Graduation Hires UK A&R Veteran Rich Castillo, Expanding its Global Reach

26 September 2024 - Press release

 

UK A&R veteran Rich Castillo has joined Graduation as the new Head of A&R, set to take up the role later this month. Castillo will report directly to Charlie Lycett, Founder and CEO of Graduation, a global music company known for its innovative approach to artist development.

In his new position, Castillo will oversee the creative direction of A&R strategy for the company, which has seen success with artists like Brent Faiyaz, Nemzzz, Cash Cobain, and Sexyy Red. Graduation continues to be a key player in shaping the future of emerging talent, recently achieving success with Kairo Keyz's breakout hit 'GANG.'

In addition to his role at Graduation, Castillo will be launching his own label, Lionbear Records, which will be distributed via Graduation's label services arm. Lionbear will focus on signing and developing a new generation of artists, further expanding Graduation’s impact on the industry.

Rich Castillo, with extensive experience at Polydor Records, Atlantic Music, and EMI Records, brings a wealth of expertise to his new position. His tenure at EMI saw him serving as SVP of A&R, leading their A&R team while working on key projects like Olivia Dean, Elton John, The Libertines and more recently Chase & Status.

Speaking on his new role, Castillo said: "I’m looking forward to working closely with Charlie and the team at Graduation. Charlie has built an incredible team of young execs that have driven the company so far. This next phase will make Graduation a destination for ambitious artists that want forward-thinking deals."

Charlie Lycett, Founder and CEO of Graduation, added: "Rich brings a wealth of experience and creativity to Graduation. His track record speaks for itself, and we’re excited to have him on board as we continue to push boundaries and create new opportunities for artists."