Unlike many of Billboard‘s annual power lists, the yearly 40 Under 40 requires that honorees only appear on it once. Despite that limitation, Billboard receives hundreds of nominations of qualified young executives — which of course poses a challenge to our editors, but is also a heartening reminder of the constant influx and ascent of new talent in the business.
This year’s edition of the 40 Under 40 is no different. As the music business continues to confront challenges ranging from artificial intelligence to fair ticketing, the executives on this list aren’t just helping to find solutions — in many cases, they’re taking the lead in conceiving and executing those strategies, in service of the artists they work with and the broader industry.
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The 2026 40 Under 40 is led by Hilary Gleason, co-founder/executive director of Backline, the nonprofit that’s committed to connecting music industry professionals and their families with mental health and wellness resources. Gleason’s work in the nonprofit space may differ from her follow honorees across the management, agency and label worlds, but she and the other 39 executives here share their creativity, resourcefulness, diligence — and, perhaps most importantly, their passion for music.
Whether it’s Foundations’ Max Gredinger, who has helped to shepherd Gen Z jazz-pop sensation Laufey to superstardom, or CAA’s Shirin Nury, the agent behind the arena-level touring careers of Gracie Abrams and Tate McRae, these young industry leaders are shaping the music business today and guaranteeing its prosperity tomorrow. Several answered Billboard‘s question about what they would’ve done for work if they weren’t in the music business; the industry can be thankful it never came to that.
Tom Allen
Chief technology officer, Virgin Music Group
Courtesy of Tom AllenAllen co-founded Curve Royalty Systems in 2019, which became a leading royalty platform before Downtown Music Holdings acquired it in 2023. Following Virgin’s February acquisition of Downtown and subsequent spinoff of Curve, Allen, 39, has been responsible for technology across Virgin, overseeing everything from its products to fraud and security protection to how its data is stored and used by AI agents. “It’s been a transformative few years for us at Downtown,” he says. “I’m proud to have helped guide our people through that change.”
The best advice I’ve received is… “ ‘Look at yourself before blaming others.’ Coming up through the restaurant business as an apprentice chef from 16, you learnt very quickly that you had nowhere to hide and had better own your work and mistakes.”
Juan S. Arenas
President of global HYBE label services, HYBE
HYBE“I help build the infrastructure that allows artists, labels and creative teams to thrive globally,” says Arenas, 36, who has helped establish HYBE Latin America as a global hub for original intellectual property development, artist services and strategic partnerships, all while building a scalable ecosystem for Latin talent and expanding his division across the region. Among his team’s recent milestones: the launch of Santos Bravos, a new Latin boy band developed through HYBE’s artist development methodology that has already surpassed 150 million global song streams, according to Luminate.
Ten years ago, I was… “Sitting at a desk in Doral [near Miami], working at Univision/Fusion Media Group and witnessing the change of the media and digital media industry.”
Andrew Baron
Senior vp of corporate development, Warner Music Group
Jean-Marc Chautems/Magali PaulFrom Warner Music Group’s recent acquisition of Revelator to integrating 10K Projects and supporting Elliot Grainge’s vision for Atlantic Music Group, Baron, 34, has played a key role on WMG’s deals team, evaluating and executing acquisitions, joint ventures and partnerships. After starting as an intern at Republic Records, Baron joined Vector Management and eventually WMG, where he has had an “incredible, accidental rotation program” that has included working for the CFO, negotiating digital service provider licensing deals and now dealing with mergers and acquisitions. Says Baron: “Partnering with visionary entrepreneurs is the best part of my job.”
If I wasn’t working in the music business, I would be… “Playing for the New York Knicks.”
Dana Biondi
Label partner/manager, G59 Records
Courtesy of G59 RecordsBillboard’s 2025 Indie Power Players Executive of the Year continues to steer the career of marquee act $uicideboy$, whose two 2025 albums charted in the top 25 of the Billboard 200. Last year’s installment of the duo’s annual Grey Day package tour featured artists including G59’s Night Lovell, Germ and Chetta and was 2025’s fourth-highest-grossing rap tour. Says Biondi, 37: “These accomplishments are the result of years of building the label independently, staying committed to our vision and creating a sustainable platform where artists can thrive on their own terms.”
The best advice I’ve received is… “[Loud Records founder] Steve Rifkind once told me to always be one of someone’s first five phone calls — the person they trust to handle problems, fix situations and get things done.”
Erin Blankstein
Director of sync A&R, Universal Music Publishing Group
Andrew AngelBlankstein runs point on original song placements in film, TV and commercials for the publisher’s roster, connecting it with opportunities and tending to key relationships with studios, networks, streaming platforms, music supervisors and agencies. “Being able to connect a songwriter with a project they genuinely love and then see that collaboration reach this level of recognition is incredibly rewarding,” she says, citing Dermot Kennedy’s song “Melodies,” written for the Netflix show Nobody Wants This by UMPG signee Savan Kotecha, as a recent example. Adds the 30-year-old: “The ever-growing intersection of music and screen is one of the most exciting developments in our industry right now.”
If I wasn’t working in the music business, I would be… “Hosting a health and wellness podcast with my mom.”
Lauren Caire
Vp of finance, Messina Touring
Nashville Headshot Co.After starting out in business management, Caire hopped to Messina Touring, where she helps it to determine the best financial plans for its roster, from cash flow strategy to tour settlements to risk management. For Caire, 38, that’s recently included work on some of the sector’s most ambitious performances, from Kenny Chesney’s Sphere run (the Las Vegas venue’s first country residency) to stadium tours by Ed Sheeran, The Lumineers and, of course, Taylor Swift’s record-shattering The Eras Tour.
My favorite piece of merch I own is… “An Eras Tour sweatshirt I’ve worn so many times that it’ll probably disintegrate one day.”
Cody Chapman
Senior vp, THE·TEAM
Jenn WagleyChapman has orchestrated recent electronic music milestones including FISHER’s two shows at Moscone Center (San Francisco’s biggest solo dance play ever), Swedish House Mafia’s show at New York’s Arthur Ashe Stadium (the first dance act to headline the venue) and Zeds Dead’s 12th annual Deadrocks takeover at Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre. “Electronic music has never been this big — the top artists are selling tickets that would’ve been unthinkable 10 years ago,” says Chapman, 38, adding that “electronic music somehow still feels niche, and that is wildly cool considering how big it is.”
If I wasn’t working in the music business, I would be… “Running a little joint by the water with a mountain view and serving whatever I’m reeling in and pulling from my garden.”
Adam Cohen
Vp of global touring, AEG Presents
Courtesy of Adam CohenCohen’s expansive job managing the operations division of AEG’s global touring department entails overseeing tour offers, departmental forecasting and budgeting and the division’s office and road staffing. The 33-year-old — who started at AEG as an intern 12 years ago — also spearheads touring projects for a bevy of artists, including promoting Carin León’s upcoming Sphere residency (the venue’s first Latin booking) and Zach Bryan’s monumental 2025 show at Michigan Stadium (the Ann Arbor venue’s first-ever concert, and the largest ticketed concert in U.S. history, with 112,408 tickets sold).
If I wasn’t working in the music business, I would be… “Working in the ski industry, trying to get as many days on the mountain as possible.”
Meagan DesChenes
Head of talent and promoters, Insomniac Events
Jason Fenmore/Oh Day YoDesChenes, who works on Electric Daisy Carnival and other festivals in the dance promotion powerhouse’s portfolio, spends her days bouncing from booking agent meetings to chats about things like streamlining crowd flow and how many bathrooms a festival site needs. “The most exciting thing to me is watching dance music continue to grow and reach new audiences,” the 39-year-old says. “We’re seeing more artists break through, more experimentation across sounds and even older styles finding new life with younger fans.”
Ten years ago, I was… “Working my way up from assistant roles and learning every part of the business I could. The excitement I felt walking into shows back then is the same feeling that drives me today.”
Chelsea Dodson
Senior vp of visual creative, Interscope Geffen A&M
Courtesy of IGAWhile Dodson, 34, credits “good luck and great timing” for helping land her first music business job, she’s put in the hard work too. She describes her current role as “matchmaking” artists with other creatives to help design a visual world for them and their music, encompassing photos, videos, design, live shows and, most recently, film. Dodson helped produce Billie Eilish’s 3D concert film documenting her Hit Me Hard and Soft tour, which Eilish co-directed alongside James Cameron. “A super technically challenging project working alongside so many new and extremely talented people.”
Ten years ago, I was… “Traveling around Iceland and working in TV production.”
Katy Eggleton
Artist manager, TMWRK
Matt Draper“I help artists turn their ideas into reality,” says Eggleton, 37, who for more than a decade has worked with A-Trak and Diplo across projects from songwriting to production to record labels, live events and more. A recent marquee endeavor is Diplo’s Run Club, a first-of-its-kind series of 5K run-and-raves that expanded to eight domestic events in 2025. (More are set for the near future.) “Audiences are eager for unique experiences beyond the traditional club or festival format,” she says.
My favorite piece of merch I own is… “A tie between a paper-thin Elton John world tour 1989 shirt — the year I was born — and a super thrashed Cramps shirt that I stole from my partner.”
Tara Finegan
COO, Cutting Edge Group
Faye Thomas“A genuine belief that great music can be an indelible part of great works of film, TV and gaming” guides Finegan, 39, who buys, builds and distributes composers’ catalogs, finding new opportunities for them (from major soundtracks to live concerts and beyond). Last year, she oversaw Cutting Edge’s acquisition of AMC Studios’ full portfolio of TV music rights (an album of music from The Vampire Lestat, with Lestat himself as the credited artist, was recently released). She’s particularly excited about video-game music’s mainstream acceptance: “The music is taking on a life entirely independent of the game itself, and the long-tail commercial opportunity is enormous.”
My favorite piece of merch I own is… “A piece of sheet music from the score to the movie Whiplash, signed by [its composer] Justin Hurwitz.”
“Being a festival director is like being at a switchboard,” Froelich says. “I’m a connecting hub across all the departments it takes to put on a festival.” The 37-year-old has done this for two of the industry’s most scrutinized festivals for a decade, overseeing both basics — monitoring the grounds, improving the guest experience and so on — and ambitious swings, like the construction of an underground facility for Radiohead’s art exhibition at this year’s Coachella.
Cole Froelich
Vp of festivals/festival director, Coachella and Stagecoach, Goldenvoice
Jonathan CastellanosThe best advice I’ve received is… “ ‘Have fun. Do a great job. Treat everyone you work with as if they’re your direct peer.’ Less in words, more in action [of] my mentor, friend, chosen family, ultimate dog-whisperer and festival producer for Coachella and Stagecoach, Bill Fold.”
Hilary Gleason
Co-founder/executive director, Backline
Hilary Gleason photographed on July 3, 2026 at Hotel Saint Cecilia in Austin, Texas. Justin CookWhen Chappell Roan accepted her best new artist trophy at the Grammy Awards in February 2025, she called on record labels to cover healthcare costs for artists. “We got you, but do you got us?” she questioned. A few days later, Hilary Gleason received a call from her longtime friend, Lisa Hess, who also happened to be Roan’s business manager. The outspoken pop star wanted to make a sizable donation to Gleason’s growing nonprofit, Backline, which she had helped establish in 2019 to support the mental health of artists and music industry professionals. On Super Bowl Sunday, Gleason’s team built a fundraising page; soon after, Roan made a $25,000 donation. (An added bonus: Gleason’s Philadelphia Eagles took home the Lombardi Trophy.)
“It was the single largest fundraising moment in Backline’s history,” says Gleason, 36. “It also really motivated corporations to give to Backline in a more serious way.” AEG matched Roan’s donation, as did artists including Noah Kahan, Sabrina Carpenter and Charli xcx as part of a fundraising campaign aptly called “WE GOT YOU!”
Yet, part of Gleason was hesitant to accept Roan’s charity. Backline was built to support access to mental healthcare specifically, and Roan was calling for access to healthcare more broadly. But, Gleason says, “They really were adamant that they wanted to go with us, because how can you advocate for yourself or sign up for insurance or do anything else if you don’t have your mental health in check? That positioning of Backline and of mental health as a foundational piece toward being able to access any other benefits or rights was, I think, more of a turning point than the money.”
Click here to read the full profile on Hilary Gleason.
Max Gredinger
Partner/manager, Foundations
Sean EllmanMax Gredinger has a theory about why — as a teen growing up outside Boston who ran a hip-hop blog and loved mixtape culture — he had the confidence to not only firmly decide on a career in the music industry but start managing artists.
“Realistically? Probably arrogance,” Gredinger says with a laugh. “A feeling that I knew something that people who were far more seasoned than I didn’t know.” That feeling didn’t exactly lead him astray: Through a friend who knew Mike Posner’s cousin, Gredinger ended up crafting the digital marketing plan for Posner’s first mixtape (which led to the artist’s global breakthrough hit, “Cooler Than Me”) as a high school junior. He ultimately graduated from Syracuse University’s Martin Bandier Program for Recording and Entertainment Industries.
But Gredinger, who’s now a partner at management company Foundations, gleaned a bigger lesson from his youthful confidence: “There’s a total benefit to not knowing how the business works when you’re just entering the workforce, because you don’t even think about things in or outside the box — you don’t even understand the concept of a box.”
Click here to read the full profile on Max Gredinger.
Amber Grimes
Executive vp/GM, LVRN
Kobe BoatengGrimes oversaw the rollouts for key LVRN releases in the last year including 6LACK’s acclaimed Love Is the New Gangsta and Summer Walker’s Billboard 200 No. 2 album Finally Over It; the latter’s campaign included a fan hotline, a Love Island partnership and a six-part Apple Music radio series. Earlier this year, Grimes, 36, also launched her own podcast, If You Knew Better, in partnership with The Black Effect Podcast Network and iHeartRadio. “It feels like the industry is finally starting to move away from viral songs and starting to remember the value of investing in an artist and building a long-term career,” she says.
Ten years ago, I was… “On a reality show [Like a Boss] with Nick Cannon.”
Joe Hadley
Global head of music partnerships and audience, Spotify
Frazer Harrison/WireImageBefore joining Spotify in 2022, Hadley was already a powerful agent, with a CAA roster including Beyoncé, A$AP Rocky and Jorja Smith. In his current role, his influence has increased further. “My job is to make Spotify the best place for creators to build audiences and for fans to deepen their relationship with music,” says Hadley, 39, whose achievements include launching the platform’s first long-form original performance content (with The Weeknd, Travis Scott, Miley Cyrus and more), overseeing campaigns with the likes of Lady Gaga and Tate McRae and creating Spotify’s internal music consulting agency, AUX.
My favorite piece of merch I own is… “All of them; I buy a piece of merch from every show I attend. I have them all saved for my son.”
Oriana Hidalgo
Senior director of A&R, 5020 Records
Diego CadavidHidalgo, 32, is a key architect of 5020 Records’ artist-first vision, overseeing talent scouting, creative direction, launch strategy and more for newcomers and veterans. Recently, she led release campaigns for rising artists Beéle (Borondo) and CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso (Papota) while also supporting Kany García’s new album, signing Carla Morrison to a frontline artist deal and contributing A&R for Shakira’s Spotify 30th Anniversary celebration and “Dai Dai,” her World Cup collaboration with Burna Boy that topped the Billboard Global 200.
The best advice I’ve received is… “ ‘El no ya lo tenemos’ [‘We already have no for an answer if we don’t try’], from mentor and current boss Rafa Arcaute.”
Aaron Hunter
Director of A&R, UnitedMasters
Megan AmberWhen he isn’t scouring the internet for new talent or booking sessions for his artists, Hunter is “happiest when I’m in the studio coming up with new ideas.” Last year, that included his work with BigXthaPlug, who after a breakout 2024 struck gold in the country space with his Bailey Zimmerman-assisted smash, “All the Way,” which peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. “Building a project that resonated in the country space while still staying true to hip-hop has been a beautiful thing to be a part of,” says Hunter, 33.
Ten years ago, I was… “A bartender in Worcester, Mass., telling everyone that I was going to move to Los Angeles and work in music.”
Nicole Kim
Vp, BigHit Music
BIGHIT MUSICKim, who oversees all operations at BigHit for BTS and its members, was especially proud when the K-pop sensation released its Billboard 200-topping “historic comeback album,” ARIRANG, in March; the 38-year-old was also involved in launching the act’s global stadium tour that kicked off in April and extends through March 2027. “The past 12 months have been filled with many historic moments for BTS, and I feel very grateful to have been part of that journey,” says Kim, who previously served as vp of A&R at Columbia Records.
The best concert I’ve ever seen is… “Beyoncé’s Renaissance world tour at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles in 2023.”
Robert Knotts
Executive vp/co-head, Lost Highway Records
Jordan StraussIn 2025, Knotts and fellow executive vp/co-head Jake Gear revived Lost Highway, the revered label that initially ran from 2000 to 2012. Launched through Interscope Geffen A&M, the imprint made an early splash when Kacey Musgraves — the last artist the original label signed — notched her best week by album equivalent units with her acclaimed 2026 set, Middle of Nowhere. “What I’m most proud of is helping lay the foundation for Lost Highway’s next chapter and building a team in Nashville of passionate, talented people who believe in that vision,” the 35-year-old says.
If I wasn’t working in the music business, I would be… “A regional manager for Aldi in the greater Greenville, S.C., area — the only other job offer I had coming out of college.”
Jeff Levin
Co-head of A&R, pop and rock, Atlantic Records; co-head, Atlantic Outpost
PolkImaging/Rich PolkSince Atlantic Music Group launched Atlantic Outpost a year ago, the new country and Americana imprint helmed by Levin and Ian Cripps has made quite the impression. Johnny Blue Skies & the Dark Clouds (Sturgill Simpson’s alter ego) debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 with Mutiny After Midnight on physical release alone, while newcomer Stella Lefty has had two top 20 hits on the Hot Country Songs chart — and in July, earned Atlantic Outpost its first Hot 100 top 10 with her single “Boston.” On Atlantic proper, Bella Kay (one of this issue’s cover stars) is also ascendent. “My job is to bridge the gap between great music and a great moment, from beginning to end,” says Levin, 37.
If I wasn’t working in the music business, I would… “Probably be a film producer. I’m obsessed with introducing talented people to talented people and being a part of making something special.”
Natalie Madaj
Executive vp of global digital, Warner Chappell Music
Jonathan WeinerIn the fast-moving technology landscape, Warner Chappell Music songwriters can count on Madaj — who works closely with digital streaming platforms, industry organizations, royalty processing partners, legal experts and other stakeholders — to be their advocate. In the last year, the 39-year-old was part of the team that struck deals with AI companies Suno, Udio and Klay, but “there is so much work to be done to ensure that songwriters and artists are comfortable with how their content is being used by these services, and this means thinking about rights grants, identification and reporting issues,” Madaj says.
If I wasn’t working in the music business, I would be… “Working as an Egyptologist.”
Adrian Martinez
Co-founder/head of creative, STURDY.
Courtesy of Adrian MartinezProfessional independence can be liberating for any creative. But for tour direction pro Martinez and his collaborators, Kevin and Tyler Henry, it was an obstacle. “I remember saying to the guys, ‘We’re never going to work with the top artists in the world if we’re just freelancing,’ ” Martinez says of the 18 months he and the Henry brothers spent doing gig work in the mid-2010s. “ ‘We need to create some momentum for this thing we’re creating.’ ”
Their creation: Los Angeles-based production house STURDY., which has made a name for itself designing and directing shows for some of the world’s biggest artists.
“There was a lot of middlemanning,” Martinez says of another impetus behind launching it in 2018. “The middlemen in those situations were not understanding what it was that the artist wanted, and my goal is always just to understand what it is they want and help elevate that.”
Click here to read the full profile on Adrian Martinez.
Clio Massey
Co-president, Arista Records; co-founder, Work of Art Publishing
Dane IsaacMassey was tapped alongside Matt D’Arduini in 2025 to lead the label founded by Clive Davis, and later led by her father, David. The 34-year-old Massey — who cut her teeth as co-founder of Work of Art Publishing, home to Medium Build and JP Saxe — has met the challenge, imbuing Arista with her entrepreneurialism and reverence for songwriting and development. Under its new leadership, the Sony Music subsidiary has become a thriving home for fast-growing talents like BUNT., Buffalo Traffic Jam, Måneskin’s Damiano David and 5 Seconds of Summer’s Luke Hemmings — all while maintaining an indie spirit.
The best concert I’ve seen is… “Oasis at Wembley last summer, which made up for the time I fell asleep at their concert at Hammerstein Ballroom when I was 6.”
Kevin McMullan
Manager, By the Way
Courtesy of By The WayShepherding a hip-hop comeback is no easy feat, especially after a 16-year break; having that comeback yield an artist’s first Grammy Award and an album of the year nomination is unprecedented. But that’s what McMullan, 34, accomplished with Clipse last year, as the Virginia coke-rap icons Pusha T and Malice reemerged triumphantly with Let God Sort Em Out, which won best rap album. “[My job is] one part air traffic control, one part strategy, all parts execution,” McMullan says. “No two days are alike.”
My favorite piece of merch I own is… “My son’s ‘Let Dad Sort Em Out’ onesie, of course.”
Marshall Nolan
Executive vp/global head of commercial strategy and partnerships, Island Records
Ned RogersNolan, 37, oversees Island’s streaming, physical and consumer initiatives, with the end goal of helping artists stand out in an increasingly oversaturated landscape. And Nolan’s campaigns — a blend, he says, of “commerical insight” and “creative storytelling” — have helped Island’s artists break through. In the last year, that’s included Olivia Dean taking the best new artist baton from Chappell Roan at the 2026 Grammys (making Island the first label in decades to win the category two years in a row), Lola Young winning her first golden gramophone and Sabrina Carpenter scoring her second Billboard 200 chart-topper with Man’s Best Friend.
The best advice I’ve received is… “ ‘It’s a simple business,’ from [Island co-chairman/CEO] Justin Eshak.”
Shirin Nury
Music agent, CAA
Courtesy of Shirin NuryNury can still remember how she felt going to concerts as a teen in the San Fernando Valley — and today, she calls those memories her “superpower.”
“I understand fandom and have a very strong barometer for what young women are looking at as fans,” she says. “I can still access a part of me that is that young 16-year-old, going to the Roxy [in Los Angeles], and have that guide a lot of my decision-making.”
At CAA, Nury, 36, has used this intuition to develop one of touring’s preeminent pop rosters, working as primary agent for Gracie Abrams and Tate McRae; co-primary agent for Conan Gray, Omar Apollo and Young Miko; a member of Charli xcx’s booking team; and with a slew of other rising artists including Bella Kay, Devon Again, ADÉLA and Skye Newman.
Click here to read the full profile on Shirin Nury.
Dom Prieto
Tour promoter, Live Nation
German Vizcarra“There are a lot of common goals amongst artists but there’s total uniqueness in how they go about reaching those goals,” Prieto says. “I learn what they want to accomplish on the live side and lead a team to execute that vision.” In 2024, Prieto, 35, promoted Italian DJ-producer Anyma’s 12-show run at Las Vegas’ Sphere — the first electronic music residency at the venue. Elsewhere, he worked with English singer Cleo Sol to bring her first U.S. dates to life, expanded Doechii’s 2025 sold-out Live From the Swamp Tour and is promoting John Summit’s forthcoming arena trek.
The best concert I’ve seen is… “The first concert I went to, because it inspired me to pursue a career in promoting: Lupe Fiasco in 2008 at The Fillmore in San Francisco.”
Rafael Restrepo
Co-founder, 1S Music; manager, Juanes
Courtesy of Rafael Restrepo“I often say that managers are dream builders,” says Restrepo, who manages Colombian rock star Juanes and Puerto Rican singer-songwriter GALE, among others. The 39-year-old is proud that, more than 20 years after Juanes’ breakthrough, he “is still selling tickets around the world, winning major awards and releasing music that feels relevant and authentic.” Up next: In October, Restrepo, with Juanes and Lotus, the team behind Lollapalooza Chile, will launch BAMBA, a new festival in Santiago, Chile, with an inaugural lineup topped by Juanes, Marc Anthony, Fito Páez and Carlos Vives.
The best advice I’ve received is… “ ‘You can’t want it more than the artist does.’ [Lionfish Entertainment founder/CEO] Rebeca León once told me this and it has stuck with me forever.”
Omar X. Rivera Maldonado
Founder/CEO, OMI Management
Bryan SantiagoAs Arcángel’s manager, Rivera, 39, has shaped the Latin trap star’s illustrious career — and he’s applied his management skills to a successful roster that also includes Sech, Chris Lebron, Elian Bless and Austin San. (The last three artists are also signed to Just in Time, the label Rivera co-founded with Arcángel in 2023 as a joint venture with Rimas.) Beyond management, Rivera has scaled entrepreneurial ventures including hydration brand AFTER and apparel company FRSH. “Building successful businesses across different sectors has reinforced my belief that the future belongs to leaders who can connect culture, commerce and innovation,” he says.
Ten years ago, I was… “Learning, taking risks, building relationships and developing the perspective that success is rarely linear.”
Jonathan Roberts
Agent, UTA
Courtesy of UTAAs head of UTA’s contemporary Christian music division, established in 2024, Roberts spearheads bookings for several major artists at the forefront of a genre seeing massive growth in streaming and touring. “There have been a lot of firsts for Christian artists that I’ve been privileged to be a part of,” says the 35-year-old, citing clients Brandon Lake and Phil Wickham doing double plays in arenas for the first time and Forrest Frank selling out Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, the day tickets went on sale.
The best concert I’ve seen is… “Coldplay, Snow Patrol and Howling Bells, June 6, 2009, at Bridgestone Arena [in Nashville]. Seeing Coldplay is always a must, but Snow Patrol on the undercard was like cheating.”
Nicki Shamel
Head of TuneCore, U.S. & Canada, TuneCore
Katie WarnkeLast November, TuneCore artists passed the $5 billion threshold in collective global earnings, in part fueled by Shamel’s efforts that led to a 20% increase in revenue and 25% increase in gross profit between 2024 and 2025 for the United States and Canada. And as more artists get onto streaming services, she’s helping TuneCore’s cut through with programs like TuneCore Accelerator, designed to help artists find new fans on digital service providers. “Independent doesn’t mean small — it means having autonomy and control over your career,” the 39-year-old says.
The best concert I’ve seen is… “Easy. Foo Fighters at Lollapalooza 2011 in the pouring rain.”
Jose Toribio
Vp, Rancho Humilde
Kevin SolisToribio operates at the intersection of creative and business, overseeing strategy, infrastructure, artist development and department-level leadership at one of música mexicana’s defining labels — and taking ownership of some of its most complex challenges at what he calls a time of heightened “industry scrutiny and opportunity” for the genre. Thanks to hotly anticipated projects like this year’s Junior H and Gael Valenzuela collaborative album, of which Toribio oversaw the release, Rancho Humilde has grown dramatically, seeing its annual releases increase tenfold since 2018 — and amid it all, Toribio, 34, has helped reinforce an operational foundation so that the label’s business is “built to last as long as the music does.”
If I wasn’t working in the music business, I would be… “A principal or assistant principal. The work of building culture, developing people and creating environments where others can grow.”
Blayke Ujihara
Senior vp of investments, Iconic Artists Group
Courtesy of Blayke UjiharaAfter starting his career in finance and entering the music business by way of Global Music Rights’ revenue strategy team, Ujihara now helps drive acquisitions — from evaluating new opportunities to executing deals — at Iconic Artists Group, which works with acts including The Beach Boys, Linda Ronstadt, Cher and Rod Stewart and the estates of Nat “King” Cole and Dean Martin, among others. When asked for the highlight of his past work year, the 38-year-old is unequivocal: “The legendary Frank Sinatra is now part of the Iconic roster!”
If I wasn’t working in the music business, I would be… “Chasing a front office role with an NBA team, or more realistically, just playing a lot more golf.”
Anna Weisband
Senior vp of creative A&R, Sony Music Publishing Nashville
Courtesy of Anna WeisbandWeisband, 32, who helps guide the music publisher’s A&R strategy, catalog marketing and songwriter development, calls it “incredibly rewarding” to support the success of women in country music — including Ella Langley and her Hot 100 juggernaut, “Choosin’ Texas” (whose co-writers include Langley and her fellow SMP signee Miranda Lambert). “Watching Lainey Wilson redefine what’s possible, seeing Miranda Lambert and Ella Langley make history together, watching Kelsea Ballerini break boundaries and new artists like Gabriella Rose prove authenticity still wins — it feels like we’re witnessing something really special,” Weisband says.
My favorite piece of merch I own is… “My Lainey Wilson Stanley cup.”
Courtney Worrell
Artist manager, Full Stop Management
Andy CalderoneWhat’s Worrell’s day-to-day work like? “Have you ever seen Get Him to the Greek?” jokes Cardi B’s 35-year-old manager. “In all seriousness, an artist manager is the backbone of an artist’s career.” Over the last year, that entailed guiding Cardi’s Am I the Drama? to the top of the Billboard 200 and helping to orchestrate her Little Miss Drama Tour. “We wear many hats: part business strategist, part therapist, part publicist … to ensure the artist can focus on what they do best — making music.”
The best concert I’ve seen is… “Backstreet Boys at Sphere, for sheer awe factor and nostalgia.”
Charlie Yedor
Vp of A&R and business development, Sony Music Entertainment
Sean BehrWith Ryan Coogler’s Academy Award-winning Sinners, Yedor, 36, helped craft a moment that recentered blues music in mainstream pop culture, assisting Ludwig Göransson in creating the movie’s score and compilation soundtracks. Both albums collected Grammy Awards and also netted Florida rapper Rod Wave his first Grammy nod. Yedor’s influence extends far beyond that acclaimed film: He’s also advanced franchise partnerships and soundtracks across titles including Project Hail Mary, Masters of the Universe, Stranger Things and Wednesday and has expanded Sony Music’s presence in anime, bringing the likes of Rauw Alejandro, Lisa and Paloma Mami to the popular Crunchyroll anime streaming platform.
The best concert I’ve seen is… “Daft Punk at Coachella in 2006.”
Elyse Young
Artist manager, Red Light Management
Courtesy of Red Light ManagementYoung equates the touring, festivals, special events, merch, music, creative and more that go into management to “a game of Tetris” — and it’s a game she’s helped win for clients Subtronics and LEVEL UP. Among those recent victories: Alongside co-manager Eric Silver, Young, 38, guided Subtronics to six massive shows at Los Angeles’ Shrine Expo Hall, a heavily attended 2026 Coachella debut and a headlining set at Sphere as part of Insomniac and Tomorrowland’s joint UNITY show.
My favorite piece of merch I own is… “Does the giant blue bathrobe they gift you at Tacoma Dome when your client sells out five [shows] count?”
Rachel Zucco
Senior director of brand management, Bravado
Aaron RosaHow do you turn an unexpected viral moment into must-have merchandise? Just ask Bravado’s senior director of brand management, Rachel Zucco. In her role at Universal Music Group’s merch and brand management division (where she “started at the bottom” nine years ago), Zucco is, as she puts it, “the glue” that connects artists, their management and Bravado’s own internal teams to handle all aspects and stages of merch development. “The coolest part is, nothing is cookie-cutter here,” the 33-year-old says. “From tour to e-comm to retail to licensing, we touch it all and we connect it all.”
Click here to read the full profile on Rachel Zucco.
Contributors: Katie Bain, Eric Renner Brown, Hannah Dailey, Kyle Denis, Griselda Flores, Lyndsey Havens, Ariel King, Carl Lamarre, Joe Lynch, Elizabeth Dilts Marshall, Rebecca Milzoff, Taylor Mims, Melinda Newman, Jessica Nicholson, Sigal Ratner-Arias, Isabella Raygoza, Kristin Robinson, Jessica Roiz, Dan Rys, Andrew Unterberger
Methodology: Nominations for Billboard’s executive lists open no less than 150 days in advance of publication, and a link is sent to press representatives by request before the nomination period. (Email thom.duffy@billboard.com for inclusion on the email list for nomination links and to obtain an editorial calendar.) Billboard’s 40 Under 40 list was chosen by editors from selected industry sectors, based on factors including, but not limited to, nominations by peers, colleagues and superiors. In addition to information requested with nominations, editors consider industry impact as measured by metrics including, but not limited to, chart, sales and streaming performance as measured by Luminate and social media impressions using data available as of June 9. All touring data cited is from Billboard Boxscore.
This story appears in the Aug. 1, 2026, issue of Billboard.
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