Check Out Ranya Khoury’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ranya Khoury.

Hi Ranya, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My story of working in the music industry started like many others – fueled by passion and a profound connection to the music and the artists. As a kid, I was so dedicated to immersing myself in music any chance I could get; from learning about the journey of the artist to repeatedly playing a single or album until I was blue in the face. It’s a habit I’ve never fully grown out of.

Despite my immense passion for music and being born and raised in Los Angeles, the center for all things entertainment, I was never fully convinced I could turn it into a career until my third year at Cal State Fullerton. It was during this time that I found an incredible group of mentors and peers who not only embraced my daydreams but also helped transform them into reality, through their unconditional support. In my final year, I landed an internship at Universal Music Group in Santa Monica for the newly established Streaming / Marketing department, where a majority of my day-to-day was spent listening to music and curating flagship Digster playlists. It was my time at UMG when I began to believe it was all within reach. Guided by one of the best mentors, Jay Frank, who encouraged me to take risks, I accepted a job right after graduation at HitsDailyDouble. In a somewhat unconventional move, I carved out a Streaming role for myself with the guidance from Todd Hensley. I established close relationships with major UGC/3P curators, enabling me to pitch internal records for playlist placement. This principle also led me to start a side business supporting external labels/managers seeking similar services. My first client was Foreign Family Collective, a surreal moment for me as I had always admired the label and its founders, ODESZA.

After nearly 4 1/2 years with HitsDailyDouble, I heeded Jay’s advice and took the daunting leap to resign amid the uncertainty of lockdown, not knowing where I was headed next. It was during this period that I truly understood the concept of aligning with your authenticity in both a personal and professional capacity. Two months before my funds depleted, I pursued not one, not two, but three job opportunities: consulting for Laura Harber (Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Tove Lo management), starting to what would become a 1year+ artist management gig with a DJ, Kooze, and lastly my current position as Director, Streaming of US at Spinnin’ Records.

While I eventually had to let go of the first two opportunities to fully focus on my current role, I take pride in the achievements I accomplished with both Laura and Kooze. Notably, I secured Kooze his first-ever live performance at Lollapalooza Chicago without the backing of an agent or label. Today, I stand as the first and only US employee based in LA at a major dance label, wearing multiple hats in roles such as Streaming, Marketing, Commercial and Brand Partnerships, A&R, and beyond.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Like anything in life, there are ebbs and flows. I’ve found myself, at many different stages in my career, questioning everything – whether I was on the right path for a vibrant, meaningful career or if I was on the path at all. But, as with anything, it’s crucial to find your guiding light. For me, it has consistently been about the passion for the art.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As the first US hire, I’ve forged all stateside DSP, social, and fitness partnerships for the company, including Spotify, Apple, YouTube, TikTok, and Peloton, among others. I lead all day-to-day communications for releases, marketing, and partner campaigns; simultaneously, a significant portion of my duties entails reading, analyzing, and conveying data points.

Throughout my time at Spinnin’, I’ve spearheaded multiple successful marketing projects in the US, such as Hoáng Read’s “The Magic Bomb,” which, with the support of her wider team, turned into the viral global trend #QuestionsIGetAsked and the sound being used over 6.9 million times on TikTok alone. I was also able to lock in various major partnerships with Spotify – one being that Spinnin’ was amongst the first leu of labels to get involved with the digital service’s DJ Mix Program where Timmy Trumpet’s mix is now the third most followed on the platform. The partnerships side of my role tends to always become my proudest moment, as I’m able to be creative and innovative in order to promote a record, album, or artist.

On a personal note, I was the first person in my immediate family to graduate college, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from California State University, Fullerton.

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I don’t entirely subscribe to the concept of luck. I believe in what’s meant to be and what isn’t. Reflecting on moments when I feel the most “lucky,” I realize it’s when I’m aligned with my authentic values. Everything seems to fall into place effortlessly. Conversely, the opposite tends to occur when I’ve strayed too far from my authenticity.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ranyakhoury/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ranya-khoury

Image Credits
Spinnin’ Sessions, Peloton NYC Studio, Pandora, Kooze, Jump Global Summit 2023