The AvA Connection

🐝 The Weekly Buzz (6 things you need to know)

1) California lawmakers approve $750 million in funding for TV and film credit. This is a hard fought win for the state and the entertainment industry at large, and it more than doubles the programs previous support of $330 million. The proposed increase to $750 million was almost slashed as the issue moved along, but clearly it stuck the landing.

2) In a somewhat surprising move from the outside, Audacy shuts down podcast studio, Pineapple Street Studio, and lays off staff. They had produced shows & podcasts for TV shows like “House of the Dragon,” “Severance” and “The Last of Us.”

🏊 Deeper Dive: Podcasts have exploded in popularity, with over 6.5 million podcatss worldwide and 584 million listeners. 55% of the US population over 12 listens to a podcast at least once a month. Worldwide podcast ad spending is estimated to hit $4.46 billion this year.

3) The Velvet Sundown, boasting more than 375k monthly Spotify subscribers are one of the hottest bands that came out of nowhere. No actually.. they came out of nowhere because they are completely AI-generated. Dive deeper into one of the worst trends in the music industry.

4) AMC announce they will be welcoming in commercials before movies. Cinemark and Regal both started allowing ad slots before films around 5 years ago, and now that AMC (who is currently the industry leader) has been in financial trouble – their theaters will begin to follow suit on July 1st.

5) A sequel for the ‘Social Network’ is currently in the works. My hot take is the world has enough sequels, reboots etc. etc. but seeing Zuck’s midlife crisis (and glow up chain and all) unfold on screen could make for some good viewing. Aaron Sorkin who was Oscar nominated for writing the ‘Best Adapted Screenplay’ is set to direct the film as a feature for Sony.

6) Independent venues in the US generated $153.1 billion in 2024. The National Independent Venues Association announced these results in their first ever ‘comprehensive national economic impact study,’ and the breakdown is below:

🏃 Industry Moves

1. Big Loud & Mercury Records promoted Wes Donehower to Senior Vice President of A&R. This “dual role” was brought on by successful collaborations in the past including Big Loud’s work with Morgan Wallen.

2. Leslie Cohea joins WME Nashville as Partner and Music Touring Executive. Cohea has held previous roles at AEG and Sandbox Entertainment, and her first day with WME is July 14th.

3. THE BIG ONE: Miranda Priestly, sorry Anna Wintour is stepping aside as Editor of American Vogue. Will remain as the Chief Content Officer for Condé Nast, as well as Global Editorial Director of Vogue

4. The Recording Academy moved Evan Bogart to Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees. Bogart formerly was a National Trustee, and we sit down with him in today’s interview below..

📞 The Call Log: Evan Bogart, Hit Songwriter, Record Excutive, etc…

Evan Bogart has probably my favorite story in all of the Music Industry. His biggest achievement on paper may have been when he won a Grammy with Beyoncé on “Halo,” but the most impressive? When he wrote a number one hit while he was an agency assistant at APA. It’s a crazy story best

He’s now worked with everyone from Brittany Spears, J. LO and Madonna to Lizzo, Demi Lovato, Enrique Iglesias, Liam Payne, and ZZ Ward. Plus some names for my Millennials out there: Jason Derulo, Jordin Sparks, Sean Kingston, Jesse McCartney, and Hillary Duff. 

But his story isn’t just about hits. It’s about reinvention. 

He went from major label intern and discovering acts like Eminem to playing a key role in the formation of Maroon 5 and building his own company. But his battle with addiction, getting sober and starting over as an assistant a Major Agency is where the real story begins. 

Early into his assistant years at APA he found a new passion: songwriting. The first song he ever wrote? S.O.S. by Rihanna.

This episode is about that pivot. What it means to rebuild. Not just a career, but an identity. And how sometimes, the second act is where the real story begins.

It’s a story best told by Evan himself. Click below to listen to episode 3 of our podcast, The Call Log:

👋 See you back here on Tuesday for a brand new selection of Entertainment jobs

Want this newsletter in your inbox every week?

This newsletter is written by Warner Bailey and edited by Riley Furey

Get in touch! Email us at [email protected].

Want to partner with us and reach 25k+ music and entertainment professionals? Email [email protected]