Universal Music Group UK launches Fontana – legendary label becomes the new home of jazz, folk, blues and soul in the UK, helmed by Tom Lewis as President

25 September 2025 - Press release

LAURA MONKS TO TAKE SOLE LEADERSHIP OF ICONIC DECCA RECORDS, RENOWNED LEADER IN CLASSICAL AND INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

  

Universal Music Group UK, the UK’s leading music company, has today announced the return of legendary label Fontana – the new home of jazz, folk, blues, alternative and soul in the UK. It will be helmed by Tom Lewis as President, who moves from his role as Co-President of Decca Records. Fontana’s roster will include internationally-acclaimed artists Jacob Collier, AURORA, Jeff Goldblum, Jordan Rakei, Melody Gardot, Victor Ray, The Teskey Brothers and dodie.

Laura Monks becomes sole President of Decca as the label enters a new era celebrating artistic excellence and innovation across unique musical worlds – from classical, instrumental, ambient and electronic, to film and TV soundtracks, gaming and original composition. Monks will be responsible for overseeing the outstanding artist rosters of Decca Records, Decca Classics, Mercury KX and Hyperion, including Ludovico Einaudi, Andrea Bocelli, Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Lise Davidsen, Yunchan Lim and Max Richter.

Dickon Stainer, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music UK, said: “These changes reflect our commitment to supporting artistic excellence in these great genres of music. I’m delighted to see Tom and Laura shaping the future of both labels, and opening new avenues of discovery for artists and fans across the world.”                          

Tom Lewis, President of Fontana, commented: “Some of the most important jazz records ever made arrived on these shores carrying the Fontana logo. We begin this new chapter of the label with an ambitious and experienced team, a sense of adventure, and a formidably talented roster of artists.”

Laura Monks, President of Decca Records, added: “It is an honour to lead this prestigious label into a new era. Decca has navigated and evolved over an astounding 96 years but remains a source of musical excellence, cultural connection and discovery. I look forward to building on these values and reaching even wider global audiences with a growing team of passionate experts.”

Founded over 70 years ago as part of Phillips, Fontana played a pivotal role in recorded jazz history. Legendary musicians who released under the logo include Frank Sinatra, Miles Davis, Chet Baker, Dave Brubeck, Art Blakey, Clifford Brown and Eric Dolphy, as well as icons of British jazz such as Tubby Hayes, Cleo Laine and Ronnie Scott. The label also enjoyed a number of pop, folk and jazz hits over the years including The Troggs’ ‘Wild Thing’, ‘The Game of Love’ by Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders, and ‘Je T’Aime, Moi Non Plus’ by Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg. ‘Keep On Running’ by the Spencer Davis Group and Manfred Mann’s ‘Mighty Quinn’ were among its five UK No 1 hits.

Fontana was a hub of talent development in the 60s, with early releases from Jimmy Page (his first single ‘She Just Satisfies’), Elton John’s first band Bluesology and a mod outfit from West London called The High Numbers who would go on to become The Who. In the late 80s and 90s, the label enjoyed success with acts including The Fall, James, The House of Love, Tears for Fears, Swing Out Sister and Oleta Adams.

As Fontana returns to the UK, a new wave of global talent joins the label – continuing its ethos of experimentation and discovery. Fontana also becomes the UK home for the world’s leading jazz, folk, blues and soul artists from across Universal Music’s affiliate labels Blue Note, Verve, and Impulse!.

Decca Records, with its own rich history of discovering and developing new artists, continues to showcase the best of British and international classical talent across its roster of labels. It is renowned for its world-leading roster of artist-composers such as Ólafur Arnalds, and its unmatched vocal and operatic legacy including the historic recordings of Luciano Pavarotti. Decca will continue to be the UK home for affiliate labels Deutsche Grammophon and Decca US. The revitalised label will focus on exceptional artistry, musical innovation and creative entrepreneurship.

Having been at Decca for 14 years, most recently as Co-President with Tom Lewis (since 2021), Laura Monks has a deep understanding of the label and its legacy. Under her leadership, the label is set to evolve, whilst maintaining its position as a worldwide leader for classical, instrumental and score music. Among the highly-anticipated soundtracks set to be released on Decca are Max Richter’s Hamnet and Paddington The Musical.

With the launch of Fontana, and a new era for Decca, both labels are set to bring a renewed focus on jazz and classical music in the UK and beyond. These changes also underline Universal Music Group’s commitment to developing new talent in these areas and supporting its extraordinary artists around the world.