BMG Chrysalis UK signs JVs with manager of the year SAM ELDRIDGE

06 December 2012

LONDON - 6 December 2012: BMG Chrysalis UK has formed joint venture publishing deals with two companies run by Sam Eldridge, last week named ‘Manager of the Year’ by the Music Managers Forum.

The first is linked to Merok Records, the label Eldridge runs with Milo Cordell. Its first writer signing is Daughn Gibson, a US singer-songwriter whose self-released debut album All Hell received rave reviews from Pitchfork. Eldridge describes Gibson’s style as “combining elements of Arthur Russell with Johnny Cash in full country mode”. He is currently recording a new album for SubPop.

The second JV is an off-shoot of the Urok management company Eldridge runs with his father, legendary music executive Roy Eldridge, which represents artists including Plan B, Tribes, Mystery Jets and hotly tipped Columbia artist Tom Odell. It has signed a publishing deal with Gemini, the DJ producer who has done remixes for Lana del Rey and Emeli Sande and is now signed to Island Records as an artist.

Said Eldridge, “Gemini can do it all. Not only is he a great dance producer, he also writes and sings fantastic topline melodies – he is a complete artist.” Gemini’s last single was playlisted at Radio 1 and ‘3D Romeo’, the lead track from his current ‘Mercury’ EP, was Zane Lowe’s Hottest Record in the World.

Alexi Cory-Smith, Senior Vice-President of BMG Chrysalis UK, said, “These signings demonstrate the range and potential of these joint ventures. Sam Eldridge is a hugely talented music executive who richly deserves the title of ‘Manager of the Year’ and we are delighted to be working with him.”

Sam Eldridge said, “BMG is the most dynamic and exciting publisher around today, combining the creativity of its indie heritage with a drive, focus and ambition to compete at the highest level. They have an amazing synch department which can allow smaller artists to become profitable quickly and maximise revenue for bigger artists. It is also genuinely international. We have spoken to every BMG office around the world and it’s clear they immediately get it.”