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<\/p>\nIndustry Powerhouses to Support Expansion of <\/i><\/b>Nonprofit\u2019s Music Industry Education Programs <\/i><\/b>for Underserved Youth<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
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(LOS ANGELES \u2013 Nov. 19, 2019) <\/b>\u2014 The House of Blues Music Forward Foundation today announced Emily Simonitsch, senior vice president of talent\u00a0for Live Nation U.S. Concerts, and Patti-Anne Tarlton, chairman, Ticketmaster Canada and executive vice president of venues and promoters for North America, have been elected to the nonprofit\u2019s board of directors.<\/p>\n
Simonitsch and Tarlton join current Music Forward Foundation board members Ron Bension, president, Live Nation Clubs and Theaters;\u00a0Michael Grozier, executive vice president, Live Nation Clubs and Theaters; Eric Lassen, deputy general counsel, Live Nation; and Kathy Willard, chief financial officer, Live Nation.<\/p>\n
Over the course of her 30-plus-year career, Emily Simonitsch has been instrumental in the contemporary growth of live music events showcasing Latin artists\u2014helping reshape popular culture. As senior vice president of talent at Live Nation U.S. Concerts, she is responsible for booking artists, routing tours and overseeing marketing on a national and regional scale. She has helped foster the touring careers of musicians including Ricky Martin, Shakira, Enrique Iglesias, Man\u00e1, Juan Luis Guerra, Romeo Santos, Alejandro Fernandez, Luis Miguel, Marco Antonio Solis, Ana Gabriel, Pepe Aguilar, Thalia and many more.<\/p>\n
Simonitsch was honored on Billboard\u2019s \u201cLatin Power Players\u201d list for three consecutive years, and the publication also named her one of the \u201cPower 25 Hispanic Women in Entertainment.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI am so pleased to join Music Forward\u2019s board of directors,\u201d said Simonitsch. \u201cThe nonprofit\u2019s focus on expanding inclusivity within all facets of music is an important goal, and I look forward to helping champion a more diverse industry.\u201d<\/p>\n
Patti-Anne Tarlton currently oversees Ticketmaster\u2019s Canadian business as chairman and also serves as executive vice president of venues and promoters for North America. Ticketmaster, part of the Live Nation Entertainment family, is the global market leader in live event ticketing and entertainment technology.\u00a0As chairman, Tarlton oversees Ticketmaster’s innovative and revolutionary new products and services that deliver exceptional value to clients and ticket buyers alike in Canada and the U.S.<\/p>\n
Tarlton has spent her career as a concert promoter, venue operator, and sports and entertainment executive in Canada.\u00a0She\u00a0promoted concerts for Perryscope Concerts, Donald K. Donald and House of Blues Concerts and headed up the live entertainment division for Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment prior to joining Ticketmaster.<\/p>\n
In 2018 Tarlton became the first female executive to be inducted into the Canadian Music and Broadcasting Hall of Fame for her contributions to Canada\u2019s live music business.\u00a0She has been recognized as one of Billboard\u2019s \u201cWomen in Music 2017: The Most Powerful Executives in the Industry\u201d and was awarded the \u201cWoman of Influence\u201d by Venues Today.\u00a0Tarlton has contributed to industry associations and publications in North America and abroad and continues to be an active advocate for the live entertainment industry, serving on a wide variety of boards and advisories.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to motivate young people generally and women of all ages to reach for influential positions across the music industry,\u201d said Tarlton. \u201cMusic Forward is dedicated\u00a0to serving youth, providing leadership and vocational skills that become a bridge to success for the next generation of industry leaders\u2014which must include diversity of backgrounds, experiences and be representative of the communities we work in.\u00a0I couldn\u2019t be more excited to join the board for this exceptional organization.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are thrilled to add two innovative, inspirational and influential female music industry executives to the board,\u201d said Nurit Siegel Smith, executive director, House of Blues Music Forward Foundation. \u201cWe look forward to their support in securing partnerships and expanding Music Forward\u2019s critical work.\u201d<\/p>\n
As part of the House of Blues and Live Nation Entertainment family, the Music Forward Foundation\u00a0is focused on providing young people from diverse communities interested in music industry careers with artist development, educational and mentoring programs.\u00a0It has impacted over 1 million young lives and invested $25 million in transformational music programs during the last 25 years.<\/p>\n
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About Music Forward Foundation<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Music Forward transforms lives, inspires careers and champions a more inclusive music industry. Focusing on young people ages 12-22 from under-represented communities in the music industry, Music Forward sets the stage for success by providing workshops and showcases to inspire the next generation of music industry leaders and innovators. Music Forward invites everyone to play a part in redefining what\u2019s possible for the next generation by growing our family of supporters. <\/b>Join the movement by following social channels @MusicForward<\/span><\/a>, and learn more at musicforwardfoundation.org<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"