Veteran music industry executive Jessica Rivera has joined multimedia company HOORAE — owned by actress, producer and entrepreneur Issa Rae — as president of its Raedio division. In her new post at Raedio, which is approaching its fifth anniversary, Rivera will supervise the “audio everywhere” division’s various operations including its record label, publishing, music supervision, podcasts and events.
Succeeding former president Benoni Tagoe, Rivera will be working closely with HOORAE head of operations Kaylin Cotton.
“Jessica’s unparalleled expertise and visionary leadership make her the ideal candidate to lead Raedio,” states Cotton in the announcement release. “Her track record of success in the music industry, combined with her passion for innovation, will undoubtedly propel Raedio to new heights.”
Adds HOORAE CEO Rae, “We are thrilled to welcome Jessica to Raedio. Her multifaceted industry experience, creative business vision and strategic mindset align perfectly with the mission Benoni and I set to empower artists and produce culture-shifting music and projects. I have no doubt that under Jessica’s leadership, Raedio will continue to thrive and make a significant impact in the industry.”
Rivera most recently served as global senior vp/GM at SoundCloud, which she joined in 2022. During her tenure there, she supervised the music streaming platform’s artists partnerships and distribution business. Prior to that, Rivera worked as head of artist relations for YouTube’s West Coast territory. Her key achievements there included executing a deal for exclusive live streaming rights to the 13th annual Roots Picnic in partnership with former First Lady Michelle Obama’s voter-registration nonprofit When We All Vote. The online festival later won a 2021 Webby Award for best festival or concert (virtual & remote features). Rivera’s extensive resumé also includes her role as executive vp/head of East Coast operations and creative at Universal Music Publishing Group.
A Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players honoree in 2020, Rivera says of her new presidency, “I am honored to join Raedio and work alongside the talented team at HOORAE. Raedio has already made a significant impact in the audio content space, and I am excited to build upon that foundation and drive continued growth and innovation. Together, our team will create compelling award-winning content that resonates with audiences worldwide.”