Ian Holder serves as Senior Vice President, Creative at Sony Music Publishing (SMP). Based in Sony Music Publishing’s New York office, Ian is responsible for contributing to the company’s A&R initiatives by heading the R&B/Hip-Hop department throughout the US and helping to grow the Atlanta, Georgia office. Since joining the company in early 2017, Holder oversees the writing careers of Lil Mabu, Jack Harlow, Lil Durk, Lil TJay, Moneybagg Yo, Polo G, Pusha T, A$AP Ferg, Felisha King (Justin Bieber “Peaches”), AXL Beats (Drake, Fivio Foreign, A$AP Ferg), LilJuMadeDaBeat (Megan The Stallion), Buddah Bless This Beat (Migos, Chris Brown, Youngboy Never Broke Again), and Ronny J (Juice Wrld, Kanye West, Lil Pump, XXXtentacion), amongst others. During his eighteen years in the music business, Holder has established a reputation as a passionate advocate and resource for songwriters through his work as an A&R, PRO executive and artist manager. Previously to his work at SMP, Holder spent ten years at BMI, working with and signing artists/songwriters such as Post Malone, Desiigner, Rae Sremmurd, Frank Ocean, Action Bronson, Tyga, Prodigy of Mobb Deep and Grammy winning production team The J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League (Rick Ross, Drake, Nas, 2 Chainz, etc.). Aside from his songwriter-driven focus, Holder also played a key role shaping BMI’s approach to honor its songwriters who have garnered a strong social following before establishing a mainstream terrestrial radio presence. Past winners of what BMI has coined its ‘Social Star Award’ (presented at BMI’s annual R&B/Hip-Hop Award Show) have included Mac Miller, MGK, Zendaya and SoMo. Prior to BMI, Holder worked in the Columbia Records A&R Department. Holder is also the founder of the Artistic Reality Through Search (A.R.T.S.) Music Business Program for high school teenagers. The Facing History High School piloted the program in 2011 (www.artsbp.org).