Nugen Audio Promotes Charles Blessing to CEO & Sophie Guest to CMO The executive team at Nugen Audio has announced the immediate promotions of its senior team members , Charles Blessing and Sophie Guest , who will be stepping into the roles of CEO and chief marketing officer ( CMO ), respectively . The changes come as Nugen Audio Co-founder Dr . Paul Tapper steps back from his position as CEO to focus on his new immersive gaming brand , Fruity Systems . Tapper will continue to serve as a director and chief financial officer ( CFO ) for Nugen Audio . Additionally , Guest will join Blessing and Tapper on the company ’ s Board of Directors .
As CEO , Blessing will continue to push forth the company ’ s forward-thinking efforts and provide the leadership needed to take Nugen Audio into the future , the company says . Blessing , who previously served as the brand ’ s chief technology officer first joined the company as a software engineer in 2013 . Prior to that , Blessing , who has a degree in computer science and maths from the University of York , held several programmer and engineer positions with Team17 Software .
Guest will now join Tapper and Blessing on the board of directors . Guest first joined Nugen Audio in 2018 as creative marketing manager and most recently served as Marketing Director . A creative thinker who moonlights as a radio presenter and voiceover artist , Guest is a graduate of Manchester Metropolitan University , from which she holds a degree in hospitality and events management . After pivoting from her initial career path , Guest held various sales , marketing , and promotions positions before coming to Nugen Audio . Blessing ’ s previous role as CTO will be filled in January by Nugen Audio ’ s Senior Software Engineer , Patxi Monedero . Nugen Audio is distributed in Canada by Music Marketing . For more information , go to
www . nugenaudio . com .
NUGEN ’ S CHARLES BLESSING ( LEFT ) & SOPHIE GUEST
Roland Wins Drum Tech Patent Lawsuit Against inMusic Roland has announced that a judgment has been rendered by the U . S . District Court for the Southern District of Florida in the lawsuit that Roland filed against inMusic Brands .
The patent infringement lawsuit was first launched in 2016 in California and the case was later transferred to the Federal Court for the Southern District of Florida . Roland alleged that electronic drums and electronic cymbals sold by inMusic under the Alesis brand in the U . S . infringed on several Roland patents .
On Nov . 17 th , the jury rendered a verdict finding that all five of Roland ’ s patents , which inMusic claimed to be invalid , were found to be valid , and all four of Roland ’ s patents , which Roland asserted were infringed , were found be infringed by inMusic . On Nov . 18 , 2022 , the jury rendered a damages verdict finding damages in the amount $ 4.6 million to Roland as compensation for inMusic ’ s infringement . On Nov . 21 , the court rendered a final judgment upholding the jury ’ s verdicts .
LUKE TALEN AND STACEY NORDMEYER
Hal Leonard Announces Choral Department Promotions Hal Leonard has announced the promotion of two employees to new leadership roles within its choral division .
Stacey Nordmeyer has been named general manager of choral publications . Nordmeyer has been with Hal Leonard for 20 years and has worked in every area of the choral department as an editor of all levels of works for school , concert , and church repertoire as well as instructional publications . In addition , she ’ s been a workshop coordinator and recording session producer . She also is an accomplished composer , arranger , and clinician . In addition , Nordmeyer is an active handbell and praise band director as well as a member of the Milwaukee Handbell Ensemble where she ’ s also currently serving as vice president .
Luke Talen has been named creative director for choral publications . Talen has been with Hal Leonard for four years as a choral editor who has played a pivotal role with the company ’ s choral product development , digital expansion , and marketing efforts . He has taught at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music and has been a music director at various high schools , colleges , and theatre companies in Wisconsin .
Nordmeyer and Talen will lead the growing department as it continues to manage its roster of writers and arrangers , develop meaningful marketing events and promotions , and continue to expand its offerings in both print and digital forms for all types and levels of choirs .
12 CANADIAN MUSIC TRADE