Thursday 26 March 2015

THE REVOLVING DOOR

Universal Music's President Of Global Digital Business, Rob Wells is leaving the company. UMG chief Lucian Grainge said "I will miss Rob's professionalism, his sense of humour and his commitment to our artists and labels. Rob leaves big shoes to fill and we will be making announcements in the coming days". David Ring, a long-term digital specialist at UMG and most recently Executive VP Of Business Development & Affairs is also departing the major. 

Frank Taubert, the founder and boss of 24-7 Entertainment, a long-standing back-end provider of digital music services, has announced he is leaving the firm to "pursue some new opportunities in the digital media business".

American music rights firm The Bicycle Music Company has confirmed the appointment Jake Wisely as CEO. he was formerly co-President at the company. 

The Agency Group (TAG) booking agent Rob Zifarelli whose acts include Airbourne and the Jezabels has been promoted to Senior Vice President.

ASCAP has announced that Brian Roberts will be the collection society's new COO.

Having lost both their Chairman, Martyn Rose, and Henriette Gotz, the executive director, The English National OPera has appointed Cressida Pollock to be its new interim Chief Executive, reporting to the Board (and not to the ENO's artistic director John Berry). The Arts Council has stripped the ENO of its regular funding and required new structures after concerns over Mr Berry's role. Ms Pollock was previously a management consultant with McKinsey and her clients included the ENO.

AEG Live has named Mark Norman as Senior Vice President of Global Touring and Gary Gersch as President of Global Talent.Global venue managemet giant SMG has appointed Nina Jackson as Regional Director of Marketing for the Midwest USA. She retains her marketing and PR role at NRG Park. 

Twitter's chief music man Bob Moczydlowsky, who joined the social network in 2013 from TopSpin, is leaving the company.

Fearne Cotton is leaving BBC Radio 1. Cotton, who also announced she is expecting her second child last week, told reporters of her decision to quit Radio 1: "After much time and careful thought I have decided to leave Radio 1 after ten amazing years. I have had the most incredible decade broadcasting on Radio 1, meeting wonderful people, helping break artists and watching live music from the world's best". When Cotton leaves in May, her daily 10am-1pm slot will go to newish BBC Radio n1 Sunday night Chart Show host Clara Amfo, who will continue to front the Top 40 countdown programme for the station - although the record industry's move to a Friday global release day may affect this,

Music publisher Sony/ATV have announced the appointment of Rick Krim to the role of Co-President of its US operations.

The London Symphony Orchestra has announced Simon Rattle as its new Music Director, luring him back from Germany, where he has been Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Berlin Philharmonic since 2002. rattle recently gained the support of UK Chancellor George Osbourne in his campaign to build a new  world-class concert hall in London. He said the capital was one of only two major world cities to be without a “proper” venue for orchestral music.

Global Radio's recently launched US division, which is expanding the media group's artist management, music publishing and live business, has announced some appointments. With Randy Phillips now leading Global Entertainment,  their new Global management division has appointed Monti Olson, formerly of Universal Music Publishing, to head up Global's publishing operations; Bob Semanovich, who comes from Capitol Records is Global's SVP Marketing; Nicola Carson, formerly of Modest!, becomes VP Artist Management in LA; and back in London, where the Global music business is also expanding, Ben Karter, who joins from James Grant Management to head up GM Recorded Music in the UK. In addition some existing Global Entertainment execs get new roles within the expanded business, with Paul Adam becoming SVP A&R and Rachel Wood VP Artist Management in London.

Jez Bell is returning to PPL as Chief Licensing Officer. Bell had previously been Director Of Broadcast And Online for PRS For Music, though in more recent years he has been working for digital platform provider Omnifone, and its sister company Rara. At PPL, Bell takes over from Tony Clark, the society's Director Of Licensing, who is retiring after fourteen years with the music rights body. 

Music PR man Jon Bills, most recently with Murray Chalmers PR and before that at Parlophone, has announced that he is launching his own business, Bills PR, a "cross-platform music publicity agency".

Former PPL communications chief Jonathan Morrish is to provide PR consultancy to the UK's other big collecting society PRS For Music, following the departure of the organisation's marketing and communication heads, Ben Anderson and Gill Corish, last month.

Kylie Minogue has parted ways with Roc Nation, who she engaged for management services just two years ago having parted company with her long time manager Terry Blamey.

BBC Radio 1 is set to makecuts in its live music output as the BBC pop station seeks to meet budget demands caused by the freezing of the licence fee in 2010. The cuts will affect Radio 1's  commitment to providing live session opportunities within specialist shows and its coverage of an eclectic range of third-party concerts and festivals.

Steve Martin has been made a partner at Agency for the Performing arts (APA) having spent 14 months as vice-president of worldwide music. He joined APA from The Agency Group. 

Gracenote has hired Ethan Kaplan as its new Senior Vice President and General Manager Of Music. He was previously at Live Nation Labs.

Zayn Malik has left One Direction saying "My life with One Direction has been more than I could ever have imagined. But, after five years, I feel like it is now the right time for me to leave the band. I'd like to apologise to the fans if I've let anyone down, but I have to do what feels right in my heart" ading "I am leaving because I want to be a normal 22 year old who is able to relax and have some private time out of the spotlight", he continued, his decision coming after the latest round of tabloid speculation about his love life. "I know I have four friends for life in Louis, Liam, Harry and Niall. I know they will continue to be the best band in the world".

Kanye West has signed with United Talent Agency (UTA) after leaving CAA and longtime agent Cara Lewis. "The decision to change agencies is based on Kanye's continuing desire to diversify and search for new opportunities", a spokesperson said.

Ashley Charles, aka rapper Amplify Dot, has been hired as an A&R consultant by Warner label Parlophone,

The BPI has announced that its Head Of PR, Lynne McDowell, is to leave the organisation at the end of this month in order to launch her own communications company.

ASCAP, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers has released the results of its biennial election for the Board of Directors. ASCAP President and Chairman of the Board Paul Williams announced the twelve writer and twelve publisher members elected to serve on the Board for a two-year term beginning April 1st, 2015. Newly elected writer member in the at-large field is composer/producer Marcus Miller. In addition to Paul Williams, the writer members who were re-elected in the at-large field are: songwriter Marilyn Bergman; composer Richard Bellis; composer Bruce Broughton; songwriter-producer Desmond Child; composer Alf Clausen; composer Dan Foliart; songwriter Valerie Simpson; songwriter Jimmy Webb; and composer Doug Wood. Elected in the Symphonic and Concert field is composer Alex Shapiro. The publisher directors re-elected in the at-large field are: Martin Bandier, Sony/ATV; Caroline Bienstock, Bienstock Publishing; Barry Coburn, Ten Ten Music; Laurent Hubert, BMG Gold Songs; Dean Kay, Lichelle Music; Leeds Levy, Leeds Music; Mary Megan Peer, peermusic; Matt Pincus, SONGS Music Publishing; Irwin Z. Robinson, Cromwell Music; Michael Sammis, Universal Music Publishing Group; and Cameron Strang, Warner Brothers Music. Re-elected in the Symphonic and Concert field is publisher James Kendrick, Schott Music Corporation/European American Music Corporation.

Dermot O'Leary has announced that he is leaving 'X-Factor', after eight years hosting the show.

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