MEET THE 2025 RISING 20: INDIE MUSIC LEADERS HONOREES
A2IM SPOTLIGHTS THE FUTURE FACES OF INDEPENDENT MUSIC
AN ANNUAL LIST CELEBRATING THE INDUSTRY’S FUTURE EXECUTIVES
New York, NY (July 22, 2025) – In celebration of their 20th anniversary, A2IM (The American Association of Independent Music) proudly announces the 2025 honorees for its Rising 20: Indie Music Leaders program. The annual list recognizes the young professionals who are shaping the future of independent music. The Rising 20 aims to highlight emerging industry talent who are making a tangible difference in their companies and across the broader independent music ecosystem.
“Rising 20 is our way of spotlighting the next generation of independent music leadership,” said Dr. Richard James Burgess MBE, President and CEO of A2IM. “These emerging executives, innovators, and changemakers are not just shaping the future — they’re actively transforming our industry today. We’re proud to honor their achievements and amplify their voices within the A2IM community and across the global music ecosystem.”
Selected from across A2IM’s diverse membership of over 700 independently owned labels and companies, these individuals represent the next generation of executives, future label heads, board members, and C-suite leaders who are innovating behind the scenes and redefining what leadership looks like in independent music.
The 2025 Rising 20: Indie Music Leaders are:
● Katrina Balcius – Head of Enterprise, DISCO
● Henry Cutting – Head of Business Development, Rise
● Sarah Davis – Director, Global Client Services & In-House Forensic Musicologist, Downtown Music Publishing
● Vivienne Engels – A&R, Creative Commissioner, Campaign Lead, Lex Records
● Pam Garavano-Coolbaugh – Head of US Product Management, Beggars Group
● Darlene Hall – Director, Distribution, Create Music Group
● Daniel Iammatteo – Director, Digital Marketing and Streaming, Reservoir
● Sydney Kim – Senior Director, Creative Marketing, Red Bull Records
● Kevin Lazaroff – Distribution & Brand Partnership Lead, Amuse
● Kelley Lin – Label Manager, True Panther
● Jamie MacRae – VP, Business Development, Materia Music, Inc
● Charlie Painter – Head of Label Development, Redeye
● Cory Popovich – VP, Marketing, Nettwerk Music Group
● Brianna Schwartz – Co-Founding Partner, Schwartz & Schreiber, PLLC
● Carly Starr – VP of Marketing, Sub Pop Records
● Anthony Stewart – Head of Operations, AudioSalad
● Pavan Vasdev – Senior Director, Strategy & Growth, Merlin
● Nonafaye Williams – Senior Director of Product Management, Marketing, Hopeless Records
● Micki Windham – Director of Physical Sales, Thirty Tigers
● Carolina (Lina) Yanson – Senior Digital Account Manager NORAM, Secretly Distribution
A2IM believes in promoting and nurturing talent from within the independent music community. The goal of the Rising Young Leaders program is to support talented young executives in their professional growth and to ensure A2IM maintains sector relevance across all age groups. This program is part of A2IM’s professional development initiatives. Additional information on the Rising 20 honorees can be found here.
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