AWAL Expands Recordings Footprint With New Office and Team In Toronto

11 December 2018 - Press release

Company Prepares to Hire New Team & Dedicate On The Ground Canadian Resources to Support Global Artist and Label Clients

North American Expansion Continues Impressive Momentum That Follows Strategic Partnership with Glassnote Music, Acquisition of In2une Music and $150M Investment from Kobalt

AWAL, Kobalt's recording company, today announced the opening of a new office in Toronto, Canada, which will open in early 2019. This new location strengthens the AWAL North American presence and global recordings team, while providing more support for artists in Canada as a whole. The company also announced open roles in marketing, client relations, A&R and more to be based in the office.

AWAL CEO, Lonny Olinick commented, "In the last year, we've made a series of moves to strengthen our global artist services to help them thrive across the globe. As a result, the AWAL business has more than doubled. AWAL's expansion to Canada's number one music market reasserts our commitment to support artist and label clients globally. And we have even more planned in the coming months.

This announcement follows some major announcements from the company that includes a $150 million investment from Kobalt, the acquisition of radio promotion and music marketing company, In2une Music, a number of acclaimed new artist signings, roster and employee growth, and most recently a strategic partnership with Glassnote Music.

Ron Cerrito, AWAL President, North America added, "The Canadian market is incredibly robust and diverse. Toronto is home to some of today's biggest acts and we're lucky to work with some independent trailblazers who have gotten their start in the city, ranging from deadmau5 to Mormor. As we grow, it's crucial that we build out our team and have on the ground support for even more independent artists and labels."

In 2018, AWAL's staff has doubled, while the artist roster has grown 50 percent. Additionally, AWAL has charted four records in UK's Top 10, landed a #2 US radio hit with Lauv's "I Like Me Better," and generated billions of streams for its artists.