NPR Names Sonali Mehta Exec. Director of NPR Music

RADIO ONLINE | Tuesday, September 16, 2025 | 2:04pm CT

Sonali Mehta

NPR has named Sonali Mehta Executive Director of NPR Music, effective September 22. She will be based in New York. In the role, Mehta will lead the overall strategy for NPR Music, collaborate with NPR's network of music stations, guide growth and innovation around the Tiny Desk franchise, and identify new avenues to further position NPR as a key force in music.

"I'm thrilled to join the incomparable NPR Music team," said Mehta. "As a fan of platforms like Tiny Desk, I am so excited to be in the room where it happens... and as a person working in the music industry, I feel lucky to have the opportunity to support the programs that have catapulted the careers of so many deserving artists."

Mehta began her career at YouTube, where she worked with more than 800 artists on release strategy and audience growth, forged partnerships, and helped launch internal programs for creators. She later joined Arista Records' digital marketing team, executing over 50 global campaigns focused on discovery and consumption. Most recently, she served as Chief of Staff at ADA, part of Warner Music Group.

NPR said Mehta's background in artist partnerships, content strategy, and business development, along with her advocacy for artists, aligns with the organization's mission and the continued expansion of its music properties.