Music Industry Moves: Megan Barbour Joins Space Cowboy Music; Interscope Sets HBCU Initiative With ‘Homecoming SZN’ Album

Space Cowboy Music, a music supervision agency, is pleased to announce that veteran music supervisor Megan Barbour has joined as director of music for trailers and promos. 

Barbour joins after a tenure at Buddha Jones, where she served as director of music for three years, solidified her as a trusted leader in the field. She’s also worked on campaigns across theatrical and streaming studios, in addition to helping streamline trailers, promos and video game campaigns. 

Naaman Snell, founder of Space Cowboy Music, said in a statement, “I’ve known Megan for a long time and have always admired her creative mind, attention to detail, and unwavering pursuit of always putting out the absolute best work. I’m beyond excited to have her join us and bring that level of creative excellence to our team.”

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Barbour added, “I’m thrilled to announce that I am joining the team at Space Cowboy Music, a company known for their incredible talent, creativity, and award-winning work. Their roster of innovative partners and projects speaks to the level of artistry and collaboration that fuels their success, and I couldn’t be more excited to contribute to this dynamic environment.”

+ Interscope Geffen A&M Records has partnered with three HBCU campuses – Howard University, Tennessee State University and Texas Southern University – for Homecoming Week celebrations.

Launching this fall, the first phase of the initiatives will see Interscope Records providing immersive student-led pop-ups to each campus. Students will have the opportunity to listen to the new vinyl album, “Homecoming SZN Compilation Vol. 1,” available for purchase today via Interscope. Available on vinyl only, the collection is inspired by HBCU’s vital role in the careers of a number of Interscope artists and executives.

The 11-song compilation includes songs by Kendrick Lamar, Sheck Wes, Glorilla, Jay Rock and two brand new songs from rising Interscope urban artists, among others. Students will also have the opportunity to win concert tickets and capture memories at the photo booth. Additionally, as part of the capsule collections, merchandise specific to each school — provided by Champion sportswear — will be available for purchase.

As part of the campaign, Interscope will make a $3 donation for every item sold to the related university. In addition, Interscope/UMG will develop HBCU-specific scholarship offerings for prospective interns and mentors and connect HBCU undergrads with HBCU alumni employees for fellowships. Additional activations will launch in Spring 2025 and, in the future, the initiative will encompass additional schools.

+ Spotify has unveiled a free option of its services now available in South Korea.

Spotify’s Freemium business model, which offers both a Free, ad-supported experience and a Premium subscription service, has helped global audiences connect with Korean music. To date, the company has paid out over $50 billion (over 67 trillion in Korean won) to music-rights holders, according to a data provided by Spotify.

“The launch of Spotify Free in South Korea is an exciting moment, not only for consumers but for artists and the industry at large,” said Gautam Talwar, general manager, Asia Pacific, Spotify. “We’re opening the door to every Korean listener to start discovering and connecting with millions of songs and podcasts with our technology and service – which means huge potential for new audiences, discoverability and ultimately, more revenue for artists.”

+ Tyler Bacon, president and CEO of Position Music, has announced that Chandler Thurston has joined the company as a new member of the A&R team. Thurston is the first A&R hire for the independent publisher and label’s newly-opened Nashville location.

Before joining Position Music, Thurston served as senior creative director at Anthem Entertainment, the publishing home of MCA Nashville artist Jordan Davis. Throughout his tenure, he was responsible for a roster of talent that included Jamie Paulin (Kenny Chesney, Jordan Davis), Luke Preston (Dillon James, The Lone Bellow), Joey Hyde (Jake Owen, Ryan Hurd), and artists Shane Profitt and Meghan Patrick.

Prior to Anthem, Chandler worked as an A&R at Major Bob Music where he played a\ role in signing and developing writers Alysa Vanderheym, Ben Williams (Megan Moroney’s “Tennessee Orange”), and Andy Sheridan.

Thurston will be working out of Position Music’s Nashville office on Music Row, which is currently under construction and projected to open Q3 of 2025. The location includes eight offices and two studios.

+ Downtown-owned, B2B distributor FUGA has today announced a new partnership with Unified Music Group, a globally renowned multi-service music company that operates across Melbourne, Sydney, Los Angeles, New York, Nashville and Toronto.

The partnership will bolster Unified’s distribution and marketing capabilities, and provide neighboring rights services. This partnership will support Unified Recorded Music labels including UNFD (Silverstein, Thornhill & ERRA) and Domestic La La (Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers, Dear Seattle, Teenage Joans), alongside future releases on the independently-minded Community Music (Ocean Alley, Sarah Saint James, ISHAN).

Unified’s labels will leverage FUGA’s technology platform and suite of services, including strategic marketing and account management, social video management, YouTube channel partnerships and physical distribution, to drive audience growth and engagement.