Busta Rhymes Honored with Hip-Hop Icon Award at Harlem Week; Dina LaPolt Launches 'Stiletto Room' Podcast

Celebrating Music Icons and New Ventures in the Industry

Busta Rhymes will be honored with the "Hip Hop Icon Award" by the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce executive board on Sunday as part of Harlem Day, the closing event of Harlem Week. This series of free community events for residents and New Yorkers includes a variety of cultural activities. The award ceremony will take place at St. Nicholas Park, where Busta's son, Trillian Wood-Smith, will perform on the Harlem Week stage.

In addition to the award ceremony, this weekend features several other highlights. A Harlem Week Block Party will honor DJ Clark Kent and Angie Stone, while a street renaming will celebrate Harry Belafonte, a singer, actor, and civil rights activist. A tribute to Quincy Jones by Ray Chew, a "Dancing with the Stars" star, will wrap up the celebration.

New Podcast Launches and Industry Leadership

Dina LaPolt, a veteran music attorney and advocate, is set to launch her new podcast, "The Stiletto Room," on August 20. The premiere episode will feature Siedah Garrett, known for co-writing Michael Jackson’s "Man in the Mirror." New episodes will release every Wednesday, with guests including Tinashe, Deadmau5, Morgan Wade, Chaz Bono, Prophet, Shani Darden, Liz Hernandez, and Jason Lee.

LaPolt describes the podcast as an extension of her career, offering an open invitation to discuss what truly matters. Directed by Mike Melendy, the podcast marks the first project under LaPolt Media, which also includes her upcoming book, "Street Smart: Succeeding in a Man's World," scheduled for release on October 6.

Executive Appointments and Label Expansions

On August 14, Capitol Music Group announced Jessica Eason and Dante Smith as its newest senior vice presidents. They will join Justin Grant to lead the group's urban marketing department. Eason, who has been with Capitol for seven years, previously worked as a publicist for PMK*BNC. Smith, who was named head of Motown digital last year, has collaborated with artists such as Offset, Quavo, Ice Spice, and Kali Uchis.

The Hispanic Heritage Foundation has named Rauw Alejandro as the recipient of its Hispanic Heritage Award for Vision. He will be recognized at the Warner Theater in Washington, D.C., on September 4, with the ceremony airing on PBS. Alejandro’s latest album, “Cosa Nuestra,” reached No. 6 on the Billboard 200 and spent six weeks atop the Top Latin Albums chart.

Zoe Barton has been appointed as the new executive vice president of digital, viral, commerce, and marketing at Mom+Pop. She will report to founder Michael Gladstone and co-owner Thaddeus Rudd. Barton previously served as general manager and head of creative at Origin.

Big Machine Label Group (BMLG) has appointed Justin Ford as its new vice president of creative design and branding. Ford, who was previously senior creative director at the label, has worked with artists like Thomas Rhett, Carly Pearce, and Sheryl Crow.

Industry Collaborations and New Deals

Spotify and Kobalt have signed a direct, multi-year licensing agreement in the United States. This partnership aims to expand songwriters’ participation on streaming platforms. Kobalt represents artists such as Roddy Ricch, Max Martin, Karol G, and Paul McCartney.

Concord Music Publishing has signed Fraser T. Smith to a worldwide publishing deal. Smith, known for his work with Adele, Stormzy, and Sam Smith, has won multiple awards, including a Grammy and a Brit Award.

Downtown Artist and Label Services has announced several new signings and promotions. These include partnerships with Genesis Records, Virlan Garcia, and Conjunto Nuevo Amanecer. Lorena Cabral has been promoted to director, A&R, Mexico, while Daniela Gutiérrez has been elevated to director, marketing, Latin.

Emerging Talent and Label Growth

Folk singer-songwriter Bebe Stockwell has signed with TMWRK for management and Wasserman for touring. She will perform at the Bumbershoot festival in Seattle on August 31.

Country star Morgan Wallen’s management company, Sticks Management, has signed Gavin Adcock. Adcock, who recently faced criticism over Beyoncé’s album Cowboy Carter, will open for Wallen in Cleveland. His single "A Cigarette" has been certified Platinum.

Rob Inadomi has joined Nebula17 as head of global A&R and president of the label. Nebula17, founded by Naoki Osada, focuses on Japanese artists in the U.S. market.

Benny Brown has launched North Chapel Music, acquiring assets from Wide Open Music Publishing. The new company has signed deals with songwriters such as Matt Cooper and Jennifer Wayne.

Industry Recognition and Global Expansion

Musexpo has named Kirk Sommer as its International Music Person of the Year for 2025. Sommer, WME’s senior partner and global co-head of music, has worked with artists like Amy Winehouse and Billie Eilish.

Lo Ting-Fai, known as Lofai, has been appointed president of Warner Music APAC. He joins from PCCW, where he led entertainment initiatives.

Red Bull Records has signed country artist Pynk Beard, whose debut EP, “Red Dirt Diaries,” is set for release this fall.

YoungLA, a lifestyle and fitness apparel brand, has partnered with Lil Baby for its latest campaign. Adidas has also announced a collaboration with Uncle Waffles as part of its "Superstar: The Original" campaign.

5020 Records, a Sony Music imprint, has signed Carla Morrison, a three-time Latin Grammy winner. The label represents artists such as Residente, Christina Aguilera, and Tini.