Interscope Geffen A&M (IGA) has named Michelle An President & Chief Creative Officer.
The Universal Music Group label has also promoted Laura Carter and Ramon Alvarez-Smikle to Co-Presidents, Urban, IGA.
The appointments, announced today (October 21), come a week after MBW reported that Nicole Wyskoarko and Sam Riback were leaving their senior A&R posts at IGA and that An, Carter, and Alvarez-Smikle would take on broader leadership roles.
IGA said the new Creative and Urban leadership roles are “designed to give artists deeper partnership and more ways to break through.”
An will report to John Janick, Chairman and CEO of Interscope Capitol.
She will continue to lead IGA Pop/Rock while expanding her role across the company.
The expanded role will see An helping artists “shape the worlds around their music,” covering visual identity, storytelling, brand development, and long-term career strategy, the company said.
Carter and Alvarez-Smikle will also report to Janick and will work closely with An.
The pair are tasked with aligning A&R, marketing innovation, digital strategy, and audience development for IGA Urban‘s artists.
Alvarez-Smikle‘s responsibilities will extend beyond IGA Urban.
His new role includes building and scaling “the digital systems and infrastructure that drive artist success” across the IGA roster, spanning both Urban and Pop/Rock, the label said.
All three appointments are effective immediately.
“IGA has always been defined by original voices and by the teams who back those voices with taste, conviction and care,” said Janick.
“Michelle has one of the clearest creative instincts in the business. She helps artists make the world around their music feel bold, fully realized and unmistakably their own.
“Michelle has one of the clearest creative instincts in the business. She helps artists make the world around their music feel bold, fully realized and unmistakably their own.”
John Janick, Interscope Capitol
“Laura and Ramon bring complementary strengths to IGA Urban. Laura has earned deep trust through her artist relationships, creative judgment and commitment to developing talent.
“Ramon brings cultural instinct, deep digital expertise and a sharp understanding of how artists build audiences and communities.
“Together, they will connect A&R, marketing and digital strategy around each artist’s vision, helping IGA Urban artists move with more clarity, momentum, and impact.”
Wyskoarko and Riback are among several executives leaving UMG.
Others departing include Tunji Balogun, Chairman and CEO of Def Jam Recordings, who will exit the company by the end of the year.
The departures form part of a cost-cutting program that UMG confirmed in February 2024, targeting EUR €250 million (approx. USD $270 million at the time) in annual savings. The company realized €75 million of those savings in 2024.
UMG CFO Matt Ellis said on the company’s full-year 2025 earnings call in March that €90 million had been achieved in 2025. He added that a further €40–€50 million was expected in 2026, with the remaining €35–€45 million due in 2027.
“Our consistent success has been built on our ability to anticipate industry changes, act early to better serve all our artists and songwriters, and capture opportunities in music’s fastest-growing areas,” a UMG spokesperson said in a statement last week. “Our industry-leading investment in artist development has always guided that work and will continue to do so.
“We’re bringing in new skills and technology and connecting expertise across our teams to deliver greater global impact and greater efficiency. Where we have made the difficult decision to remove certain roles, we are deeply grateful for the contributions of the people leaving us.”
An, Carter, and Alvarez-Smikle each held roles in IGA’s previous leadership structure, unveiled in March 2024.
That announcement followed the consolidation of IGA and Capitol Music Group under Interscope Capitol Labels Group, now known as Interscope Capitol.
At the time, An was named President of IGA and Head of Creative Strategy, co-leading IGA’s Pop/Rock arm with Riback, President of IGA and Head of Pop/Rock A&R.
IGA’s Urban arm was headed by Wyskoarko, President of IGA and Head of Urban A&R, and Carter, EVP and Head of Urban Marketing.
Alvarez-Smikle was named EVP and Head of Urban Digital in the same announcement.
An joined IGA in 2006 as part of its brand partnerships department and became head of its visual creative department in 2012.
She was named President of Creative Strategy in July 2023, in a round of promotions that also saw Wyskoarko and Riback each named President, A&R.
Carter joined Interscope in 2008 and was promoted to SVP, Head of Urban Marketing in July 2020.
She has worked with J. Cole and his Dreamville label, as well as Mustard‘s 10 Summers label, home to Ella Mai.
Alvarez-Smikle joined IGA in 2016, having previously worked as Music Partnerships Manager at Shazam.
He was promoted to SVP, Head of Urban Digital Marketing at Interscope in December 2020.
Before that promotion, he led digital marketing campaigns at IGA for artists including J. Cole, Playboi Carti, 6LACK, and Juice WRLD.Music Business Worldwide
