FRONT LINE EXPANDS WITH VETS FAIR AND PALMESE

Reflecting the constantly changing dynamic of the music industry, Front Line Management has initiated two consultancies within the offices of Azoff Music and Front Line Management.

As we hipped you to last week, veterans Ron Fair and Richard Palmese will bring their experience and talents—in their respective fields of A&R/record production and marketing and promotion—to work closely with CEO Irving Azoff and his Front Line management team in creating and developing viable strategies to meet the needs of artists in today’s ever-changing music industry.

“When proven industry superstars such as Richard and Ron are available, I know I need to have them join the Front Line team. Our artists and managers have just hit the lottery,” said Azoff, Chairman/CEO of the Front Line Management Group.

"Teaming up with Irving Azoff is a spectacular new beginning for me,” said Fair. “I look forward to working closely with Irving, Richard Palmese and Front Line's incomparable roster of managers and artists. We will also focus on discovering, nurturing and developing a new generation of superstars and hit music-intensive branded entertainment."

“I am thrilled to be working with Irving and the Front Line team, and we’re ready to blaze new trails with Front Line's talented artists and managers,” said Palmese. “Working with Ron Fair is an added bonus, and I am confident that together we will create winning strategies across all musical platforms.”

Fair has a successful 30-year track record as an in-demand A&R executive and record producer. He is best known for discovering and shepherding the career of Christina Aguilera, and is highly regarded for his contributions to producing and providing A&R services for the Black Eyed Peas, Fergie, the Pussycat Dolls, Mary J. Blige and Queen Latifah, among others. His recordings have garnered 18 Grammy awards, and he is responsible for over two hundred million albums sold. Most recently, he enjoyed a 10-year association with Interscope as President of A&M Records and Chairman of Geffen Records, while he previously held positions at Chrysalis Records, RCA Records, Island Records and EMI Records. Fair’s current projects include Matt Goss, children’s’ television show The Gonnabeez (w/Andy Heyward’s A-squared Entertainment), the New Pussycat Dolls, and this season’s finalists from NBC and Universal Republic’s hit show The Voice.

Palmese began his career in the music business in the late ‘60s as a morning DJ at KSHE radio while attending St. Louis University. He soon joined Clive Davis at the newly formed Arista Records in 1975 and was named SVP of Promotion in 1980. He joined MCA Records as EVP Marketing and Promotion in 1983, and was named President of MCA Records from 1990-’95, before returning to work with Davis in 1996 as SVP at Arista Records. In 2000, Palmese was named EVP of Promotion for the newly formed J Records, then served as EVP of Promotion for the RCA Music Group, including the J, RCA and Arista labels. During his many years in the music business, he has been instrumental in the career development of many artists, including Barry Manilow, Whitney Houston, Elton John, Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle, Alicia Keys, B.B. King, Usher, Outkast, Carlos Santana, Rod Stewart, Sarah McLachlan, Dave Matthews Band, Avril Lavigne, Kelly Clarkson, Maroon 5, Christina Aguilera, Gavin DeGraw, Luther Vandross, Dido, Sean Combs, Foo Fighters, Kings of Leon, Pitbull, Jennifer Hudson, Calvin Harris and Ke$ha.