BMG names Jamie Nelson & Gemma Reilly to head UK frontline record business 17 Feb 2020
BMG today announces that Jamie Nelson (VP A&R) and Gemma Reilly (VP Marketing UK) are to jointly steer BMG's frontline recordings business reporting to President, Repertoire & Marketing UK Alistair Norbury.
Together Nelson and Reilly have been pivotal in delivering consecutive Number One albums for Kylie, the first Number One album for Jack Savoretti, a Top 10 single for KSI, a Top Five album for Richard Hawley and the crossover successes of both Luke Evans and Aled Jones & Russell Watson.
Following a 2019 in which the company again strongly outperformed the UK market, BMG's 2020 schedule includes major releases from The Shires, Amy MacDonald and Groove Armada.
According to the Official Charts Company, BMG in the UK increased its album sales by 11.9% against a market decline of 0.4% in 2019. In streaming it increased volume by 24.4% against a market increase of 15.3%.
"We are now the most successful UK record company outside of the three traditional majors," said Norbury. "A&R and marketing are the foundations upon which we consistently deliver for artists and outperform industry trends by maintaining robust physical sales while hitting new heights in streaming."
Gemma Reilly has enjoyed a string of successes at BMG with artists including Jack Savoretti, Rick Astley and Texas, and has previously been named to the Women In Music Roll Of Honour and Management Today's "35 under 35" list. Jamie Nelson joined BMG in 2015, having worked with artists including Kylie Minogue, Lily Allen, and Eliza Doolittle. His work with Kylie on her 2018 BMG album Golden helped return her to the top of the charts in four countries including the UK.
As part of the new structure, Korda Marshall has extended his deal with BMG after five successful years since the sale of his Infectious Music label to the company. He will continue to A&R artists such as The DMA'S, alt-J, RY X, Richard Ashcroft and Morrissey as well as a string of recent new signings to be announced shortly.
Said Norbury, "Korda is a byword for good taste and achievement in A&R, and has justly been named an 'A&R Icon'. We are delighted that five years after the acquisition of Infectious that he has agreed to extend his successful collaboration with BMG. We are privileged to have Gemma and Jamie at the helm whilst retaining the invaluable counsel of Korda Marshall."
NEWS & PRESS
Sony Music UK & Ireland COO, Nicola Tuer, will be leaving the business for family reasons at the end of September
Nicola's career at Sony Music UK spans nearly 30 years, steadily rising from the sales department to being appointed Sony's first female Chief Operating Officer in 2014 – making her one of the most senior women in the UK music industry for many...more
IFPI launches four new music charts in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and North Africa
Further charts follow successful launch of first ever regional MENA chart in November 2022 IFPI, representing the recording industry worldwide, has today announced the launch of four new charts, giving music fans, record labels and artists an official ranking on the top...more
UK Music Video Awards 2023: Nominations revealed ahead of awards ceremony on 26 October
HARRY STYLES & METTE LEAD THE FIELD IN THE ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF GLOBAL MUSIC VIDEO CREATIVITY It’s a tie for the top in this year’s UK Music Video Awards shortlists with 6 nominations apiece for Harry Styles, and breakthrough US artist,...more
More winners announced for the Artist & Manager Awards 2023 in association with beatBread
Bello named Manager of the Year for developing Central Cee’s global business (award sponsored by PPL) Debbie ‘Cookie’ Pryce & Susan Banfield aka The Cookie Crew recognised as Pioneers (award sponsored by TikTok) The Flight Club’s Samuel Ademosu & Ruth Gyaniao to...more
William Hsieh appointed Managing Director of Universal Music Taiwan
Universal Music Greater China (UMGC), a division of Universal Music Group (UMG), the world leader in music-based entertainment, today announced the appointment of seasoned industry executive William Hsieh as Managing Director of Universal Music Taiwan, and Senior Vice President of UMGC, effective immediately. William Hsieh will...more
AIM Awards 2023: Hospital Records, Rough Bones, Caius Pawson & Resident Music Victorious
Avelino wins Best Independent Album in association with Spotify – takes to stage for 50 years of Hip Hop celebration supported by BBC 1Xtra RAYE and 070 Shakewin Best Track in association with Meta, Shygirl wins UK Independent Breakthrough Other winners include...more
Pablo Bowman Navarro wins 3 ASCAP London Music Awards including Songwriter Of The Year
Steve Mac Takes Home Song of the Year and Top Streaming Song for “Shivers” by Ed Sheeran Daniel Pemberton Wins 2 Box Office Film of the Year Awards; Mogwai and Jonny Greenwood Pick Up TV and Film Composition Awards ASCAP, the American Society...more
The BRIT Awards 2024
Confirmed to return in primetime Saturday evening slotSaturday 2nd MarchBroadcast live exclusively on ITV1 and ITVX Damian Christian continues to oversee as BRIT Committee Chair Mastercard, ITV and The O2 arena renew long-standing partnerships The BRIT Awards 2024 with Mastercard today confirms that next...more
Music tech company Audoo appoints Melanie Johnson as Chief Commercial Officer during continued international expansion
The esteemed business development executive adds to Audoo's growing team of international industry experts. Joining Audoo's global expansion and mission to revolutionise public performance royalties for music creators, licensees and businesses worldwide. Audoo—the music technology company revolutionising public performance royalties—has appointed Melanie...more
The Police Officially Join TikTok
Having originally formed in 1977, one of the most legendary groups of all time known for their infectious melodies and genre bending new wave sounds, The Police (@ThePolice) have officially joined TikTok. Celebrating the 40th anniversary of their groundbreaking album Synchronicity this year, the iconic...more
BMG acquires Jet's recordings catalogue
BMG is pleased to announce it has acquired the recordings catalogue of multi-platinum and award-winning Australian rock band Jet. The deal with BMG includes Australian and New Zealand rights to the band's first two albums, Get Born and Shine On,and the global royalty stream...more
John Saunderson rejoins Notting Hill Music Group
The Notting Hill Music Group is delighted to announce the return of John Saunderson as Head of Creative Services. His portfolio will include writer, song and catalogue development, overseeing collaborations and songcamps all over the world and the identification and...more
Let Me Hear Your Data Talk: Spindl Revolutionizes Data Analysis for the Music Business
Data is everything in the music business. It can tell you all you need to know, but it too often stays silent. Fragmented across file formats and platforms, music pros don't know precisely what they have, what it's worth, what...more
Music Venue Trust calls on UK government to extend business rate relief for grassroots music venues
Venues Closing at Rate of More Than One a Week with 4000 Job Losses in Last 12 Months Music Venue Trust (MVT), the charity which represents almost 900 UK grassroots music venues (GMVs), has called on the UK Government to extend business...more
Music Mudder 2023 raises over £61,000 for Nordoff and Robbins Music Therapy
Music Mudder 2023, the hotly contested music-inspired endurance event organised by leading talent agency Wasserman Music, in partnership with music therapy charity, Nordoff and Robbins, successfully raised over £61,000 and counting for the charity, leaving no clean shirts in sight in...more
BBC Radio 6 Music presents New Music Fix Live in Glasgow this November
Today on their New Music Fix Daily show on BBC Radio 6 Music (7-9pm), Tom Ravenscroft and Deb Grant announced New Music Fix Live – a four-day celebration of emerging artists and Glasgow's vibrant music scene, which will be broadcast...more
Stars to take to the stage to honour Gary Brooker
LEGENDS INCLUDING ROGER TAYLOR, ERIC CLAPTON, MIKE RUTHERFORD AND PAUL CARRACK TO PERFORM AT CHARITY GIG AT GUILDFORD G LIVE ON 4TH DECEMBER A very special concert is being held to commemorate Gary Brooker MBE on Monday 4th December 2023 at...more
Warner Music India expands partnership with Sky Digital India
Warner Music India has signed a joint venture deal with Sky Digital, India’s fastest-growing Punjabi music content consortium and aggregator, significantly expanding their partnership. The companies penned a strategic partnership in 2021, but have now entered into a new phase of...more
Dotun Bolaji joins Primary Talent International
Primary Talent International’s Managing Partner and CEO Matt Bates today announces that Dotun Bolaji has joined the company as an agent, effective immediately. He will be based in the company’s London offices. Bolaji joins from Runway Artists. He brings a roster...more
Building an inclusive & equitable pipeline for Future Music Leaders: Jewel John announced as 6th Richard Antwi Scholar
The Richard Antwi Scholarship announced today that Jewel John is its sixth scholar, who will be awarded a full scholarship for a place on University of Westminster's highly regarded Music Business Management MA course, commencing later this month. Jewel will also receive an additional new 'London Living Wage Stipend', through generous funding from Universal Music UK,...more
Stormzy to play 2024 Formula 1 British Grand Prix as Silverstone takes music offering to the next level
Rudimental and Pete Tong presents Ibiza Classics will also feature, with Thursday's Opening Concert acts still to be announced Silverstone has today announced the first names on its star-studded music line up for the 2024 British Grand Prix. Having attracted record...more
Greatest Hits Radio launches new Premium station – Greatest Hits Grooves
Following the recent launch of Ken Bruce’s Secret 60s, Greatest Hits Radio has today announced its latest Premium station – Greatest Hits Grooves. Rhythm of the Night host Des Paul will be bringing 24/7 Soul, Funk, Disco and Motown to listeners who subscribe to Greatest Hits Radio’s Premium service....more
Abbey Road Studios announces the winners from the second Abbey Road Music Photography Awards
The awards celebrate the unforgettable, unique and unsung music images of 2022 Abbey Road Studios, the world’s most celebrated recording studio has tonight confirmed the winners from the Abbey Road Studios Music Photography Awards 2023, following a glittering awards ceremony at...more
ZEBRALUTION Restructures Management Team for Strategic Growth
German independent digital distributor ZEBRALUTION is set to restructure its management team, with COO Tina Jürgens and renowned label veteran Konrad von Löhneysen to be appointed Co-CEOs. Company co-founder Kurt Thielen will step down as CEO at the end of...more
The inaugural Rolling Stone UK Awards
THE INAUGURAL ROLLING STONE UK AWARDS, IN COLLABORATION WITH REÌMY MARTIN, SET FOR 23RD NOVEMBER AT CAMDEN’S ROUNDHOUSETwo years on from the launch of the UK edition of ROLLING STONE, the world’s greatest music and popular culture magazine, comes the inaugural presentation of the ROLLING STONE UK AWARDS,...more
Radio DJ Steve Lamacq appointed new LIVE Chair, and joins LIVE’s evolving Board
LIVE, the voice of the UK’s live music industry, has appointed live music advocate and Radio DJ Steve Lamacq as its new Chair. This comes as LIVE also welcomes its 16th member, Musicians’ Union (The MU), and appoints three new co-opted...more
Pieter van Rijn joins the Board of Directors at Downtown Music Holdings
Downtown Music Holdings today announced the appointment of Pieter van Rijn, President of the group’s business and professional services division, Downtown Music, to its Board of Directors. “When we first set out to transform Downtown Music, our B2B division, into a...more
Great Escape Announces First Fifty Live Shows
FIRST FIFTY, THE LIVE LAUNCH OF THE GREAT ESCAPE 2024, RETURNS TO EAST LONDON ON 15 NOVEMBER 2023 INCLUDING PERFORMANCES FROM: PICTURE PARLOUR, ENOLA, THE NEW EVES, BABYMOROCCO, FRIEDBERG, GIA FORD, BIG SPECIAL, OSCAR BROWNE, TOM RASMUSSEN AND MORE Today, The Great Escape announces the highly...more
UK music-makers call for consent, respect and remuneration to be central to all music AI
The Council Of Music Makers – representing UK songwriters, composers, artists, musicians, producers and music managers – has today published five fundamentals that should be fully embraced by technology companies and the music industry as they develop new music AI...more
The Record Club with Bowers & Wilkins unveils brand new look and celebrates launch across Spotify and TikTok
Record Store Day, National Album Day and Official Charts’ live stream series will be available to watch in full on Spotify from 20 September The Record Club with Bowers & Wilkins today unveils a brand-new look as the music series supporting new album...more
THE HEADLINES
Scott Cohen talks new song investment platform JKBX: ‘We feel very strongly that these are securities’ (see Features)
Publishers hit back at X’s move to dismiss infringement lawsuit (see News)
Let’s reform streaming without a two-tier system (see Comment)
Spotify’s long-awaited HiFi tier could finally be getting closer to launch (see Digital)
Deezer raises subscription prices for the second time in 12 months (see Digital)
CMOs should license publishing rights for musical works as NFTs (see Opinion)
The myth of fan power (see Opinion)
Holding Apple accountable: The future of the internet economy depends on it (see Opinion)
Who wins and who loses under a user centric streaming model? (see Analysis)
BMG goes direct on streaming after revenues triple (see Business)
BMI must either cut costs or raise revenue to grow profits - and songwriters are worried (see Features)
Investment funds are now selling the rock songs they bought (see Comment)
Why Saudi Arabia will invest more in music (see Comment)
Streaming services and retailers publish joint vision to drive entertainment market (see Reports)
IMPALA responds to Deezer and UMG’s proposal on streaming (see Comment)