Better Noise Music, the independent rock label founded and run by US industry veteran Allen Kovac, has made a number of key hires and promotions ahead of what it calls “a busy 2022 release schedule”.

Renaud Doucet joins the label as Managing Director for Europe. Paris-based Doucet joins from Spotify, where he was was Head of Metal, and prior to that Deezer where he was Head of Rock and Metal.

Doucet will be charged with overseeing the streaming growth of the label in France, Scandinavia, Central Europe and ROW. He will work closely with Henry Tongue, Senior Director of International Streaming Strategy for Better Noise.

Better Noise has also hired Paul Cormack as Managing Director for Canada. Cormack has previously held leadership roles at Universal Music, DHX Television and most recently as President of Sparkwheel Marketing and Strategy.

Based in Toronto, Cormack will be overseeing the leading active rock label’s activities in the market through streaming, radio, press and marketing. Cormack will work closely with Klineand Jackie Kajzer, Better Noise’s SVP/Head of Promotion.

In addition, Better Noise has hired Samantha Gable as Senior Director, Digital. She joins the label following 10-plus years at RED and then The Orchard after the two merged, where she most recently served as Senior Director, Product & Label Management and worked on projects from Jake Miller, O.A.R., Scotty McCreery, and more.

Gable will play a key role in the label’s digital marketing and social media efforts, working closely with Sean Maxson, VP, Marketing.

The news of the hires was announced by Allen Kovac alongside Better Noise’s President, Dan Waite, and the company’s COO, Steve Kline.

Waite and Kovac have also announce a series of key promotions at Better Noise, including Victor Lang as General Manager, GSA and Lexie Viklund as A&R Director.

Waite said: “Better Noise Music continues to expand internationally, providing deeper opportunities for streaming, marketing, promotion and sales for our acts.

“Our new hires of Paul Cormack, Renaud Doucet and the promotion of Victor Lang, will complement our international expansion which has recently seen Tim McLean Smith join as MD Australia and New Zealand, Joe McFadden overseeing LatAM, Claudia Mancino’s overseeing promotions for UK & Europe, and Henry Tongue’s promotion as Senior Director of International Streaming Strategy.”

Steve Kline added, “These new hires and promotions come at an exciting time for Better Noise as we hit the 4 billion stream milestone this year.

“We’re pleased to have an all-star team onboard as we look ahead to priority projects from Five Finger Death Punch, The Hu, Nothing More and AWOLNATION, as well as label debut albums from developing artists Tempt, Eva Under Fire and Classless Act.”

Recent internal promotions and additional new hires at Better Noise include:

• Victor Lang, General Manager, GSA
• Anne Wall, Senior Director, Licensing & Royalties
• Henry Tongue, Senior Director, International Streaming Strategy
• Lexie Viklund, Director, A&R
• Ben Guzman, Creative Director
• Ben Lifson, Director, Digital and Community Management
• Amanda Meyer, Senior Manager, Streaming
• Eoin Wenger, Senior Manager, Digital and Community Management
• Sabine Leibig, Label Manager, GSA
• Luke Hinz, Manager, Analytics and Streaming
• Eliana Núñez, Coordinator, Publicity
• Manny Unger, Coordinator, Production/Digital Content Assistant

The label says it is wrapping up a busy 2021 which saw multiple US radio genre No.1s from Five Finger Death Punch, Asking Alexandria, All Good Things, and most recently Bad Wolves.Music Business Worldwide