SUMMARY.

Founder, Artist Manager, Advocate, Songwriter, Producer, Creator, Innovator.

Experienced Music executive with extensive entertainment relationships, track record for artist development and breaking new music. Open-minded and biased towards innovation and change with an exceptional understanding of the elastic music industry. Visionary leader with a 360° approach to team management to foster learning, growth, and questioning the status-quo. Fierce advocate and disruptor curious and vigilant about new trends in music, tech, fashion, and culture. Expert negotiator, businessperson, and strategist.

LEADERSHIP, CONSULTING, ADVOCACY.

Recording Academy - Voting Member (2000 - Present) 

Recording Academy / Grammy U - Mentor (Present) 

Femme It Forward / Next Gem Femme - Mentor (Present)

Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity - Entertainment for Lions Music President (Present)

Black Independent Music Accelerator - Advisory Council Member (2020 - Present)
Black Independent Music Accelerator (BIMA) is a fellowship initiative created by A2IM with the intention of fighting for social and economic justice within the music industry by amplifying independent, black-owned music businesses. Appointed to the Advisory Council in 2020, the most diverse board in A2IM’s history. Works with other members of the Advisory Board to push investing in Black music industry professionals interested in taking their career to the next level.

Bquate - Partner/Executive Advisory Board Member (2021 - present)
Bquate is a premium music platform that helps established artists, songwriters, managers, labels, and publishers take control of their music, content, data, and most importantly, their money. Appointed to the Executive Advisory Board in 2021 working as a partner and advisor. 

Triller - Member of the Board of Advisors (2020 - present)
Triller is a video-sharing social networking service. Founded in 2015, the service allows users to create and share short-form videos including videos set to, or automatically synchronized to music. Appointed to the Board of Advisors in 2020, meets quarterly with a group of top female music executives to discuss challenges that Triller faces, and collectively work towards solutions with the company to better ensure seamless integration into the industry and provide support for the artists and creators on the platform.

A2IM - Board Member (2020 - 2021)
A2IM, or the American Association of Independent Music, is a trade association that represents independent record labels in the United States. A2IM is the collective voice of Independent music across the US. Appointed to the Board of Directors in 2020, served as a voting member.

EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE.

Amazon Music - Head of U.S. Independent Label Relations (2021 - Present)

Amazon Music is a music streaming platform and online music store operated by Amazon. At Amazon, Madeline uses significant expertise and high judgment to distill diverse inputs from large customer segments and stakeholders to set a vision and design the right long-term solutions. Able to lead to a large, challenging initiative. Generally an organization (deep expertise may focus narrower), with some roles working across multiple organizations and/or countries to meet a narrower goal. Works strategically, determining where resources are best applied. Actively works to remove bottlenecks. Creates scalable mechanisms and best practices, educates others, and effectively influences and force multiplies. Handles significantly complex problems/efforts, decisions, and escalations. Mitigates complexity risks (deconstructs into appropriate simplicity). Makes trade-offs: opportunity vs. resources vs. sustainability. Current projects include spearheading Phoenix’s Amazon Music livestream on Twitch at the Louvre, and global release campaigns for Steve Aoki and Keke Palmer.

Heads Music, LLC - Founder (2012 - Present)
Heads Music is a boutique music management company, and distribution service with a true independent spirit that is completely staffed and run by women. The company is an embodiment of Madeline’s goal to achieve equality for women in the music industry. Heads Music provides services within management, brand strategy, record label services, publishing, and music distribution. Founded Heads Music, LLC in 2011. Manages Grammy award-winning multi-talented recording artist, Wyclef Jean. Grew the Artist Roster to seven artists accumulating millions of streams across all streaming platforms. Works with each artist from discovery to music release exhibiting true artist development. Creates and executes release and promotional plans for each artists’ projects. Spearheads brand partnerships with companies including Bang & Olufsen, Philip Morris International, Google Play, and YouTube. Ideated and executed a 50-city North American tour to promote Wyclef Jean’s Carnival III: The Fall and Rise of a Refugee. Oversees day to day operations of the company, mentor and manage each employee to ensure no detail is overlooked.

Sony Music Entertainment - Senior Vice President (2010 - 2012)
Sony Music Entertainment is a global music company, the second largest of the “big three” record companies. As Senior Vice President of A&R, Artist and Label Relations, developed and nurtured new talent in coordination with the A&R teams across Sony’s three major labels: Columbia, Epic, and RCA. Notably, worked closely with J. Cole’s team for the release of his 2011 album Cole World: The Sideline Story, which went on to platinum certification. Projects while at Sony Music also included A$AP Rocky, Elle Varner, Miguel, One Direction, Future, and Meghan Trainor.

Donna Karan Enterprises / Urban Zen Foundation - Senior Vice President of Foundation Operations (2010 - 2011)
Urban Zen Foundation is an organization founded by Donna Karan that creates, connects, and collaborates to raise awareness and inspire change by integrating mind, body, and spirit in healthcare and education while preserving our cultures. As Senior Vice President at Urban Zen Foundation, developed and implemented brand growth plans. Managed donor relations and outreach. Planned, managed, and executed fund raising events alongside Donna Karan.

Music On Purpose - Executive Director (2007 - Present) 

Good-Well Giving Group was a non-profit organization formed to provide college scholarships and grants to young Women in need of financial assistance. Developed and implemented brand growth plans. Managed donor relations and outreach. Planned, managed, and executed fund raising events. Distributed scholarships and grants to over 100 students.

Translation LLC - Executive Coordinator + Client Relations Specialist (2003 - 2007)

Translation is an independent advertising company, built to help ambitious brands harness the power of culture to solve their biggest challenges. As a unique mix of experts in culture, technology, and storytelling, they are united by a passion to grow brands in ways that advertising alone can never do. Acted as a liaison between team members and CEO, Steve Stoute. Shared the employees' concerns and addressed their inquiries. Prepared company reports, monitored business and financial transactions, scheduled appointments, and suggested project management procedures. Managed client relationships including planning events for clients such as Verizon, Wrigleys, Estee Lauder, Reebok.

Lil Man Records / Interscope Records - General Manager (1996 - 2003) 

Lil Man Records, home of Blackstreet, was founded by Teddy Riley and distributed by Interscope records and Jimmy Iovine. Supervised all aspects of an album's creation such as marketing, budgeting, distribution, and promotional shoots. Ensured that the label's releases were on time, within budget, and on brand. Managed artist development and career track for Blackstreet, Teddy Riley and Wreckx-n-Effect. Conceptualized music video for “No Diggity”.

PANELS.

• SXSW Panel: Women in Music (March 2024)

• SXSW Panel: The Cost of Not Prioritizing Wellness (March 2024)

• Keynote speaker at American Association of Independent Music's Indie Week 2023 (June 2023)

• DPW Women's History Month Speaker 2023 (March 2023)

• Black CEOS in Music 2022 panel (April 2022)

• Music Managers Forum -US x Sound Royalties: 50 Income Streams Webinar (May 2021)

• Topic: Making the Global Music Scene Better by Empowering Young Artists | Madeline Nelson (September 2021)

• Record SXSW Panel - DiMA/A2IM/Pandora/Heads Music (February 2021)

• BBH NY's Barn Burner Series: “The Power of Support: Closing the Black Generational Wealth Gap” (February 2021)

• Hosted MTV Push Live! Wyclef Goes Back to School Showcase (October 2019)

• Moderated Advertising Week Panel (September 2019)

• Hosted Heads Music SXSW Showcase (March 2019)

• Elevate TechFest 2018: Creator Stage Panel (September 2018)

• Web Summit 2017: Managing Artists Panel (November 2017)

DISCOGRAPHY.

WRITING AND ARRANGEMENT

 Take Me There - Blackstreet & Mya 

Kiss the Sky - The Knocks feat. Wyclef Jean 

What Happened to Love - Wyclef Jean

Dear Future Self - Fallout Boy feat Wyclef Jean 

Hendrix - Wyclef Jean

PRODUCTION

Another Level - (album) - Blackstreet 

J’Ouvert (album) - Wyclef Jean 

Carnival III: The Fall and Rise of a Refugee (album) - Wyclef Jean

All My Love - Queen Pen feat. Eric Williams of Blackstreet

My Melody - Queen Pen 

Girlfriend/Boyfriend - Blackstreet

Masterplan - Mike E