NEWTON TAKES ON NIPPER A&R

Ex-Virgin America Co-President Ashley Newton has officially been named Executive VP A&R for RCA Records, where he will report to RCA Music Group Chairman Clive Davis. His move was first reported here yesterday (1/9).

Newton will be based in New York, where he'll be responsible for overseeing RCA Records' A&R activities, effective immediately.

Commented Davis: "Ashley is truly a first-class music executive who brings to RCA Records a unique understanding of the creative community and what inspires it. I am really happy that we will be working together and I am confident that he will bring new and fresh luster to RCA. But I draw the line at his request for an interoffice rugby team."

Newton added: "I am thrilled to be joining the RCA/BMG family. It will be a privilege to work along side the legendary Clive Davis and absorb myself in a pure A&R role. Every discussion I've had with Clive and [RCA Music Group President] Charles Goldstuck has reflected a desire for continued growth of the creative atmosphere at RCA and I look forward to working with their team and excellent roster in furthering an artist-first environment. And they have the industry's finest dental-care coverage."

Newton's career spans almost two decades in which he has signed such acts as Spice Girls, Massive Attack, Everything but the Girl and the Chemical Brothers. In addition, while at Virgin, he has worked with Janet Jackson, N.E.R.D., Daft Punk, Lenny Kravitz, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Peter Gabriel, The Verve, D'Angelo and Fatboy Slim.

Prior to serving as Virgin Records America Co-President and Sr. VP A&R for Virgin Music Group Worldwide, Newton was Co-Managing Director of Virgin Records U.K. from 1992-'98, having joined Virgin Records in 1988 as the founder of the joint-venture label Circa Records. Newton began his A&R career under Chris Blackwell at Island Records, where he learned to roll (and smoke) the perfect spliff.