Kobalt Music has hired Rian Liebenberg as Chief Technology Officer. Kobalt’s current CTO, Richard Thompson, is stepping down, but will continue to advise as Emeritus CTO. Liebenberg previously held CTO positions at Schibsted ASA and Schibsted Media Group.
• Berklee Provost Larry Simpson presented an honorary doctor of music degree to legendary jazz, fusion, and world music guitarist, composer, bandleader, and producer Al Di Meola during the commencement ceremony for the master’s degree programs at Berklee’s campus in Valencia, Spain.
At 19, after attending Berklee, Di Meola joined Chick Corea’s pioneering jazz fusion group Return to Forever. He later collaborated with John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucía whose album Friday Night in San Francisco sold 7 million copies. Over a career that has spanned more than four decades, Di Meola has recorded more than 30 solo albums.
• The Orchard has named Chris Hardy as Country Manager, Canada overseeing a newly-established team based in Toronto. Hardy joins The Orchard from Sony Music Canada where he held the title of Director of Distributed Labels.
• The Rolling Stones and Universal Music Group (UMG) have announced an expanded and multi-faceted worldwide partnership covering the band’s iconic recorded music and audio-visual catalogs, archival support, global merchandising and brand management. (CelebrityAccess)
• Beyonce, JAY-Z, Ed Sheeran, and Eddie Vedder are among several headliners scheduled to perform at this year’s Global Citizen Festival in South Africa this upcoming December. The December event, which will take place in Johannesburg, is the culmination of Global Citizen’s “Mandela 100” campaign in partnership with the House of Mandela; a series of global events honoring the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela in his centenary year. (CelebrityAccess)
