Caroline pumps up

SWEET CAROLINE: Caroline’s pact with Brad Davidson and Ben Singer’s ThinkSay Records, announced today by the two companies, is but the latest of several proactive recent moves on the part of Capitol Music Group’s indie-distribution wing, led by Dominic Pandiscia and Mike Harris. Some background: UMG had abandoned the Fontana model at the urging of Zach Horowitz when distribution reported to him. Most Universal execs saw this move as another manifestation of Horowitz’s lack of understanding of the marketing/A&R sector of the business. But CMG ruler Steve Barnett, taking note of the vacuum left by that move and knowing full well how valuable RED (with a whopping 7.1% new-release share year to date, led by big albums from Mumford & Sons and Jason Aldean) has been and continues to be for Sony, is building Caroline’s business in conjunction with Pandiscia and Harris. Barnett is giving artists and labels the opportunity to upstream to the CMG promo team, led by Greg Thompson, which has developed a stellar reputation for taking bona fide potential hits developed under the radar and slamming them home. Of special note, Caroline recently inked a distribution deal with ATO, which gives the company the next Alabama Shakes album, among other high-profile records. The company also has the next release from Korn, most recently on Roadrunner. (7/9p)