Motown Records announced Thursday (July 1) that music marketing veteran Brian Nolan has been appointed executive vp of the label and evp, marketing, effective immediately. Previously, Nolan was executive vp, Capitol Music Group.
Nolan will report to chairman and CEO Ethiopia Habtemariam — Billboard’s latest Executive of the Week — as he takes the lead on the label’s marketing teams and initiatives. Motown’s roster spans artists like Lil Baby, Lil Yachty, Migos, Ne-Yo, Asiahn, City Girls, Erykah Badu, Kem, The Hxliday, Tiana Major9 and Vince Staples.
“I have been preparing for this role for over 20 years and I am so grateful to Ethiopia for the opportunity,” Nolan said in a statement. “We are building an incredible new legacy at Motown and I feel extremely proud to be doing purposeful work helping to drive our artists’ vision to fans around the globe.”
Between now and his beginnings as a mailroom worker at BMG, Nolan has headed some major projects — everything from snagging brand partnerships with PepsiCo, Beats By Dre and Mountain Dew for artists like Lil Baby, Halsey and Migos, to serving as soundtrack producer for Netflix’s To All The Boys: P.S. I Still Love You film.
In 2017, he created the Bonus Tracks program through CMG’s partnership with Compton Unified School District. Students at Dominguez High School were able to learn about careers within the music industry through seminars led by CMG executives.
“As we continue to build Motown, I’m excited to bring together leaders who are not only innovative in their approach to their work but thoughtful, deliberate and committed to supporting our artists and bringing their vision to the world,” Habtemariam said. “Brian sees the big picture and draws from his experience in promotion, international marketing, brand partnerships and sync, giving him an understanding of how to connect the dots and create synergies for robust, well-rounded global campaigns.”
