NOISEMAKERS:
SPRINGING FORWARD

In our latest roundup, we present eight more stars of tomorrow from various parts of the biz whose dedication and effort make their superiors look good.

This week's entrants will also find their faces in our most recent mag—a mortifying experience they can lament over gluten-free avocado toast.

Samantha Sonkin
Marketing Director, Columbia

Sonkin has come a long way since starting at Columbia as an intern 10 years ago. “I dreamed of playing a role in the projects for which I’m now lucky enough to serve as project manager,” she says; they’ve included campaigns for Adele’s “Easy on Me” (2b streams) from her triple-platinum 30 and Miley Cyrus’ record-breaking single “Flowers” from her new Endless Summer Vacation. Sonkin’s also pleased to be developing plans for The Kid LAROI, Diplo and newcomer Jessie Murph. Like Beyoncé, she carries hot sauce in her bag (which, fortunately for Sonkin, helps keep us at bay).

Saint Harraway
EVP, A&R, Republic Records; Co-President, Uptown Records

As a kid, Harraway was such a music fan that he read CD inserts and memorized label credits. He’s now co-running one of the labels that inspired him in his youth, Uptown Records. In addition to participating in the relaunch of Uptown, Harraway has witnessed the growth of Coi Leray and the emergence of R&B trio FLO, which was recently crowned BBC Radio 1’s Sound of 2023 and in 2022 was the first group to win the BRITs Rising Star award. Harraway also plays drums and keyboards. Our talents are limited to napping.

Anjae Rayford
Head of Label Operations, BreadGang the Label

When Moneybagg Yo was putting the finishing touches on 2021’s A Gangsta’s Pain, Rayford got to record a snippet at the beginning of “Memphganistan.” As Moneybagg polishes his next studio album, she’s proud to be supporting a new mixtape by Tripstar—for which Tay Keith is serving as executive producer—and new BreadGang signee YTB Fatt’s single with Bagg and buzzing Memphis artist Fat Wizza. Back when she was at ICM, Rayford began saving her festival and concert all-access credentials. Bet she won’t be saving this feature.

Lloyd Aur Norman
SVP, Big Loud Rock; Manager, Big Loud Management

After years working on the country side, Norman is bringing the Big Loud artist-development strategy to Big Loud Rock, supporting Letdown.’s first single, “Crying in the Shower,” at Alt radio and HARDY’s “JACK” at Rock, where it’s currently Top 5. He’s also part of the team behind Blame My Youth, whose newest single, “Prizefighter,” secured a world premiere on SiriusXM Octane the day the act started its tour opening for HARDY. Norman was the first employee at Big Loud Management and then at Big Loud Records. He’s since managed to avoid us, until now, that is.

Marnie Dunstan
Founder/CEO, MD Management

Dunstan once watched her Grammy-winning client Mr Hudson perform with JAY-Z in front of 60k fans. This year, Hudson is working on projects with Harry Hudson (no relation), JP Cooper and Jesse Rutherford. Dunstan is also excited about new music from client Alex Rzyan (“Hot Headed”) and latest signee Ivy Walsh. The MD topper recently joined copyright collective PRS for Music as a U.S. member-relations consultant alongside head of U.S. Relations Fabienne Leys. When she was in college, Dunstan started her own fanzine. Bet she never expected to end up in this rag.

Jeffrey Jacques
VP of Brand Partnerships, Capitol Music Group

Jacques says the younger version of himself would be thrilled to know that today he’s working with “some of the most influential people in the history of the music business.” Having recently wrapped deals for Epic artists Bia with Footlocker and Madison Beer with Walmart, the Brooklyn native kicked off 2023 at CMG and is looking forward to advancing the careers of artists like Sam Smith, Niall Horan, Lil Yachty, Ice Spice, Doechii, Smino and Masego. Jacques is a lover of fashion, sports and music, but alas, not of us.

Nicole Plantin
General Manager, Khalabo Music

Plantin scored an early read of a script by Kenya Barris and Jonah Hill that would become Netflix’s You People, in which Khalabo artist GoGo Morrow’s “Comfortable” can be heard. Following the 2022 release of her EP Ready, Morrow—whom Plantin inked alongside Harmony Samuel’s B.O.E. label—landed a role on Grown-ish, on which she performed “In the Way.” Plantin previously worked with The Neptunes at Star Trak, where she delivered the call-and-response “heys” on Lil Jon’s “Stick That Thang Out” f/Pharrell Williams & Ying Yang Twins. Sadly, no one responds to our calls.

Ky Zaretsky
Senior Manager/Head of Client Relations, 2wenty 2wenty Music Group

Zaretsky will always relish having seen client Murda Beatz perform in front of 30k people at Coachella, followed by Kid Cudi, Zaretsky’s favorite artist. He’s presently collaborating with Beatz on the creator’s livestream channel, building a studio in Toronto and working with a roster that also includes Jason “Cheese” Goldberg and Quay Global. He’s likewise teamed up with Grammy-nominated client Don Mills and friend Illmind on another studio location, Miami’s Rezort. Zaretsky was once a competitive cross-country runner. We’re competitive nappers.