We celebrate the New Creative Economy with this year’s #AltList
To say we’re excited about this year’s Alternative Power 100 Music List is an understatement.
We have just come from our brilliant #AltList2021 launch and networking event in Amsterdam with our partners Patreon and we’re eager to share more with you.
This year, the #AltList 2021 is celebrating The New Creative Economy and the new era it is ushering in for the music industry.
The pandemic forced a reckoning of what it means to operate in a system that isn’t sustainable for the music industry’s independent creators, thinkers & entrepreneurs. Alongside our partners at Patreon, we will honor those whose alternative paths lead to a better world for everyone.
From architecting new ways of owning work to community-supported funding, the music industry is building a new creative economy where the independent community can fully thrive.
And we can’t wait to celebrate those at the forefront of this new era.
So get ready to meet our extraordinary ambassadors this year…
MEET THE AMBASSADORS
To help bring our vision to life, this year we are also introducing special awards and ten brand new categories covering industry areas such as Artists, Community, Record Labels and more.
Here are the ambassadors championing this year’s #AltList.
Artists and DJ’s
NJ Ndure — Relationships Manager for North America Catalyst Brand Management, Nike
Based in Los Angeles, during her nearly six years with Nike, NJ has built an impressive project portfolio working with today’s leading talent such as Megan Thee Stallion, IDK and Chika. She has worked on countless cultural moments throughout her career including Air Max Day, All Star Weekend, Super Bowl, and Grammys.
Aly Gilla — Bandcamp
Aly Gillani is the co-founder of First Word Records — an independent UK label focusing on the intersections between Hip Hop, Jazz and Soul. He’s also the UK and Europe label rep for Bandcamp.
NJ Ndure and Aly Gilla
Music and Sound Creators
Aubrey Whitfield — Producer and Songwriter
Aubrey Whitfield is a London based Music Producer and Songwriter who has worked with an array of talent from Kelly Clarkson, Simon Webbe (Blue), Little Mix, J-Fla, Charlotte Kelly (Soul II Soul) and George Shelley, to writing and producing songs for Universal and BMG.
Maria Egan — Chief Music Officer, Splice
At Splice, Maria oversees creative partnerships and music strategy globally, plus is Chair of the DEI Council. Previously she served as President and Head of Creative at Pulse Music Group for seven years. Egan signed and developed writers delivering multiple #1 hits ranging from the record breaking Latin smash ‘Despacito feat Justin Bieber’ (Marty James) to ‘Adore You’ by Harry Styles (Tyler Johnson).
Maria Egan and Aubrey Whitfield (L-R)
Community and Activism
NIKS — Black Artist Database
London based DJ, facilitator, educator and consultant NIKS co-created the database and editorial platform Black Artist Database (B.A.D) with a group of five friends in early June 2020. Now a full-fledged website, B.A.D houses over 3,500 artists, producers, labels, bands and counting.
NIKS
Steven Braines
Steven Braines — CEO, The Weird & The Wonderful & HE.SHE.THEY.
He.She.They. is an international event series/record label/fashion house which aims to create “places without prejudice for people to be people” bringing intersectional audiences and artists together to diversify dance floors and make spaces more inclusive and welcoming to a wider range of people in brave spaces from London, New York and Berlin through to Ibiza, Amsterdam and Mumbai and countless others in between.
Record Label
Andreea Gleeson — CEO, Tunecore
Since joining Tunecore in 2015 Andreea has made significant contributions to the company’s growth, after years as an eCommerce pioneer in the retail industry. Andreea also rose as a fierce advocate for female-identifying creators, commissioning the MIDiA Research study BE THE CHANGE: Women Making Music 2021.
Julia Killer — Head of Music Label Partnerships EMEA, Facebook
Julia Killer joined Facebook as Head of Music Label Partnerships EMEA in 2019 and her team works with record labels on music product opportunities across Facebook and Instagram. Before Facebook, Julia was Director of Artist and Label Services at Soundcloud, managing the international label and artist services team , headed up the Label Relations team at 7digital and started her career in Music Publishing at Kobalt, where she joined in 2006. Julia is also a proud Alt List 2020 Honoree.
(L-R Andreea Gleeson, Julia Killer)
Artist Management
Jameson Thomas — IAMJT
Jameson Thomas is the co-founder of IAMJT, a Los Angeles-based creative agency and management company whose clients have included Off White, Boiler Room, Theophilus London, Seb Wildblood, Biako aka Itai Shapira, and more. He also serves as Artist Relations Board Member at shesaid.so and is a partner at The Foundation, a new management venture with a roster ranging from The Martinez Brothers and Joseph Capriati to Vince Staples, Madeintyo, and Yuna.
Sophia Kearney — CEO, The Weird & The Wonderful & HE.SHE.THEY.
Sophia’s career started at WME Entertainment, after which she moved to ATM artists. Then Sophia and Steven Braines founded “The Weird & The Wonderful”, who manage an eclectic roster of artists such as Maya Jane Coles, Robert Owens, Louisahhh, Emily Nash, SYREETA & Wax Wings. Steven and Sophia launched an event series and fashion house HE.SHE.THEY.
Josh Andriano — Indie Pop
Josh co-founded the artist management company Indie-Pop and has helped to develop hit songs, platinum albums, and the careers of music producers, songwriters, DJ’s, and artists, including Kyle, Yuna, The Martinez Brothers, Joseph Capriati, Carnage, Yellow Claw, Boombox Cartel, MadeinTYO, KSHMR and more. In 2020 he co-founded the label alternative Independent, a boutique and curated full service music distribution company.
(L-R) Jameson Thomas, Sophia Kearney, Josh Andriano)
Events
Ali Harnell — President & Chief Strategy Officer, Live Nation Women
At Live Nation, Ali Harnell spearheads women’s initiatives and women-led programming, for example Oprah’s “2020 Vision” Tour. Prior to Live Nation, Harnell spent 15 years as SVP at AEG Presents, overseeing national tours and more.
Stephanie LaFera — Global Head of Electronic Music, WME
Stephanie leads an international team of agents focused on the genre whose roster includes top electronic music acts, including Kygo, Steve Aoki, TOKiMONSTA, Martin Garrix, Marshmello, Eric Prydz, and Peggy Gou.
Terry Weerasinghe — COO, Boiler Room
Terry is COO at online broadcaster and live events company Boiler Room. He spent seven years at Beatport, and previously spent over five years as the Head of Native Instruments’ Traktor brand, which he grew from a small side business to be the companies major revenue generator.
(Clockwise from top) Ali Harnell, Terry Weerasinghe, Stephanie LaFera)
Creative
Ibrahim Kamara — Digital Entrepreneur and Co-Founder, GUAP
Ibrahim is a 27-year-old digital entrepreneur and co-founder of GUAP, which has grown from the world’s first video magazine to becoming a multi-platform youth media brand, covering all aspects of creativity and culture.
Teresa Aramburu — Global culture marketing activations, Adidas
Over her career so far, Teresa has successfully spearheaded the artist relations, entertainment marketing and partnership departments for companies such as Marshall Headphones and Speakers, Urbanears and FL Studio. Over the years, she has carved out numerous high-profile collaborations with artists and partners including Little Simz, Cuco, Iggy Pop, Tove Lo, Alan Walker, Deb Never, Vagabon, TM88, Amsterdam Dance Event, Afropunk, ComplexCon, Razer, Red Bull and Beatclub, to name a few.
Teresa Aramburu and Ibrahim Kamara (L-R)
Business and Technology
Maria Gironas — Senior Media Partnerships Manager, Creators, Reddit
Maria is a creator and artist development professional, having been a signed artist herself to cultivating publicity or social media campaigns for artists and brands including Fender and Noah Gundersen. Previously, she was Strategic Partner Manager on the Artist Development team at Youtube.
Suzy Ryoo — Co-Founder & President, Q&A
Suzy Ryoo is the Co-Founder & President of Q&A, a music tech startup on a mission to empower the independent future of the music industry. Q&A recently launched software & services platform Venice as a community built to level up independent artists & entrepreneurs including Erick the Architect, Thuy & Kota the Friend.
Suzy Ryoo and Maria Gironas (L-R)
Marketing, Comms & PR
Yasmine Summan — Journalist & Social Media Consultant
Yasmine is a non-binary, South Asian, multi-media music journalist and social media mogul, interviewing your favourite bands by day and going viral on Tik Tok by night.
Whitney Wei — Editor-in-Chief, Resident Advisor
Foremost a journalist and critic, Whitney writes about club culture and experimental dance music scenes from around the world. Her words have appeared in The Guardian, Vogue US, Pitchfork, Mixmag, FACT, Highsnobiety, and Numéro Berlin, among others.
Yasmine Summan and Whitney Wei (L-R)
Sync and Publishing
Shauni Caballero — Founder, The Go 2 Agency & G293 Publishing
Shauni Caballero is a former Universal Music and PRS for Music Exec, founded The Go 2 Agency a Music Publishing and Consultancy company to help artists, writers and producers make money from their music.
Shauni Caballero
. . .
The Alternative Power 100 Music List launched in 2017 as a response to Billboard’s Power 100 List with the aim to challenge conventional music industry standards. Over the past four years the #AltList has evolved into a sought-after distinction by many executives, artists and other creators in the music industry, focusing on traditionally underrepresented communities. The #AltList is open to all genders.