SONY/ATV ROLLS A JOINT IN THE U.K.

Sony/ATV has upped Janice Brock and David Ventura to the newly created positions of Joint Head of A&R, U.K., effective immediately.

Brock will double as head of the pubco’s U.K. management division, while Ventura continues in his role of VP International. Both report into Guy Moot, who holds the lofty title of U.K. Managing Director and President, European Creative. Moot, the announcement notes, will continue to work closely with the A&R team, while widening his focus on creative and other areas of the business.

This morning’s release contains the requisite quotes, highlighted immediately below.

Moot: “David and Janice…are the very soul of this company, while possessing management skills and experience that put them at the forefront of where a 21st century A&R department needs to be.

“David really epitomizes what modern A&R is all about. He can do one-off hits and sign deals for great repertoire, but he also knows how to develop meaningful career artists, as his remarkable roster of acts testifies.

“Janice comes with a huge amount of music-industry experience. The modern A&R executive has to understand the needs of songwriters and how to get the best out of them, and no one can do that better than her.”

Brock: “We are grateful to Guy for having the confidence to entrust the A&R department to us. Sony/ATV has had an incredible rise in the past half-decade and has the perfect blend of success and creativity, which makes us always strive to be the publisher of choice for writers, artists and producers.”

Ventura: “This exciting new opportunity is going to be gripping and super-challenging, which I am very much looking forward to. I would like to thank Guy and Marty Bandier for their confidence in us. It has been an incredible journey since my arrival in the U.K. four and a half years ago. I am honored and feel very lucky to continue this adventure with such an extraordinary roster and a unique team here at Sony/ATV.”

Brock joined Sony/ATV in 2007, initially in the New York office under Bandier, having previously worked at EMI Music Publishing. She relocated to Sony/ATV’s London office in 2008. Among her signings are Kasabian, Naughty Boy, Mikky Ekko, Fraser T Smith, Jamie Scott and Krept & Konan.

Ventura joined EMP’s London office in July 2010 as VP of European Creative, having previously worked at Paris-based NRJ Music. The artists and writers he’s signed or worked with include Clean Bandit, Passenger, Shift K3Y, Gorgon City, Blonde, Porter Robinson and Martin Solveig.