Megan Jordan and Patrice “Cadence” Ware are Los Angeles–based music professionals whose work spans artist development, music coordination, and community-driven cultural impact. Together, they represent a new generation of industry leaders blending creativity, technical expertise, and intentional balance both inside and outside the music business.

Megan Jordan is a creative music executive based in Los Angeles, CA, working at the intersection of music, culture, and community. Through her company, VMG Creative, she develops emerging talent, executive-produces music projects, and creates events that bring people together and move culture forward. VMG Creative focuses on bridging artistry and community-driven experiences, positioning music as both a creative force and a connector.

Patrice 'Cadence' Ware is a Music Coordinator at Vinyl Vignettes and a lifelong music lover originally from Seaside, California. She holds a B.A. in Music Performance (Percussion) from North Carolina A&T State University, where she honed her technical and musical foundation. Now based in Los Angeles, Cadence curates music for television, advertising, and trailers through a music production library, supporting visual storytelling with thoughtfully selected sound.

Outside of work, Megan and Cadence both prioritize creativity, balance, and intentional downtime in different ways. Megan is deeply passionate about her work and is actively learning the art of balance—spending her free time reading, playing tennis, watching Shonda Rhimes productions, and visiting her local record store, Soundsations Records, to grow her vinyl collection. Cadence enjoys roller skating, soaking up the sun on long walks, attending live music in intimate venues, and going to the movies. She also values quiet time alone to unplug, recharge, and rest, recognizing the importance of stillness in an industry that demands constant communication and creation.

How did you get into your industry / What motivated you?

Megan: I’m a huge believer that you can create the opportunities that make your dreams come true and that belief is really what launched my career. I knew at sixteen that I wanted to work in music. I was experiencing songs that felt life-changing, and I wanted to help create moments like that for others. In college, I DM’d nearly every independent record label in LA on Instagram in the hopes of landing my dream internship. After months of silence, one finally reached out for an interview. They had a partnership with Interscope Records, and I spent that summer fully immersed in their world. I walked in curious, and walked out completely hooked.

Cadence: My journey in music started when I began playing the drums in church. After seeing Drumline starring Nick Cannon I was captivated. For several years I was a substitute drummer performing various genres from Gospel, Jazz and Blues to Rock and R&B. My affiliation with a non-profit music organization exposed me to career paths that were out of the limelight. Music Supervision was the path that piqued my interest. That led me to pursue a professional certificate in that field of study. It wasn’t until I helped an artist secure a TV placement that I found a similar fulfillment to performing. That feeling is why I advocate for artists, especially those that are independent or unknown.

What is a day in the life like?

Megan: No two days look the same, but most start between 5–6:30 AM with prayer, meditation, and journaling. After that, I make breakfast with my “vinyl of the week” playing on my record player in the background. My mornings are for time-sensitive tasks and meetings; my afternoons are for creation. Right now, my main creative focus is executive producing the music for an upcoming anthology series that I’m really excited about called Vinyl Vignettes. Evenings usually include a session or meeting with one of the artists I work with, followed by an industry event or the inevitable dinner meeting.

Cadence: A typical day starts with prayer, listening to music as I prepare for the day and commuting to the office. Once I start my workday I’m reviewing emails, responding to clients and curating playlists. Listening to current album releases account for a portion of the day while attending networking events and mixers occur monthly. Attending recording studio sessions, curating playlists for fundraising events, drafting music briefs and vetting music artists are a few of my responsibilities as Music Coordinator of Vinyl Vignettes.

In your opinion what has been your favorite / the coolest thing you've worked on?

Megan: Anything that lets me merge storytelling and music instantly lights me up. Right now, Vinyl Vignettes has been incredibly fulfilling; getting to translate what’s happening on-screen into sound has stretched my creativity in new ways. It’s one of those rare projects that feels like a perfect alignment of passion and purpose.

Cadence: Performing in a professional musical on drums was the coolest thing I’ve worked on. Learning the music was challenging but being on stage was exhilarating. Seeing music bring a project together is an incredible experience. I get a similar feeling when music from artists I recognize are placed especially when I’ve helped facilitate the use.

What has been / is the most difficult part of your job?

Megan: The hardest part? There are only 24 hours in a day. My curiosity is bigger than my bandwidth, and I constantly wish I had more time to take on every compelling idea, every artist, or every spark of creativity that crosses my path. But I’m learning to honor the limits of one human being.

Cadence: The most difficult part of my job has been gaining entry. Jobs in the entertainment industry are highly competitive and can feel like an uphill battle when you're applying for roles and not securing anything despite meeting the qualifications.

What advice do you have for someone wanting to get into pursuing what you’re doing?

Know your ‘why’

Megan: Be proactive. Find your voice. Know your ‘why.’ And don’t give up, persistence is your biggest competitive advantage. The Digilogue is an amazing community hub for learning, networking, and staying connected with the music world.

Cadence: The best advice I can give is go after your dreams and work with integrity. You never know who is watching or what is the reason someone might select you over another skilled individual. I am where I’m at today by the grace of God. It has taken years to get to this point and every sacrifice has been worth it to get that much closer to achieving my dreams. Also, be enjoyable to work with but most importantly, don’t be a jerk.

Are you a vinyl collector yourself? What drew you to it? If not, why the vinyl industry?

Megan: Absolutely. I started collecting vinyl in high school, thanks to my Granddad. I’d visit him weekly, and while he painted, I’d sift through his shelves and discover albums that felt like treasure. His home was my first real record store, and those memories are a big part of why vinyl still feels sacred to me.

Cadence: I’m not a vinyl collector (yet) but admire those who are. Someday when I have a contemporary loft and a dedicated listening space I’ll join the club. There’s something classic and sophisticated about vinyl. The fact that the listener is committed to a particular sound for a certain amount of time is appealing.

What types of things are happening in your industry / with vinyl that you’re excited or worried about? i.e. innovation, or trends you’re seeing.

Megan: I’m excited by the resurgence of physical formats and how vinyl has become essential again for both artists and fans. Pairing releases with vinyl has become almost standard. I’m also energized by the revival of DJ culture in LA; it’s bringing a sense of community, discovery, and physical connection back into music spaces.

Cadence: I’m excited to see artists releasing vinyl versions of their albums in celebration of anniversaries. It’s nostalgic for listeners who enjoyed the music the first time around while introducing younger new fans to a particular catalog. With older music resurging, it creates an opportunity for those songs to be synced. I’m especially excited about this from a personal standpoint with Vinyl Vignettes. Once all five episodes are complete, we’ll be producing a physical vinyl that includes the five original songs, each one representing an episode. For example, the track inspired by our comedy episode will sit right alongside the song from our Horror episode. That's the kind of intentional storytelling through music that makes vinyl feel so timeless and collectible.

Who has been influential to you and your growth as a professional in this industry? 

Megan: The women of BET Networks, including Connie Orlando, Tiffany Williams, Angela Aguilera, Kim Paige, and Rose-Catherine Pinkney, showed me how powerful it is to lead boldly while staying grounded in who you are.

Cadence: Charda (Vinyl Vignettes Producer), Brenda (Vinyl Vignettes Producer) and Megan (Vinyl Vignettes Executive Producer) have inspired me to trust my instincts during the pre-production process through their bold and creative approach to storytelling. The way they have advocated for Vinyl Vignettes motivates me to find more projects I’m passionate about and lend my skillset.

Anything else you’d like to add; if not tell us what you're listening to: 

Megan: I’m a R&B lover through and through! My favorite artists right now are Reggie Becton and Jordyn Simone.

Cadence: Lately I’ve been listening to music releases from One House Worship and Travis Greene. Their respective approaches to contemporary worship music is fresh, powerful and anointed.