He was Senior Corporate Counsel at Audible, rising from Corporate Counsel in a 5 1/2-year stint at Amazon. Before that, he was a media and entertainment attorney in New York. Now, this Harvard Law School graduate has joined iHeartMedia as EVP of Business Affairs and as the company’s Chief Entertainment Counsel.
Taking the role is Jon Kurland. He will lead iHeartMedia’s Business Affairs team and focus on strategic deals and relationships with the company’s podcast, music, entertainment and new media partners.
Kurland will also be responsible for business and legal affairs across the company’s divisions including multiplatform assets, digital audio and tentpole events. Plus, he’ll oversee the company’s entertainment legal functions across podcasts, live events, and new media initiatives as well as its music licensing strategy, including maintaining and renewing all music industry licenses for iHeartRadio’s digital services and performance licenses through PRO agencies.
Kurland is based in New York and reports to iHeartMedia EVP/General Counsel Jordan Fasbender. “Jon’s vast experience and dealmaking skills in the audio industry will be incredibly valuable as we continue to innovate and expand our partnerships and opportunities that leverage and enhance iHeartMedia’s position as the leading audio company in the U.S.,” Fasbender said.
Before joining Amazon, Kurland worked at Sloss Eckhouse and Carroll Guido & Groffman, where he represented music performing artists including Dave Matthews, Pearl Jam, Tiesto, Nick Jonas and Demi Lovato. He began his career as an associate at Schulte Roth & Zabel, where he represented hedge funds and private equity firms including in connection with media transactions.
“As the top audio company in America, iHeartMedia is uniquely positioned at the convergence of music, podcasting, live events, television and all manner of innovative digital media,” Kurland said. “I’m thrilled to leverage my legal and dealmaking expertise across a wide range of formats and platforms to unlock value for the company, while also empowering artists and creators and serving iHeartMedia’s millions of listeners.”
