Safiya Lambie-Knight named Head of Music for the UK & Ireland at Spotify

Spotify has a new Head of Music for the UK and Ireland.

Safiya Lambie-Knight is being promoted to the role from her previous position as Lead, Artist & Label Partnerships, UK & IE.

Lambie-Knight joined Spotify three and a half years ago and during that time has “continuously delivered outstanding results for Spotify UK and Ireland, and our partners” according to Tom Connaughton, Managing Director, UK & Ireland at Spotify, who announced the news via LinkedIn today.

She succeeds Sulinna Ong, who was promoted to Spotify‘s Global Head of Editorial, effective November 1.

Ong initially joined Spotify in April 2019 as Head of Artist & Label Services and was promoted to Head of Music for the UK and Ireland three months later.

Lambie-Knight will now be responsible for Spotify’s local network of editorial playlists and promotions in the UK and Ireland.

She will continue to be based in London and reports directly to Connaughton.

According to Connaughton, during her tenure at Spotify, Lambie-Knight has been “an integral part” of the teams involved in initiatives like Who We Be Live, the live show of Spotify’s playlist of the same name that showcases Rap, Grime, Afrobeat and R&B artists, as well as its sister podcast Who We Be TALKS.

Lambie-Knight also played a key role in the launch of RADAR globally with acts such as Young T & Bugsey and Central Cee; and Carnival Sounds, which took Notting Hill Carnival digital for the very first time in its history.

“I’ve had the good fortune of working alongside Saf since 2014 and I can’t wait to see her in this new role.”

Tom Connaughton, Spotify

Said Connaughton: “She is a key figure across the UK music industry, having helped propel the likes of the the Girls I Rate movement, which aims to achieve equality for young women in music and mostly recently supported the Future Hitmaker Award giving aspiring women songwriters the opportunity to receive funding and their first UK airplay on the Girls I Rate weekly radio show.

“She also closed 2020 by being added to Music Week’s Women In Music “Roll of Honour” list which celebrates influential women in the music business.

“Saf’s promotion not only speaks to Safiya’s expertise but also the strength of the UK and Ireland Music Team and the industry-leading work that they are carrying out day in and day out.

“I’ve had the good fortune of working alongside Saf since 2014 and I can’t wait to see her in this new role. Please join me in congratulating Safiya.”Music Business Worldwide