Warner Music UK is making two changes in its leadership and shaking up its label structure. Abbey Road Studios MD Isabel Garvey will become chief operating officer of Warner Music UK and Jennifer Ivory is taking over as managing director of Parlophone. The two assume their jobs 5/9.
In addition, Parlophone will join Warner Records UK, Roadrunner, FFRR and Elektra Entertainment in a newly created coalition of labels that will sit under the overall guidance of Warner Records UK President Joe Kentish.
Parlophone will maintain independent A&R and marketing functions but will now draw on a centralized team of experts and adopt a shared service approach to the other key functions.
WMUK CEO Tony Harlow made the announcements following the release of Warner Music Group CEO Robert Kyncl’s announcement that the company was cutting the staff by 4% globally. As part of the U.K. changes, Parlophone Co-Presidents Nick Burgess and Mark 'Mitch' Mitchell, and General Manager Jack Melhuish will exit the label.
"This is an exciting new phase for WMUK,” Harlow said. “Isabel’s appointment signals our constant evolution, bringing her widely admired creativity, innovation and technological entrepreneurship to the service of our artists and their visions. Jen has been with us for over 14 years and has grown into one of the most exceptional and influential voices at WMUK and one of our best marketeers. She supervised four #1 albums last year alone. Under her leadership, Parlophone’s employees will be dedicated to signing and developing the next generation of outstanding talent."
Lana Del Rey is heading for her sixth U.K. Official Albums #1 while Ed Sheeran looks set to dethrone Miley Cyrus on singles.
Del Rey's Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd (Polydor) is on track to debut at #1 on Friday.
The set leads an all-new midweek Top 5, with Depeche Mode’s Memento Mori (Columbia) at #2, Fall Out Boy’s So Much (for) Stardust (Parlophone) at #3 and Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon – Live at Wembley 1974 (Parlophone) at #4. Luke Combs rounds out the Top 5 with Gettin’ Old (Sony).
Other new entries that look set to land in this week’s Top 10 include BABYMETAL with The Other One (Cooking Vinyl/5B) at #7; the 50th anniversary release of Elton John’s Honky Chateau (Mercury) at #8; and Katie Melua’s Love & Money (BMG) at #10.
On the U.K.’s Official Singles midweeks, Sheeran’s new single “Eyes Closed” (Atlantic) is heading for #1 as Miley’s “Flowers” (RCA) moves down to #2.
BTS member Jimin has the second highest new entry, “Like Crazy” (Big Hit), debuting at #7 today. Jax Jones and Calum Scott’s “Whistle” (Polydor) could jump five spots this Friday to its highest peak yet at #20.
U2 has secured their 11th U.K. Official Albums #1 with Songs of Surrender (Island), tying with David Bowie for the most #1 albums. Over on singles, Miley Cyrus remains on top.
U2 outsold their closest competition by more than 2:1 to reach today’s summit. The set is their first chart-topping LP in over a decade.
With The Eras Tour kicking off stateside, Taylor Swift winds up with five albums in today’s Top 40. Midnights (EMI) is #4, 1989 (Apollo A-1) is #18, Lover at #23, folklore is #26 and Reputation hits #33. Swift also has this week’s highest new entry at singles: “All The Girls You Loved Before” (EMI) is #11.
Brighton band Black Honey have a career peak with A Fistful of Peaches (Foxfive) at #6. All Time Low’s Tell Me I’m Alive (Fueled By Ramen) debuts at #12.
On the U.K.’s Official Singles Chart, “Flowers” (RCA) is now the longest-running #1 by a female solo artist this decade. Miley overtakes Oliva Rodrigo, who held the record of nine weeks with 2021’s “drivers license” (Interscope).
“Miracle” (Columbia) by Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding, the most downloaded track of the week, moved up to #2. Rema’s “Calm Down” (Mavin) has its highest peak yet at #4, as Libianca’s “People” (5K) also rises, to #5.
London rapper Strandz is up one to #9 with “Us Against the World” (Relentless). Metro Boomin’s “Creepin” (Republic) with 21 Savage and The Weeknd leaps 23 places to break back into the Top 10 at #10, following the release of a remix with Diddy.
New research from British trade body BPI asserts that streaming enabled more artists to have success and earn a living in 2022 when compared with 2007, a time when the CD was the leading format.
The org analyzed data from the Official Charts Company and found that the 10 leading streaming artists made up 4.9% of the audio streaming market in the U.K. last year. In 2007, the top 10 artists made up 10.9% of that year’s artist album sales.
The trend becomes even more pronounced further down the market. While the top 100 artists in 2007 claimed 45.1% of artist album sales during the year, the 100 leading streaming artists last year made up 19% of 2022’s audio streaming numbers, says the BPI.
Its research also shows that nearly 90% (87.8%) of artist album sales in 2007 were achieved by 1,000 artists. Last year, the top 1,000 streaming artists claimed 50.1% of streams.
BPI Chief Strategy Officer and Interim Chief Executive Sophie Jones said the numbers prove that the streaming market is “enabling more artists to achieve real success and earn a meaningful living by opening up huge opportunities in the recorded music market.”
“This includes a blossoming generation of talent who are developing dedicated and enthusiastic fanbases alongside artists with mainstream followings. They are generating many millions of streams, as well as significant royalties each year.”
Various Artists Management has hired former EMI exec Joe Etchells as head of A&R and Artist Development.
Based in London and L.A., Etchells will work across the company’s artist management, music publishing and label operations with artists including Ashnikko, Tom Grennan, La Roux, The Libertines and Supergrass. He reports to Various CEO David Bianchi and U.K. MD John Dawkins.
“When we were looking for A&R expertise that could traverse management, publishing and records, Joe was the obvious choice,” Bianchi said. “His recent form has been incredible, and he joins us at an exciting time to be able to continue that success.”
At EMI, where he was A&R director, Etchells oversaw top five albums over the last five years from Bastille, Blossoms, Loyle Carner, Doves and The Vamps. Prior to joining UMG, Etchells worked at BMG Publishing, Wildlife Entertainment, UMPG, Independiente and The Outside Organization.
U2 are outselling the rest of the Top 5 combined on today’s U.K. Official Chart midweek update , while Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding are challenging Miley Cyrus for the top spot at singles.
Songs of Surrender (Island) should become U2’s 11th #1 album in the U.K. on Friday.
Indie rock act Black Honey are heading toward a career peak with A Fistful of Peaches (Foxfive) starting at #3. All Time Low are also new, with Tell Me I’m Alive (Fueled By Ramen), at #6.
Sundowners (Golden Robot) by the Irish band The Answer starts at #12; Inspiral Carpets’ The Complete Singles (Mute Records) is heading for #16.
On the U.K.’s Official Singles midweek update, “Miracle” (Columbia) by Harris and Goulding has moved up to #2. Unless it moves further ahead over the coming days, Cyrus’ “Flowers” (RCA) will remain at #1 for a 10th consecutive week.
Taylor Swift is heading for this week’s highest new entry with “All The Girls You Loved Before” (EMI) at #5.
Rema’s “Calm Down” (Mavin) could reach its highest peak yet at #4, as Libianca’s “People” (5K) rises to #6 following the arrival of a new remix with Cian Ducrot. BTS member Jimin could have his first solo Top 20 with “Set Me Free Pt. 2” (Big Hit) at #14.
Lewis Capaldi’s “How I’m Feeling Now” (UMG) is set to land at #19, while Hozier’s comeback track, “Eat Your Young” (Rubyworks/UMG), could become his Top 40 single in eight years at #21.
SMP U.K. has partnered with Chosen Music to ink breakthrough singer-songwriter Caity Baser to a global pub deal.
The 20-year-old recently earned her first U.K. Top 40 single with “Pretty Boys” from her debut EP, Thanks for Nothing, See You Never, which dropped on 2/17 via EMI/Chosen Music. The track has risen to #26 on the U.K. Officials Singles Chart.
With over 50m global streams, Baser also sold 10k+ tickets on her sold-out debut U.K. tour, which kicks off on 4/7 with ten dates across the U.K. and Ireland, including a show at London’s O2 Forum Kentish Town.
“I'm really starting to feel like I’m finding my feet in the music industry and I’m so happy to have Chosen & Sony by my side to help me as I grow,” said Baser.
“Caity has a clear vision for her music and I am delighted to partner with David, Tim, Felix, Lily and the rest of the Sony Music Publishing family around the world to help take her songs to as wide an audience as possible,” added Chosen Music President, Alistair Goldsmith.
“Through her abundance of personality, charisma and drive, Caity is without a doubt an ambassador of her generation,” shared David Ventura, President & Co-Managing Director, U.K., SVP International, SMP.
Photo credit: Lily Craigen
The Lathums have their second U.K. Official Albums #1 with From Nothing to a Little Bit More (Island). Over on singles, Miley Cyrus claims an eighth week on top.
The Lathums won a tight chart battle with Slowthai, whose UGLY (Method) finishes just 700 sales behind at #2.
Mimi Webb’s debut, Amelia (RCA), lands at #4. I Can Only Be Me (Blix Street) provides the late Eva Cassidy with her highest peak in 12 years, at #9.
A reissue of De La Soul’s 1989 debut, 3 Feet High and Rising (Chrysalis), scores a new peak at #12, while the self-released An Ocean Full of Islands from folk act Tide Lines lands at #13.
Morgan Wallen makes his Top 40 debut as One Thing at a Time (Big Loud/Mercury/Republic) lands at #40.
On the U.K.’s Official Singles Chart, Cyrus’ “Flowers” (RCA) becomes the longest running #1 since LF System’s “Afraid to Feel” (Warner Records) last summer.
PinkPantheress’ "Boy’s a liar" (Parlophone) is just 1k sales behind at #2. Can it steal Miley’s crown next week?
The Ariana Grande remix of The Weeknd’s “Die for You” (Republic/Island) has a new peak at #3, while Libianca’s “People” (5K) rises three to #8.
Outside the Top 10, rapper Strandz reaches #12 with “Us Against The World” (Relentless), as Mimi Webb’s “Red Flags” climbs four to #13.
Cian Ducrot’s “I’ll Be Waiting” (Polydor) rebounds one to #17, while Mae Stephens’ “If We Ever Broke Up” (EMI) is up two to #18.
