her unwavering dedication and visionary leadership have left an indelible mark on the music industry’s landscape. In addition, Jacqueline’s efforts to inspire the next generation of young executives, her selfless guidance and support to those around her, and her unparalleled passion for breaking artists from around the world make her the ideal recipient for this very special award and honorarium.”

Previous “International Music Person of the Year” awards honorees have included Monte Lipman, Co-Founder & Chief Executive, Republic Records & Avery Lipman, Co-Founder & Chief Executive, Republic Records; Pete Ganbarg, President A&R Atlantic Records & President, Grammy & Emmy Award Winning & Oscar-nominated global hit songwriter Diane Warren; Steve Schnur, Worldwide Executive & President Music, EA Games; Daniel Glass, President & Founder, Glassnote Entertainment Group; Alexandra Patsavas, Music Creative + Production / Original SeriesNetflix; George Ergatoudis, Head of Music, UK & Ireland, Apple; Harvey Goldsmith, Founder, Harvey Goldsmith Presents (Live Aid, Live Earth, Prince’s Trust); Lisa Worden, Vice President, Rock & Alternative, iHeartMedia, and Program Director of ALT 98.7 and numerous other global music and media influencers!

8/17/23

NBCUniversal and Universal Pictures, two of the most respected and influential motion picture film and multi-media studios in the world have confirmed a special exclusive keynote at next year’s MUSEXPO “United Nations of Media,” which takes place March 17 – 20, 2024 in Burbank, California – “The Media Capital of The World.”

This influential lineup of executives from NBCUniversal and Universal Pictures will be a globally exclusive sync forum giving MUSEXPO delegates a front-row seat on the focus, responsibilities and framework of the team’s day-to-day focus at the studios.

The team is led by the highly regarded, respected and capable Mike Knobloch, President, Music & Publishing, NBCUniversal. In his role as a prominent figure within the music business landscape, Knobloch takes the helm in supervising all facets of the studio’s music and soundtracks. Adding to his impressive responsibilities, he adeptly manages the administration of one of the industry’s most expansive film and television music publishing collections.

As a Grammy-nominated music supervisor and producer, he holds the distinction of contributing to four of the highest-grossing films globally—Jurassic World, Furious 7, Titanic, and Avatar—each securing a spot in the illustrious Top 10 list.

Over the past decade, the songs and soundtracks under Knobloch’s supervision and team’s support have achieved an astounding feat, amassing over 42 billion streams. Within the realms of Universal, he has demonstrated his musical prowess by skillfully overseeing the sonic landscape of some of the studio’s most successful franchises. These encompass but are not confined to Fast & Furious, Pitch Perfect, Despicable Me, and Fifty Shades of Grey. His accomplished touch extends to a wide array of musical projects, ranging from captivating musicals to projects that have garnered critical acclaim. Noteworthy endeavors include his contribution to Illuminatio’s Sing franchise, Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch, The Secret Life of Pets films, Les Misérables, Straight Outta Compton, Tár, Praise This, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, Marry Me, DreamWorks Animation’s Trolls World Tour, and the Grammy-nominated soundtrack for Dear Evan Hansen.

Among his standout accomplishments are the anthemic “See You Again” from Furious 7, the global sensation “Happy” featured in Despicable Me 2, and the evocative “Earned It” from Fifty Shades of Grey—each of these tracks earning the prestigious RIAA Diamond certification. Moreover, his repertoire is enriched by the multi-platinum hit “Love Me Like You Do” and the iconic “Cups” from Pitch Perfect.

Beyond his musical prowess, Mike Knobloch is a fervent advocate for representation within the realm of music for visual media. Collaborating with Universal’s Global Talent Development & Inclusion group, he spearheaded the groundbreaking Composer Diversity Initiative in 2018. This pioneering program stands as the first of its kind, dedicated to identifying and nurturing talent from underrepresented groups in the industry.

Joining Mike is his esteemed, highly respected, and extremely talented team which includes Rachel Levy, Executive Vice President, Motion Picture Music, Universal Pictures; Angela Leus – Sr. Vice President, Film Music, Universal Pictures; Natalie Hayden – Sr. Vice President Film Music, Universal Pictures; Nikki Walsh – Vice President, Soundtrack & Marketing, Universal Pictures and Vikki Jacobs – Vice President, Film Music Licensing, Universal Pictures. Full biographies of these esteemed executives will be available HERE.

Sat Bisla, President & Founder, A&R Worldwide & MUSEXPO stated, “I’d like to thank my longtime friend Rachel Levy whom I had the pleasure of knowing for over two decades. We first met when Rachel was at Miramax Films, and I was managing composer/producer Rob Dougan [aka Clubbed To Death – the theme song for the Matrix].  Rachel was pivotal in helping support the idea of this unique and incredibly inspiring panel with Mike Knobloch and their esteemed team of Angela Leus, Natalie Hayden, Nikki Walsh, and Vikki Jacobs who are some of the best sync and music executives in the world. MUSEXPO 2024 delegates will be in for a real treat!”