Recent Music Industry moves

The most significant news, of course, was the breakup of the Island / Def Jam Music Group into three separate stand-alone labels; Island, Def Jam, and Motown. Steve Bartels who was the former President of Island is now CEO of Def Jam. In addition, Kyambo “Hip Hop” Joshua and No I.D. are now co-heads of A&R at Def Jam. Meanwhile Mercury President David Massey assumes the Presidency of Island. The label will be adding marketing and A&R personnel to the label’s staff. Motown is now a stand-alone label with Ethiopia Habtemariam becoming President.

SONY’s Epic label has announced Sylvia Rhone has become President. Also joining Epic are Aaron Reid and Jojo Brim. SONY’s Columbia has added Greg Linn as Sr. VP A&R. Meanwhile over in the UK, SONY appoints Jason Illey as the new MD. RCA-UK adds Joe Iddison as an A&R Consultant and Neil Hughes as GM. Also over in the UK, Alex Beaten joins Island’s A&R Team. Warner Bros. adds three new A&R Executives to itsWest Coast office; Michael Howe, Jack Minihan and Kate Craig. Michael Howe joins Warner Bros. from Capitol.

Exiting their A&R positions are Darrale Jones from Def Jam, Terrence Nelson from Interscope, Paul Gargano from Century Media, Keir Fullerton from Capitol-UK, Joe Kentish from Mercury and Joanna Wilson from EMI Classics. Veteran A&R Executive Karen Kwak is promoted to Ex. VP A&R – Universal Music Group, a far more expansive scope to her A&R duties within the entire Universal Music Group. Domino opens a West Coast office while Glassnote-LA and Motown-LA move into the Capitol Tower. Atlantic Records Group has promoted Kevin Weaver to President, Film and Television, and will also keep his title as EVP Atlantic Records Group. Cooking Vinyl has hired Verity Griffiths as Head of Sync and Fender has hired Bob Roback as their new President where he will also join the Board of Directors.

Source: Music Registry