BMG / Primary Wave Label Services Appoints Music Industry Veteran Ira Sallen To Chief Operating Officer

Following the recent news about the joint venture between BMG and Primary Wave, music industry executive Ira Sallen, has been named Chief Operating Officer of the newly formed label BMG / Primary Wave Label Services. Sallen was appointed COO by Primary Wave Music’s Founder & CEO Larry Mestel, who will also hold the title of CEO of the new label. With over 25 years of operational experience in the entertainment and music industry, Sallen will be working out of Primary Wave Music’s New York office, focusing on business development and acquisitions for the new label, as well as acting as a liaison between BMG’s corporate operations and Primary Wave Music. He will report directly to Larry Mestel and they will work together by combining the forces and resources of BMG and Primary Wave to establish BMG / Primary Wave Label Services as a new and fresh alternative for artists in the music industry.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work again with Larry and the BMG / Primary Wave team,” states Ira Sallen, COO of BMG / Primary Wave Label Services. “I believe we have a great opportunity in front of us and with the combined resources of both companies, we are providing a unique, full service label alternative to the artist.”

Prior to joining BMG / Primary Wave Label Services, Sallen had worked with BMG for more than 20 years, beginning his tenure in 1989 as the Vice President of Human Resources for BMG International. In this role, Sallen helped to establish BMG offices in over 50 different countries by recruiting teams of top executives in each region to create the numerous labels and local operations worldwide for the BMG brand. In 1999, Sallen was appointed Executive Vice President of Human Resources for BMG and following the joint venture between Sony Corporation and Bertelsmann in 2004, he continued this executive role at Sony BMG Music Entertainment until 2009. During his tenure, Sallen became and remained an integral part of the overall BMG infrastructure and is credited with connecting BMG with some of the biggest music executives in the industry. In 1991, he assisted in the recruitment of Simon Cowell to BMG UK and continued to work closely with him throughout his time with the company, later assisting him in the formation of SYCO, as well as other business ventures including Cowell’s relationship with the American Idol franchise. Sallen also worked closely with LA Reid during his time with the BMG family through his journey from LaFace Records to CEO of Arista Records. It was during this time that Sallen helped to bring his current, new partner Larry Mestel to Arista in 2000 as Executive VP / GM. During his career, Sallen worked very closely with Clive Davis and Charles Goldstuck and was involved in helping to merge J Records with RCA and later assisted Davis and Goldstuck in the formation of BMG North America. Leaving Sony BMG in 2009, Sallen joined WTW Associates, an executive search and consulting firm specializing in media and entertainment; plus, continued his work with BMG as a consultant, where he provided various operational and administrative services.

“I’ve known Ira for 14 years and I knew he would be a natural fit as COO of our new label services because our vision and way of thinking are completely aligned,” explains Larry Mestel, CEO of BMG / Primary Wave Label Services. “By partnering Primary Wave’s marketing power with a major like BMG, we now have a full-service label and ability to sign iconic artists, who are looking for change and creative freedom with their music.”

Source: BMG/Primary Wave