Heran is the senior R&B/hip-hop/Afrobeats writer at Billboard. She interned at the publication while studying journalism at the University of Southern California before officially joining the staff in 2020. She has profiled R&B/rap’s emerging and established stars while providing on-the-ground coverage of the genres’ biggest concerts, festivals, award shows and industry events. A child of Ethiopian immigrant parents with a natural passion for the African continent, Heran also oversees Billboard’s African music coverage, writing news posts, artist and executive interviews, business stories and the monthly Afrobeats Fresh Picks column about new music releases. She is a champion of authentic, diverse storytelling about Black music for the diaspora and believes in amplifying the voices of underserved communities within the industry.
Heran has written cover stories on The Weeknd, Burna Boy, SZA, Ice Spice, Metro Boomin, PartyNextDoor and Tyla. Her legal reporting on the Tory Lanez assault trial led to her appearance on Discovery Plus’ two-part documentary 'Megan Thee Stallion vs. Tory Lanez: Five Shots,' and she has been featured on NPR, Good Morning America, CBS News and Entertainment Tonight. In 2024, Heran was selected as a #GrammysNextGen Executive Ambassador and received the amplifier of the year award at Amplify Africa’s Afro Ball Gala. She can also be found on Instagram and X at @heranmamo.
