Seeker Music Announces New Hires & Promotions; Steven Melrose Upped to Chief Creative Officer

Seeker Music has announced several executive appointments as the Evan Bogart-led company celebrates its fifth anniversary.

Topping the announcement is the promotion of Steven Melrose, previously global head of creative, to chief creative officer. Melrose, who has been with Seeker since 2021, has helped lead catalog acquisitions and creative campaigns for artist catalogs including Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Christopher Cross, Run the Jewels and Jay Sean. He’s also helped spearhead efforts to connect with international artists and catalogs, from Mark Morrison to Plested to The Wombats.

Joining the Seeker leadership team is Todd von Mende, who has been hired as CFO. Von Mende previously held roles at DreamWorks Animation and Saban Music Group, among others.

Other hires and promotions included in the announcement are John Bowditch, with Seeker since 2021, who was upped to vp of marketing & innovation; Andrew Grant, who joined as vp or A&R from Atlantic Records, where he helped develop artists like Bhad Bhabie; Ahyiesha Sarnor, joining as attorney, legal & business affairs from Cutting Edge Media; Rose Campbell, previously with SoundCloud and The Spellbound Group, joining as director of marketing; Donald McGill, previously with Warner Chappell and Kobalt, hired as director of investments; Brett Wilson, previously with BMI and Universal Music Publishing Group, joining as royalties manager; and Martin Chisel, previously with BMG, who joins the company as rights & royalties coordinator.

The Los Angeles-based Seeker, which recently held a fifth anniversary bash at its Frogtown headquarters, says it’s built a portfolio of more than 17,000 copyrights worth $300 million since launching in 2020. The company’s mission is to amplify catalog music in its portfolio by marketing it similarly to new releases. Perhaps the most notable success on this front was getting an interpolation of J-Kwon’s “Tipsy” into Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for a whopping 19 weeks last year. Seeker also launched “Samplémoose,” a strategy through which it partners with producers and songwriters to reimagine old hits.

“From day one, Seeker has been reimagining what a modern music and rights company can be,” said Bogart in a statement. “As creators first, we’ve built a business that treats songs not only as legacies to preserve, but as fuel for what’s next. Five years in, the results speak for themselves: record-breaking hits, catalogs revitalized with new energy, new fans and fandom, and a redefinition of what creative catalog management can mean. Just as importantly, we’ve shown that a creator-led company can deliver real value for our partners and investors. None of it happens without this team. Their passion, talent, and vision drive everything we do. As we celebrate this milestone, I’m more energized than ever for what’s ahead: the music we’ll champion and the culture we’ll continue to serve.”