RCA’S JAMIESON TO GET TOP SLOT AT BMG NORTH AMERICA

Sources said Schmidt-Holtz is currently assembling an executive committee to manage BMG's worldwide label operations. Joining Jamieson on that committee will be BMG G/S/A chief Thomas Stein and Arista President/ CEO Antonio "L.A." Reid, among others.

Stein's European division is one of BMG's most successful global operations.

BMG is expected to roll out its management structure over the coming weeks. Jamieson's elevation could come down as early as the end of this week, sources said.

BMG officials declined to comment on these prospective developments.

Jamieson, largely credited with bringing RCA to profitability after taking over in 1995, was in line to be named Chairman of the recently formed RCA Music Group, which encompasses RCA, BMG Classics and Windham Hill, by former BMG President/CEO Strauss Zelnick.

Zelnick, however, did not finalize the deals with Jamieson and his second, RCA Executive VP/GM Jack Rovner, who was to be named President of the unit. Both Zelnick and his successor, Rudi Gassner, were said to have green-lighted the Jamieson/Rovner promotions at the RCA Music Group but no official announcement had been made. Following Gassner's untimely death last month, new CEO Schmidt-Holtz reportedly decided to change the structure of the whole BMG label group, positioning Jamieson in a prominent role.

Sources said Rovner's elevation to President of RCA Music Group is still in the cards.

Jamieson's music-industry career spans three decades, much of that time spent at Columbia and PolyGram, where he worked closely with music industry architect Dick Asher. He was brought into the BMG family by Gassner, who appointed him President of the company's Canadian operations before Zelnick named him President of RCA.