Team

Bill Campbell is the Founder & CEO of Barefoot Media LLC, a consulting firm focused on assisting startups with digital strategy, business and financial modeling, content licensing and negotiations, and fundraising. Barefoot’s clients extend across a wide range of verticals including, digital music, streaming video, social media, online fitness, digital avatars, VR, AI, film and television. Barefoot Media clients include Bytedance/TikTok, SoundCloud, Songclip, Square, TRX, Hyperreal, Beachbody, Raised In Space, Apple Music For Business/PlayNetwork, Q&A | Human Resources, United Masters, BandsInTown, and many others. Prior to founding Barefoot Media, Bill was Senior Vice President, Global Digital Business, Universal Music Group as well as Senior Vice President, Global Digital Business at Sony Music Entertainment. His responsibilities included content licensing, channel development, and strategic partnerships for the distribution of the labels’ content, including streaming audio and video services, live audio products, D2C and cloud-based music services across a variety of content delivery platforms. Bill’s responsibilities also included negotiating and structuring key business terms, creating financial models, growing existing partners’ revenue, evaluating and recommending investment opportunities, and exploring new technologies. Bill also has held senior executive roles at EMI Music Publishing, Sprint, and SBK Records. Mr. Campbell holds a JD from Seton Hall University School of Law and a BA in History from the University of Richmond.

Melissa is an avid music consumer – you name it, she listens to it! Her passion for fusing music and marketing together helped her graduate summa cum laude with a BA in Music Industry and Production from Ramapo College of New Jersey in May 2017. She has been an enthusiastic part of the Barefoot Media team since 2015, and has held previous supporting roles at The Orchard, The Walt Disney Company, and MTV/Viacom. When she’s not busy working, she loves to write music, record cover songs for her YouTube channel, read, and exercise.

Francesca graduated Cum Laude with a business degree from Boston University. She worked as a CPA at Deloitte for three years. During this time she developed a deep understanding of business processes and controls in a diverse range of industries. She also has experience working for an exciting matchmaking start-up and assisting in running a small clothing company. An experienced project and people manager, Francesca was drawn to Barefoot Media because of the creative opportunity it presents. In her free time, she loves going to live music shows and exploring art galleries. She has traveled and lived all over the world and currently resides in London.

Ken Lloyd offers more than fifteen years of experience and business success within the media and tech sector. Most recently Ken was Vice President, Digital Distribution for Paramount Pictures. While with Paramount, his team oversaw the development and execution of the Home Media’s domestic digital distribution strategy and business growth. This was accomplished via securing distribution of owned and acquired content on a variety of digital platforms as well as contributing to the development of marketing and distribution strategies for emerging platforms and formats. Prior to Paramount, Ken was a Senior Business Manager on Microsoft’s transactional Video-On- Demand store. His charter was to drive Xbox Video business growth, brand recognition and affinity, and expansion of Movie & TV offerings across multiple consumption end-points, including Windows and Windows Phone (both Windows 8 and 10), in 20 markets across North America, EMEA, APAC and LATAM. He served as the primary point of contact, internally and externally, on all global TV business and marketing initiatives for several content providers. Always focused on the customer experience, Ken also worked with multi-functional teams to identify KPIs that impact customer engagement and business performance, helping to define UI/UX improvements for improved and sustained growth. In 2013/14, Ken defined, developed, executed, and championed Microsoft’s second-screen initiative. He worked to successfully drive performance of the product life cycle, and on-going product rhythms, including oversight of internal and external partnerships to meet both strategic and business objectives. Prior to joining Microsoft, Ken was the Senior Director of Digital Distribution for Nickelodeon. He worked with senior management and various partners to develop goals, strategies, and execution plans for the non-linear distribution and monetization of Nickelodeon branded properties. For the U.S. operations, he successfully developed multi-million dollar premium video distribution businesses across online, wireless/mobile, and emerging platforms. Before Nickelodeon, Ken was with Sony Music Entertainment, where he worked as the Director of Format Development and Strategic Planning. While with Sony Music, he co-led a group to define, launch and market new music and video physical formats at industry and corporate levels. He also worked with developers to refine products and help structure key alliances to strategically position products (proprietary and non-proprietary) to create and sustain a competitive advantage. Key product initiatives included the DVD Video Music format and Super Audio CD (SACD). Finally, Ken is the proud father of two daughters. As his youngest daughter is on the Autism Spectrum, he is actively involved in supporting organizations that support differently abled individuals and their families.

Gregg Barron is a seasoned music licensing executive with over 25 years experience at some of the world’s most prestigious music companies. Gregg began his career in the synch department of EMI Music Publishing before moving on to Cherry Lane in 2002 to lead their synch and mechanical teams. Shortly after his arrival, the company enjoyed explosive growth with the signing of the Black Eyed Peas, followed shortly thereafter by John Legend, Elvis Presley, The Sex Pistols, Motley Crue and Quincy Jones. Upon the acquisition of Cherry Lane by BMG RIghts Management in 2010, Gregg’s role shifted toward the digital music space. As the Vice President of Licensing at BMG, he was responsible for negotiating licenses and managing relationships with the world’s leading digital music companies, including Google/YouTube, Apple, Amazon, Peloton and many others. Most recently, Gregg lead the licensing teams of Touchtunes and PlayNetwork, working with labels, publishers, PRO’s and CMO’s around the globe. Gregg received his BA in Music Industry from Syracuse University. He lives outside Woodstock, NY where he enjoys skiing, paddling, cooking and woodworking when not on the sidelines of his son’s soccer field.

Seth Schachner is Managing Director of Strat Americas, a Miami and Los Angeles-based consultancy that provides strategic guidance and helps global clients with media and technology partnerships. Strat Americas has worked in virtual reality, digital music, video, and the mobile sector. Seth spent eleven years with Sony Music, where he held senior digital leadership roles in Latin America and for Sony’s Jive Records label group in North America. Previously, Schachner has held business development roles with Microsoft, Liberty Media, Viacom, and Universal Music. Seth was one of AOL’s first business development executives, negotiating its first content deals with the American music industry. A Columbia University graduate, Schachner is currently Chairman of Florida’s Film & Entertainment Advisory Council, which helps guide Florida on state film and entertainment growth strategies.

Jon Vanhala is Founder/CEO of Crossfade Partners, an early stage investor and startup growth advisory firm focused where culture meets tech and brand. Roughly 1/2 his time is spent on equity projects and the other half on retained consultancy. He’s a former working musician who’s been a founder at an early stage VC and is the former Head of Digital & New Business at Universal Music Group’s biggest label group. Today Jon works in the trenches with creators and builders of all strata from developing artists to global, social superstars and early stage startups to global enterprise companies. As a startup mentor, investor, advisor, board member he’s vetted a ton of startup pitches, and helped startup creators and builders with strategy, fundraising, growth, strategic partnerships and with acquisitions and exits. A former full-time professional musician & trained improviser, Jon’s first startup was the first band he formed back in high school.

Wendy has over 16 years of experience in business development, licensing, digital strategy, and vetting of new technologies for music and media-related businesses. She also has been a previous executive within Universal Music Group’s Global Digital Business group managing relationships and negotiating with many of the country’s most prominent music services and retailers including Apple, YouTube/Google Play, Amazon, Microsoft, Rhapsody/Napster, among many others. Finally, Wendy has a finance background, she is process and operations minded as well as being an avid baker.

John is a business builder with 20 years of experience working in music and technology. He has co-founded and built several successful companies including Muve Music (acquired by AT&T), Flipagram (acquired by Bytedance/TikTok), and Super Hi-Fi, the groundbreaking AI platform that powers next generation listening experiences for music services, such as iHeartRadio and Peloton. He has held executive roles leading strategy, business development, product development and marketing from early stage startups to large public companies. At Flipagram, John pioneered the social music video use case with the first app to scale UGC video with popular music clips. There he architected and negotiated a landmark global music rights package with the major record companies Universal, Sony, Warner, and the indies, as well as hundreds of publishers and global performance organizations. Following the Bytedance acquisition, John led global music licensing for TikTok. Prior to Flipagram, John founded Muve Music, a carrier bundled streaming service that grew to become one of the largest music services in the US at the time (2.5m+ paying subs). John currently advises companies at the intersection of tech and music on strategy, music licensing, business development, product development, and marketing. John lives in Nashville with his wife and their four children.

Over 30 years in the design profession, encompassing art direction, branding, user experience, research and development, ideation and executive sounding board. Nelson started his career in communications and branding design for Goldman Sachs and Citicorp/Citibank. Afterwards moving on to Sony Music, leading their New Media Lab in developing digitally enhanced consumer products, leveraging emerging technologies, as well as working on early music services (Pressplay, Napster). His role expanded into working with Sony Music’s sister companies PlayStation, Sony Electronics and Sony Ericsson in joint venture developments (PlayStation Portable products, Sony Connect, PlayStation Entertainment Network). Afterwards Nelson moved on to the parent company Sony Corporation reporting to the CTO, where he worked on “disrupting” the corporate silos, focusing on unified user experiences on hardware and software, cross company product development, design research and long term strategies. After leaving Sony Corporation in 2006 Nelson has been operating as an independent creative consultant with a focus on the entertainment industry. Over the years he has produced works for a variety of artists from Michael Jackson, Ozzy Osborne, Elton John, Glenn Campbell, to Danzig and Soundgarden. In his spare time Nelson is addicted to the mind/body connection of archery, seeking that one perfect shot, one arrow at a time.

David is a web developer (previously in a corporate environment at Sony for 12 years + 13 years independently) / social media savant / project manager / digital strategist / team leader / WordPress pusher / eCommerce specialist / Online community manager / CRM enthusiast happily residing in scenic Austin, TX. He has helped to plan, create and maintain web sites, developed & implemented online marketing promotions & started various digital initiatives for such people as Roger Waters, Tori Amos, The Pretenders, David Bowie, Kiss, Lou Reed, Rage Against the Machine, Pearl Jam, Fiona Apple, Celine Dion, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Barbra Streisand, Beyonce, Michael Jackson, Shakira, Yo-Yo Ma, Miles Davis, Jeff Buckley, Pink Floyd, Slayer and hundreds of other artists. Yes, he's met many of them and yes, most of them are nice. David now operates a thriving consultancy practice to multiple record labels (Sony Music / Columbia Records / Epic Records / Legacy Recordings / Sony Classical / CBS Records / Universal Music Group / Decca / Verve), independent artists, law firms, Amnesty International and various non-music projects doing web sites, social networking implementations and advising as well as mobile application development. He has a degree in Computer Science from New York University.

Kathleen is co-founder of Ninja Melk, an influencer-driven e-commerce start-up in the beverage space. Kathleen brings 20+ years of experience leading teams at Facebook, Google/YouTube, Universal Music Group and Comcast, as well as advising start-ups at the intersection of entertainment, music and technology on business development, partnership growth, and content programs. Kathleen is most passionate about inspiring and connecting great people to bring innovation to life. Originally from Philadelphia, Kathleen is the daughter of Vietnam War refugees and a graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. She currently resides in Berlin, Germany with her husband and son.

Leslie C. Cohen advises and consults with startups in retail, health and wellness, tech and media. She recently served as General Manager of Fertility Nutraceuticals, a fertility solutions company. Leslie has been involved with accelerator programs as the Executive Director of XRC Labs, a startup accelerator for innovation in retail and consumer goods, EIR at NUMA and ran Wingable, a program for female-founded startups.  She was a member of the faculty of The Parsons School of Design, teaching a Masters class in Strategic Design and Management. Her career included serving as the Managing Director of Technology Ventures at IMG Artists and prior to that, during her eighteen-year tenure at Sony Music, Leslie led innovation and the company’s introduction of several new retail-based digital products and formats, including DVD, Blu-ray, digital music cards and ecommerce ventures. She also oversaw the Sony Music Network branding initiative.  Leslie served as Senior Vice President Business and Format Development.  Leslie serves on the board of Heavenly, a creative branding consultancy, based in the UK and as an advisor for Ziel, an on-demand apparel manufacturing company which is currently shifting some production to make PPE, and Becco.io, a retail customer feedback platform. She holds a BA in Communications from Penn’s Annenberg School of Communications and an MBA from Yale University School of Management.   She was a Member of the Digital Entertainment Group Executive Committee and Board of Directors and Chair of its Developing Platforms Committee.  Additionally, she has served as a pro-bono consultant through the national organizations Taproot and PennPAC and served on the Board of Overseers of the Annenberg Center for Performing Arts.

As an Advisor specializing in Artificial Intelligence at Barefoot Media, Braden Mayer brings a keen eye for the evolving landscape of AI technologies. Braden has established himself as an expert in the field, conducting numerous AI workshops and contributing as a speaker and panelist at AI-focused events. In his role at Barefoot Media, Braden is dedicated to keeping the company abreast of developments at the cutting edge of AI technologies, helping the company understand and leverage the latest advancements in AI and ensuring that Barefoot and its clients stay ahead in their respective markets and industries. Braden is an avid moviegoer and a passionate fan of live music and sports. He also enjoys exploring the potential of AI beyond the professional sphere, experimenting with AI tools to build innovative programs. Braden holds a B.A. in English and Film and Television from Fordham University.