Chris Johnson (US)

Chris Johnson is Head of A&R at SoundCloud, where he leads artist discovery and development across the platform's global independent music ecosystem. He oversees artist development initiatives including Ascending, Creator Spotlight and Talent ID, helping identify and support the next generation of emerging talent while connecting independent artists with labels, managers, and commercial opportunities.

Throughout his career, Johnson has championed artists ahead of mainstream breakout, working with acts including Bunii, Odetari, Idemi, Slayr, BabyChiefdoit, Josh Baker and Erin LaCount. His work has contributed to major label signings, commercial success, and the continued growth of SoundCloud as one of the industry's leading discovery platforms.

Alongside developing emerging artists, Johnson has collaborated on projects involving deadmau5, Calvin Harris, Duke Dumont, Monstercat, and other leading artists and partners across electronic music. He has helped shape SoundCloud's evolution from a streaming platform into an artist-first ecosystem spanning discovery, distribution, marketing, and career development, with a focus on turning early momentum into sustainable careers. His expertise spans A&R, artist strategy, release planning, distribution, data-driven talent discovery, and building scalable artist development programs, making him a leading voice on the future of independent music and electronic artist development.