Moonbug Entertainment has hired former Spotify and Disney exec Courtney Holt as its first-ever global head of music and strategic audio initiatives.
Based out of Moonbug’s LA office, Holt’s remit is to expand its music and audio team, set up new content collaborations and diversify the company’s audio entertainment products. Moonbug created the position in order to foster partnerships with music creators looking to work with its IPs, open up new revenue streams and establish the company as a key player in the music business, says co-founder and CEO Rene Rechtman.
Music is a core part of all of Moonbug’s popular content brands, especially its flagship IP CoComelon. Two CG-animated music videos for “Tiny Trees Song” and “Hair Wash Day” that were recently posted on the CoComelon – Nursery Rhymes (172 million subscribers) YouTube channel have already racked up 4.5 million and 4.6 million views, respectively. And a Blippi musical stage show (Blippi: The Wonderful World Tour) created and produced with New York’s Round Room is touring the US, Canada and Mexico this year.
Holt has a strong background in the music biz, having served in executive roles for MTV Networks (EVP of digital strategy music and media) and Spotify (head of studios and video). He was also previously the CEO of YouTube talent incubator Maker Studios, which Disney acquired in 2014. Holt was appointed EVP of advanced media strategy for the Mouse House when the dust settled.