Atlantic Records & Warner Music Group Extend Investment In Artist Partners Group
Atlantic Records and Warner Music Group have strengthened their commitment to Artist Partners Group, the music company founded by veteran Atlantic/WMG A&R executive Mike Caren. Under the terms of this new agreement, WMG has made a long-term A&R and Marketing investment in Artist Partners, which was launched in 2013 as a sister company to Caren’s Artist Publishing Group (artistpg.com). Artist Partners provides an array of white label services for artists, producers, and music entrepreneurs seeking creative freedom, business development, and broad resources. As part of this new deal, Caren has recommitted to both Artist Partners and WMG in a new dual role. Expanding his dedication to Artist Partners, he has been named CEO of the company, while at the same time being promoted to the newly created position of Creative Officer for WMG.
Artist Partners and Artist Publishing have also announced the opening of new recording studio facilities in Los Angeles, which will serve as the company’s global headquarters. All Artist Partners recordings are released in partnership with Atlantic Records, with recent releases including two albums which debut on the Billboard 200 Top Ten this week: Kevin Gates’ Islah (Bread Winners’ Association/Atlantic) at No.2 and Charlie Puth’s Nine Track Mind (Atlantic) at No.6; as well as Kehlani’s Grammy-nominated You Should Be Here (Tsunami Mob/Atlantic).
In his post as Creative Officer of WMG, Caren will serve as an advisor to the company’s global A&R team, as well as continue to sign and work with new and established talent across the WMG organization – including artists such as Trey Songz, Flo Rida, Wiz Khalifa, David Guetta and Jason Derulo. He will also continue to develop soundtrack projects, including the upcoming DC Comics/Warner Bros. Pictures release, Suicide Squad.
Mike Caren commented: “Great artists and young executives have never been so dynamic, informed, and driven. Our goal is to amplify and execute their ideas without being beholden to any traditional industry rules. I like to think of Artists Partners as an indie major label that offers its talent the resources of a major with an independent’s entrepreneurial spirit and urge for experimentation.”
“Since joining the Atlantic family twenty years ago, Mike has consistently stayed ahead of the curve,” said Atlantic Chairman & CEO Craig Kallman and Chairman & COO Julie Greenwald. “His A&R instincts are exceptional, and he has signed an amazing roster of artists across a range of genres – recruiting groundbreaking talent and delivering a stream of hit records. Alongside his A&R chops, he is a gifted producer and songwriter, and also spearheaded the development of our recording studio operations in LA. His vision for Artist Partners is perfectly aligned with the future path of Atlantic and WMG – to foster creativity, excellence, and original thinking. We are thrilled to extend and expand our relationship with Mike and his great team.”
Based in Los Angeles, the Artist Partners and Artist Publishing Groups have dedicated A&R, sync, marketing, promotion, legal, accounting, and recording studios. Artist Partners is a fully integrated and supported arm of The Atlantic Group, the No. 1 label of 2015 on the Billboard 200. Artist Publishing is administered by Warner/Chappell Music, the music publishing division of WMG.
Mike Caren started with Atlantic Records at age 17 and has been with Warner Music Group for 20 years, 18 in an A&R capacity. He has signed or co-signed 19 artists that have achieved gold or platinum status. From 2009 to 2012, he served as Co-President of the relaunched Elektra Records (Bruno Mars, Ed Sheeran, Cee Lo Green). In 2006, Caren established the Artist Publishing, which scored more than 30 Billboard Hot 100 entries in 2015. Caren is also an active songwriter for Artist Publishing, having written and/or produced for Beyoncé, Kanye West, Bruno Mars, Cobra Starship, Flo Rida, Trick Daddy, Asher Roth, and others.
Source: Warner Music
