In celebration of our 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 leaders,” 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.
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.
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 & Commercial Partnerships, Reservoir
Syd 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
For more information on Rising 20, reach out at info@a2im.org.
