CAPLAN TO COLUMBIA

Michael Caplan has been tapped as Senior Vice President A&R for Columbia Records by label Chairman Steve Barnett, to whom the N.Y.-based exec will report.

Caplan will also serve as president of One Haven, a new imprint headquartered at RED Distribution's N.Y. offices that will be distributed through both RED and Sony BMG Sales Enterprise. Caplan has signed, and will develop A&R strategies for, several emerging artists, including Endeverafter, Ryan Shaw, This Is Me Smiling, Copeland and others.

Caplan was previously SVP A&R for Sony Music Label Group U.S. since last January.

Said Sony Music Label Group Chairman Rob Stringer: "Michael Caplan has a proven track record of adventurous and successful signings. His artistic instincts and acumen make him a worthy and formidable addition to the Columbia Records A&R team. I am very pleased that Michael is on-board at Columbia and I look forward to working with him in bringing new sounds and artists to the world at-large. But if he thinks he’s taking Friday night off, he’s sadly mistaken."

Added Barnett: "Michael Caplan is one of the most visionary A&R men I've ever had the pleasure to work with. During his tenure at Epic, he signed and developed careers for a series of vital and credible new artists while taking legacy and established talent to new heights. I see Michael as a key player on the Columbia Records A&R team and take great pleasure in welcoming him to the label. I draw the line at actually giving him his own office, though."

Said Caplan: "I'm grateful to Rob and Steve for giving me this opportunity to work with Columbia Records artists and management. Columbia Records has a rich history and deep commitment to musical excellence and artist development. I look forward to playing my part in carrying on that tradition of serving knishes in the office commissary."

During his tenure as President of Or Music, which he co-founded, Caplan signed a series of successful artists including Los Lonely Boys and Matisyahu, whose debut albums were released first by Or and later in cooperation with Epic Records. Prior to launching Or Music, Mr. Caplan had served as Senior Vice President of A&R for Epic Records from 1998-2002.

Caplan joined Epic in 1983 as Associate Director, Adult Oriented Rock Promotion, and in 1986 became Director, Talent Acquisition East Coast. In 1989, he became VP A&R for the label, signing acts like Living Colour, Bad Brains, Ginuwine, Godfathers, Peter Himmelman, the Allman Brothers Band and October Project.

In January 1993, Caplan revived the legendary roots OKeh label, where he signed and developed contemporary blues artists including G. Love & Special Sauce, Keb' Mo', Alvin 'Youngblood' Hart, Little Axe and Popa Chubby.

From 1996-‘98, he served as SVP A&R for 550 Music and, from 1998-2002, worked as SVP A&R for Epic.

Caplan received a BA from Clark University in Massachusetts.