Ashley Calhoun has been promoted to President/Head of Creative at Los Angeles-based PULSE Music Group [64 articles]” href=”https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/companies/pulse-music-group/”>PULSE Music Group.
The news was announced today by Scott Cutler and Josh Abraham, co-CEOs of PULSE Music Group.
In her new role, Calhoun will be responsible for leading PULSE’s world-class A&R team, signing and developing writers/producers, and overseeing the company’s creative strategy for new and established hitmakers spanning one of the hottest music publishing rosters in the industry.
Based at the company’s Los Angeles headquarters, Calhoun reports jointly to Cutler and Abraham.
Calhoun was previously Senior Vice President/Head of Creative, PULSE Music Group.
During her first week at PULSE Music Group, Calhoun made quick impact by signing Starrah (2018 The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) [290 articles]” href=”https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/companies/the-american-society-of-composers-authors-and-publishers-ascap/”>ASCAP Pop Songwriter of the Year).
PULSE announced a joint publishing venture with Starrah in March of this year, dubbed 3:02 Music Group (named after the area code in Delaware where Starrah was born).
Starrah’s catalog of hits includes the No.1 charting songs Camila Cabello’s Havana (featuring Young Thug); Maroon 5’s Girls Like You featuring Cardi B ( RIAA [271 articles]” href=”https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/companies/riaa/”>RIAA certified 10X Platinum); and Megan Thee Stallion’s Savage Remix featuring Beyoncé which won Starrah the GRAMMYâ for Best Rap Song in 2021.
Starrah most recently co-produced the No.1 Billboard [874 articles]” href=”https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/companies/billboard/”>Billboard Rap Album Kodak Black Back for Everything (co-produced with June Nawakii) which spawned the single Usain Boo and also wrote/produced the No.1 Urban radio hit Normani’s “Wild Side” featuring Cardi B alongside fellow 3:02 collaborators.
PULSE Music Group currently has the No.1, No.2 and No.3 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with Harry Styles – As It Was (via Tyler Johnson), Jack Harlow – First Class (via Angel Lopez) and Future Wait For U Ft. Drake & Tems (via FNZ and SPRINGBRK), respectively.
The company has also celebrated 18 No.1 singles across the charts over the past 12 months and currently has three songs in the Top 5 at Top 40 radio; two Songs in the Top 10 at Hot AC radio; three songs in the Top 10 at Urban radio; the No.1 Hot 100 Producer; and 16 combined cuts on the top four ranking albums on the Billboard 200.
“We are beyond happy to congratulate Ashley on this richly deserved new post and look forward to many more wins together.”
Scott Cutler and Josh Abraham, PULSE
Scott Cutler and Josh Abraham, said: “Ashley has a consistent history of being at the forefront of signing talent early and then creating career-defining moments for them.
“She’s a one-of-a-kind A&R executive—she’s got such authentic connections to our writers, amazing taste, a razor-sharp focus, and our writers and team love her. Her creative vision is perfectly aligned with our company’s ethos of being a world class incubator for culturally relevant songs and a creative sanctuary for our roster.
“PULSE Music Group is uniquely positioned as an indie to help great talent reach the next level in their careers and Ashley has been invaluable in taking that creative strategy in exciting directions.
“We are beyond happy to congratulate Ashley on this richly deserved new post and look forward to many more wins together.”
“I want to thank Scott and Josh for giving me the opportunity to lead the PULSE A&R team in the years ahead. It’s an incredible honor to work with the best of the best.”
Ashley Calhoun
Ashley Calhoun said: “PULSE is synonymous with creative culture. When a writer walks on to our campus, they get right away that PULSE Music Group has built this creative sanctuary for our roster and a real community of great songwriters/producers to surround themselves with. Our company was founded by songwriters/producers so, from the top down, there’s a lot of relatability.
“We know exactly how to support our writers and how to help them to build their business. PULSE has a diverse, empowered A&R team that signs people who are a ‘one of one’ and stand out for doing something different and then we just go really hard for them—that’s why we have a lot of clients that stay with PULSE.
“We’ve been really successful at landing big opportunities for our clients. We have the best A&R team I think of any indie out there. I want to thank Scott and Josh for giving me the opportunity to lead the PULSE A&R team in the years ahead. It’s an incredible honor to work with the best of the best.”
Music Business Worldwide