Sean Watson included in Billboard Power Player List

Included in this year’s Billboard’s 2021 International Power Players list is Sony Music Entertainment South Africa’s Managing Director, Sean Watson.

Watson, a 30-year veteran of the African music industry, guides a roster that includes AKA, Shekinah, Mlindo, Sha Sha, Black Motion, KDDO and Dice Ailes. He is also a member of the board of the South African Music Performance Rights Association and its nonprofit division supporting the growth of the South African music industry.

Here’s the full list of Billboard International Power Players

Dominique Casimir – Executive VP global repertoire and marketing, Continental Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America, BMG
Justus Haerder – Executive VP group strategy and M&A, BMG
Sebastian Hentzschel – Chief information officer, BMG
Adam Granite – Executive VP market development, Universal Music Group
Dickon Stainer – President / CEO, global classics and jazz and Verve Label Group, Universal Music Group
Wouter Jansen – VP streaming and digital marketing strategy, Sony Music Entertainment
Monica Cornia – Senior VP international marketing, RCA Records and Arista Records, Sony Music Entertainment
8. Melissa Thomas – Senior VP international marketing, Columbia Records and Epic Records, Sony Music Entertainment
Donny Novakovic – VP international marketing, Disney Music Group
Simon Robson – President, international, Warner Recorded Music, Warner Music Group
Eric Wong – President/chief marketing officer, Warner Recorded Music, Warner Music Group
Jess Keeley-Carter – Senior VP global marketing, Warner Recorded Music, Warner Music Group
Fred Gillham – Managing director, Concord Recorded Music UK
Vivien Goodwin – Senior VP, Concord Theatricals (UK and Europe)
Tony Harlow – CEO, Warner Music UK
Bernd Dopp – Chairman/CEO, Warner Music Central Europe
Mark Fry – President, Warner Music Nordics
Alfonso Perez Soto – President of emerging markets, Warner Music
Victor Aroldoss – Senior VP international marketing, Warner Music UK.
Jason Iley – Chairman/CEO, Sony Music U.K. and Ireland
Nicola Tuer – COO, Sony Music UK and Ireland
Daniel Lieberberg – President, Sony Music Entertainment Continental Europe and Africa
Patrick Mushatsi-Kareba – CEO, Sony Music Entertainment Germany, Switzerland, Austria
Sean Watson – Managing director, Sony Music Entertainment South Africa
David Joseph – Chairman/CEO, Universal Music UK and Ireland
Frank Briegmann – Chairman/president, Universal Music Central Europe and Deutsche Grammophon
Olivier Nusse – CEO, Universal Music France
Sipho Dlamini – CEO, Universal Music South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa
Franck Kacou – Managing director, Universal Music Africa
Chindedu Okeke – Managing director, Universal Music Nigeria
Jesús López – Chairman/CEO, Universal Music Latin America and Iberian Peninsula
Luis Estrada – President, Universal Music Southern Cone
Victor Gonzalez – President, Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Paulo Lima – President, Universal Music Brazil
Afo Verde – Chairman/CEO, Latin-Iberia region, Sony Music Entertainment
Maria Fernandez – Executive VP/COO, Sony Music Entertainment Latin-Iberia
José María Barbat – President, Sony Music Iberia
Iñigo Zabala – President, Warner Music Latin America & Iberia
Sergio Affonso – President, Warner Music Brazil
Tomas Rodriguez – President, Warner Music Mexico
George Ash – President, Universal Music Asia Pacific
Naoshi Fujikura – President/CEO, Universal Music Japan
Devraj Sanyal – Managing director/CEO, Universal Music Group and EMI Music, India and South Asia; managing director, Universal Music Publishing Group, India and South Asia
Calvin Wong – Senior VP Asia/CEO, Universal Music Southeast Asia
Andrew Hajgato – Label manager, Australia, Concord Recorded Music
Denis Handlin – Chairman/CEO, Australia & New Zealand, Sony Music Entertainment
Andrew Chan – Managing director, China, Sony Music Entertainment
Joseph Chang – Managing director, Korea, Sony Music Entertainment
Shridhar Subramaniam – President, strategy and market development, Asia and Middle East, Sony Music Entertainment
Dan Rosen – President, Warner Music Australasia
Jonathan Serbin – CEO, Warner Music Greater China
Pawan Agarwal – Head of music partnerships, India and South Asia, and business development, Asia Pacific, YouTube
Dan Chalmers – Director, YouTube Music, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, YouTube
Sandra Jimenez – Director, YouTube Music partnerships, Latin America, YouTube
Sun Lee – Head of music partnerships, Korea and Greater China, and artist relations, Asia Pacific, YouTube
Ruuben van den Heuvel – Director, YouTube Music partnerships, Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia, and label relations, Asia Pacific, YouTube
Hans-Holger Albrecht – CEO, Deezer
Raoul Chatterjee – VP/head of content partnerships, SoundCloud
Josh Nicoll – VP independent label services, SoundCloud
Paul Firth – Director, Amazon Music International
Rene Fasco – Director, Amazon Music Japan
Jillian Gerngross – Director, Amazon Music Europe
Sahas Malhotra – Director, Amazon Music India
Federico Pedersen – Head of music, Latin America, Amazon Music
Mathieu Jaton – CEO, Montreux Jazz Festival
Khee Lee – Chief monetization officer, Kiswe
Rishi Malhotra – Co-founder/CEO, JioSaavn
Robb McDaniels – CEO, Beatport
Mia Nygren – Managing director, Latin America, Spotify
Federica Tremolada – Managing director, Southern and Eastern Europe, Spotify
Ola Sars – CEO, Soundtrack Your Brand
Jen Walsh – Senior director of Apple content and services, international, Apple
Jay Winship – CEO, Asia, GoDigital Media Group
Bang Si-Hyuk – Chairman/CEO, HYBE
Lenzo Yoon – Global CEO, HYBE
Rob Cowling – GM, Gallo Music Group
André de Raaff – CEO, CTM Entertainment
Colin Gayle – Founder/CEO, Africa Creative Agency
Jeremy Lascelles – Co-founder/CEO, Blue Raincoat Music
Robin Millar – Co-founder/chairman, Blue Raincoat Music
Suhel Nafar – VP strategy and marketing development, West Asia, North Africa and the diaspora, EMPIRE
Bose Ogulu – Co-founder, Spaceship Collective
Cussion Kar Shun Pang – Executive chairman, board of directors, Tencent Music Entertainment Group
Phil Sales – Partner, Three Six Zero
Pete Tong – President, Three Six Zero Recordings; Partner, WME
Peter Coquillard – Head of international, Milk & Honey Music + Sports + Ventures
Eshy Gazit – Partner, Maverick Management; CEO, Gramophone Media
Walter Kolm – President/CEO, Walter Kolm Entertainment
Ben Mawson & Ed Millett – Co-founders/co-CEOs, TaP Music
Polo Molina – Artist manager, Grassroots Music
James Sandom – UK managing director, Red Light Management
Wassim “Sal” Slaiby – Co-manager, The Weeknd; founder/CEO, SALXCO and XO Records; board adviser, Global Citizen; head of international partnerships, Anghami; board member, HXOUSE
Amir “Cash” Esmailian Co-manager, The Weeknd; co-founder, XO Records; founder, YCFU
La Mar C. Taylor – Creative director, The Weeknd; co-founder, XO records and HXOUSE
Kaz Aida – Head, ADA Japan’
Alassane Konaté – Head, ADA France
Juan Paz – Head, ADA Latin
Sander Stijnen – Head, ADA Benelux
Chee Meng Tan – Head, ADA Asia
Rebecca Allen – President, EMI Records
Stacey Bedford – CEO, Bandzoogle
Alec Boateng – Co-presidents, 0207 Def Jam, Universal Music UK
Marisa Lauro-Norris – Senior VP international marketing, Def Jam Recordings
Chris Cannon – Head of international strategy, Secretly Distribution
Irene Lydon – Head of project management, Secretly Distribution
Priya Dewan – VP South Korea and Southeast Asia, The Orchard
Laura Tesoriero – VP Latin, The Orchard
Albert Torres – VP Latin, The Orchard
Arthur Fitzgibbon – Managing director, Brazil, ONErpm
Andreea Gleeson – Co-head/chief revenue officer, TuneCore
Jurgen Grebner – Executive VP international, Interscope Geffen A&M
Cindy Gu – Head of Astralwerks Asia, Astralwerks
Drew Hill – Managing director, Proper Music Group
Ben Larsen – Senior VP international, Warner Records
Fede Lauría – Founder, Dale Play Records
Nando Luaces – Founder/CEO, Altafonte
Torsten Luth – Executive vp international marketing, Atlantic Records
Scott Macrae – Marketing manager, Glassnote Music
Gary Mandel – VP creative, Entertainment One U.K.
Ted May – Managing director, UK/head of international, music, Entertainment One
Victoria Needs – VP international, AWAL
Maykel Piron – Co-founder/CEO, Armada Music
Ilich Rausa – Founder, Rude Records
Bob Roback – CEO, Ingrooves Music Group
Adriana Sein – VP international, Columbia Records
Marcelo Soares – CEO, Som Livre
Jonathan Strauss – Co-founder/CEO, Create Music Group
Alexandre Williams – Co-founder/COO, Create Music Group
Brian Sutnick – Senior VP global marketing, Republic Records
Mez Tara – VP international, Epic Records
Frances Moore – CEO, IFPI
Jenny Wong – Asia regional director, IFPI
Jeremy Sirota – CEO, Merlin
Leslie Ahrens – Senior VP creative, Kobalt Music, Latin America
Johan Ekelund – Managing director, Kobalt Music, Scandinavia
Simon Moor – Managing director, Kobalt Music, Asia Pacific
David Alexander – Founder/managing director, Sheer Publishing Africa
Jackie Alway – Executive VP international legal and industry affairs, Universal Music Publishing Group
Bertil David – Managing director, Universal Music Publishing France
Joe Fang – Managing director, Universal Music Publishing Beijing
Tom Foster – European head of film and TV, Universal Music Publishing Group
Alexandra Lioutikoff – President, Universal Music Publishing Group, Latin America
Ichiro Asatsuma – Chairman, FujiPacific Music
Mandy Aubry – Director of business development, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific, Songtrust
Lara Baker – Director of business development, U.K. and Ireland, Songtrust
Annette Barrett – Managing director/global strategic liaison, Reservoir
Hussain “Spek” Yoosuf – Founder/president, PopArabia; executive VP international and emerging markets, Reservoir
Laura Bedikian – Senior creative manager, Downtown Music Publishing
Charles Braud – Head of sync, France, Downtown Music Publishing
Dean Francis – GM, Downtown Neighbouring Rights
Benjamin Budde – President, Budde Music
Justin Dowling – GM, Blue Mountain Music; executive VP, Primary Wave U.K. and Europe
Gustavo Menendez – President, Warner Chappell Latin America’
Shani Gonzales – Managing director, Warner Chappell U.K.; head of international A&R, Warner Chappell Music
Santiago Menéndez-Pidal – Managing director, Warner Chappell Music Spain
Matthieu Tessier – Managing director, Warner Chappell Music France
Jorge Mejia – President/CEO, Latin America and U.S. Latin, Sony Music Publishing
Sharon Boyse – Senior VP international operations and society relations, Sony Music Publishing
Sarah Lockhart – Head of A&R, U.K., Sony Music Publishing
Johnny Tennander – Managing director, Scandinavia/senior VP A&R, Europe, Sony Music Publishing
Merck Mercuriadis – Founder/CEO, Hipgnosis Songs Fund
John Minch – President, international publishing, Concord
Kim Frankiewicz – Executive VP worldwide A&R, Concord Music Publishing
Kent Hoskins – CFO, Concord
Ralph Peer II – Executive chair, peermusic
Mary Megan Peer – CEO, peermusic
Robert Wise – Chairman, Wise Music Group
Marcos Araújo – CEO, Villa Mix
Henry Cárdenas – Founder/CEO, CMN
Denis Desmond – Chairman, Live Nation U.K. and Ireland
John Reid – President, Live Nation Europe, the Middle East and Africa
Roger Field – President, Live Nation Asia Pacific
Selina Emeny – International group counsel, Live Nation
Steve Homer & Toby Leighton-Pope – Co-CEOs, U.K., AEG Presents
Alex Hill – President/CEO, AEG Europe
Adam Wilkes – President/CEO, AEG Asia
Jim King – CEO of European festivals, AEG Presents U.K.
Simon Jones – Senior VP international touring, AEG Presents
Harvey Lister – Chairman/CEO, Asia Pacific, ASM Global
John Sharkey – Executive VP, ASM Global
Tim Worton – Group director, Australia arenas, ASM Global’
Marie Lindqvist – Senior VP Europe, ASM Global
Dana DuFine – VP global booking, content and development, ASM Global
Alejandro Soberon Kuri – President/CEO, Ocesa/CIE
Emma Banks, Chris Dalston, Mike Greek & Marlene Tsuchii – Co-heads, international touring, Creative Artists Agency
Maria May – Music agent, Creative Artists Agency
Amy Davidman & Devin Landau – Co-founders/partners/agents, TBA Agency
Lucy Dickins – Co-head, music, WME
Tony Goldring – Partner/head of international music department, WME
Brett Murrihy – Partner/head of Asia Pacific, music, WME
James Rubin – Partner/co-head of hip-hop department, WME
Ashley Gonzalez – Music agent, WME
Peter Elliott – Managing director, Primary Talent International
Matt Bates – ICM Partners, head of international/head of Europe and director, Primary Talent International
Ben Winchester – Director, Primary Talent International
Craig D’Souza – Agent, Primary Talent International
Alex Hardee, Tom Schroeder & James Whitting – Partners, Paradigm Agency
John Jackson – President, K2 Agency
Scott Mantell – Co-head of international, ICM Partners
Ari Bernstein – Agent, ICM Partners
Steve Strange – Director/agent, X-ray Touring
Beckie Sugden – Senior agent, X-ray Touring
Neil Warnock – Obi Asika – Co-heads of UK office, UTA
Jules De Lattre – Agent, music, UTA
Sean Hill – Director of tour marketing, music, UTA
Cleo Thompson – Executive, music brand partnerships, UTA