Industry veteran Lauren Ceradini has been appointed Senior Vice President, Media and Artist Relations at Def Jam Recordings.
In addition, Renata Muniz has been promoted to Vice President, while Joanne Hunter has been appointed Senior Director.
The news was announced today by Gabe Tesoriero, Executive Vice President, Media and Artist Relations, Def Jam Recordings, a division of Universal Music Group (UMG).
Beginning her career in 2005 with PR firm Rogers & Cowan, Ceradini ascended to Head of PR at Epic Records under L.A. Reid, where she worked closely with Sade, the Michael Jackson estate, and helped break Fifth Harmony, among many others.
Ceradini also served as VP of Publicity for Capitol Records, and most recently represented various artists at DC-based strategic advisory firm Smith & Company.
In her new role at Def Jam, Ceradini will oversee Def Jam’s publicity activities on the West Coast, and will devise strategy and execute campaigns for a portfolio of both major stars like Big Sean, YG, Logic and 2 Chainz, and developing artists like Neveah Jolie.
As an experienced senior executive, Ceradini will also provide artist and industry relations leadership and representation on Def Jam’s behalf throughout the LA-based creative community.
“It’s an honor to take the next step in my career at an iconic label like Def Jam.”
Lauren Ceradini
Renata Muniz began her first stint with the Def Jam publicity dept in 2012, and has served as Senior Director since 2018.
She began her career in music in 2010 with Republic Records, and has held positions at Epic Records as Senior Director, and 42 West Public Relations.
In her time at Def Jam, Muniz has made major contributions to the multi-platinum success of Grammy-winning star Alessia Cara – overseeing Alessia’s PR throughout her career – as well as marquee artists like Jhene Aiko and Teyana Taylor, and emerging priorities Kaash Paige, Danileigh, and Saint Bodhi.
Joanne Hunter, meanwhile, returns to Def Jam, where she began her professional career in music in 2012, working with EVP’s Dion “No I.D.” Wilson and Rodney Shealey.
After two years, she moved to the label’s Media and Artist Relations Department as Coordinator. In 2016, she began a four-year stint at Capitol Records publicity, first as Manager and later as Director, prior to her return to Def Jam earlier this year.
Based in LA, Hunter’s roster includes YG, Big Sean and rising South Central star Bino Rideaux.
Ceradini said: “It’s an honor to take the next step in my career at an iconic label like Def Jam.
“Gabe is truly a force in this business, and with so much exciting progress on the horizon for the label, and our roster of marquee stars and exciting emerging artists, I look forward to working with him, Jeff Harleston, Rich Isaacson and the entire team.”
“I’m excited to continue breaking artists and contributing to the success of this culturally important label.”
Renata Muniz
Muniz added: “A little less than a decade ago, Gabe gave this Jersey girl my first real chance to work at this iconic label and has proven to be an invaluable confidant, mentor and supporter.
“I am proud to work with him and our amazing team. I’m excited to continue breaking artists and contributing to the success of this culturally important label.”
“Lauren is a dynamic, creative, absolute superstar executive and someone whose work I have always deeply admired.”
Gabe Tesoriero
“Lauren is a dynamic, creative, absolute superstar executive and someone whose work I have always deeply admired,” said Tesoriero.
“Her skill set is unmatched, her relationships are impeccable, her experience and leadership are invaluable, and her addition to our team has immediately made its impact felt. Lauren takes us to another level, period.”
Added Tesoriero: “Having worked alongside Renata for almost a decade, she has grown to be very much like family to me.
“Nothing in my professional career has made me prouder than to watch Renata’s growth into the kinetic, charming, wickedly funny, hyper-talented powerhouse of an executive she has become.
“Her promotion to VP is beyond well-deserved, and I’m excited to continue this journey with her. In Renata’s words: ‘You absolutely LOVE to see it!”
Tesoriero continued: “Joanne’s return basically completes me. She is the kind of human and teammate who is so good, who you root for so hard, when she had an opportunity to build a life in LA, and to work with my dear friend Ambrosia Healy at Capitol, I practically pushed her out the door.
“Now she’s back home with us, with a great opportunity to move forward in her career, and I know Ambrosia feels the same…Joanne’s just that type of person!”Music Business Worldwide
