PEOPLE
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President Payne
Jeremy Payne, The Music People national account manager and On-Stage brand director, was named president of NAMM Young Professionals (NAMM YP). Payne previously served as vice president and has been active in the organization for the past five years. NAMM YP hosts networking and educational events for industry professionals under 40 and manages a mentorship program connecting members with industry veterans. “NAMM YP has been monumental in my professional development,” Payne said. “I look forward to leading the group and helping members reach their goals.” “Jeremy’s accomplishment with NAMM YP demonstrates his leadership within our own organization and his ability to connect with the industry,” said The Music People co-president John Hennessey. “His passion for this industry, music and the development of young talent is clear, so to honor him with this leadership role is special.” “Jeremy, along with the strong leadership team on the NAMM YP board, have done a terrific job in expanding their activities to recruit and retain young, top talent,” said Joe Lamond, president and CEO of NAMM. “Ensuring that these future leaders feel connected and supported through programs like the expanding NAMM mentoring program will lead to a vibrant future for our global industry. Jeremy has earned the respect of all, and I personally look forward to working closely with him to achieve NAMM YP’s vision.”
A Shure Thing
Shure hired industry veteran Prakash Moorut as senior director of Spectrum and Regulatory Affairs. Moorut is responsible for leading Shure’s efforts to advocate for audio professionals as it pertains to industry regulations. He serves as Shure’s point person with regulators, lawmakers and industry associations, and he will partner with engineering and product management to create a regulatory roadmap that adheres to current and future policies. Before coming to Shure, Moorut spent more than 10 years with Nokia, most recently serving as head of Spectrum Standardization, where he led the company’s efforts on global spectrum standardization and policy. He brings additional global regulatory experience from his previous role at Motorola for 14 years. “Bringing a seasoned, global expert like Prakash onboard provides
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Phil it Up
PRS Guitars announced the appointment of Phil Gates as its customer service manager. In his new role, Gates reports directly to Jim Cullen, director of sales. Gates will oversee PRS Guitars’ team of customer service personnel, work toward enhancing PRS’s overall service and repair, and provide PRS players with more informative resources to enhance their experiences. As a professional with an extensive background, Gates will call on his global experiences in MI and use communication, information, and technology to enhance dealer and end-user experiences with PRS Guitars. “Phil is a welcome addition to PRS Guitars’ team. His understanding of the customer needs, global environment and service trends will be invaluable to us as we enhance our programs and customer communication efforts,” said Cullen. “Throughout his career, Phil has demonstrated the ability to lead high-impact programs and deliver consistent results. His skillset and musical background will be an asset as we further our communication capabilities.” Gates has worked in MI for many years. He started at Guitar Center, working as sales staff, department manager, customer service and then as a sales manager. Gates has also worked in channel and product marketing and product support at Line 6 and Roland as well as in video product marketing with Behringer. As a guitarist, musician and audio engineer, Gates has toured at clubs and large venues in over 16 countries. He has shared the stage and/or worked with artists such as Dizzie Gilespie, Buddy Guy, John Mayall, Tower of Power, Coco Montoya, Tommy Castro, Eric Gales and several others. Gates also founded the Los Angeles Blues Society and is a voting member for the Grammys. Born in Chicago and raised in Long Island, N.Y. and California, Gates served in the United States Air Force before joining MI, working in-shop repair for F-15 Fighter Aircraft Avionics. He has also worked in Flight Test Engineering groups as an “A” level Lead Technician for LTV Aerospace and Northrop/Grumman.
our team and our partners with an experienced voice who can help us navigate new spectrum policy proposals and legislation,” said Ahren Hartman, vice president of Quality at Shure. As wireless microphones continue to play an essential role in enabling productions across a wide swath of American life, culture and the economy, new regulations will impact these areas without audio industry involvement. Beyond the traditional role of wireless microphones in broadcasting and film production, wireless microphones enable productions in a wide range of sectors including news reporting, theater, music, sports, worship, civic events, transportation infrastructure and education. Moorut’s new role will help Shure continue to advocate for the people who rely on wireless microphones and related technologies. Moorut received his master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Ecole Superieure D’Electricite (SUPELEC), one of France’s leading engineering schools. SEPTEMBER 2021
