UMG EAST: LET THE
CONSOLIDATION BEGIN
The new centralized structure comes with "a mandate to dramatically increase artist investments across its labels."
The company insists UMRG and IDJMG "will continue to function as two independent label groups" that will share select functions including legal, finance, international and digital. This follows a previous consolidation between Universal Republic and Universal Motown that resulted in the recent departure of Sylvia Rhone from the label.
Lipman's Universal Republic will absorb most of Universal Motown's acts, including Cash Money and SRC, while Island Def Jam Music Group will inherit the Motown imprint.
As part of the restructuring most of Universal Motown's promotion staff has been let go, with the exception of Todd Glassman and Michael Horton, who will remain within the Group. In addition, Universal Motown A&R exec Chris Anokute segues to Universal Republic.
Weiss said: “In an effort to better serve our artists and business partners, UMRG and IDJMG are reallocating resources to achieve greater efficiencies. While this will unfortunately result in some redundancy, it will allow for increased expenditures on the creative front across our labels, with particular plans to double our A&R investment at Universal Motown. Moreover, by centralizing these select functions, our artists and business partners will also benefit from a more concentrated and streamlined approach in the areas of legal, finance, international and digital. This will allow us to operate with much more flexibility and speed; two qualities necessary for our continued growth in this challenging marketplace.”
Sources say about 15-20 people are expected to be laid off across Universal Republic, Universal Motown, IDJ and UMG in New York.
Among those are Lori Lambert, who headed up strategic marketing and music licensing as well as sports alliances and brand relationships for both Universal Republic and Universal Motown. Contact her at (917) 692-9564 or [email protected].
Leading the new, centralized departments are:
*Steve Gawley is promoted to EVP Business & Legal Affairs for UMRG and IDJMG, reporting to Weiss. Gawley was EVP Business & Legal Affairs, Island Def Jam Music Group, a role he had held since 2008. He came to IDJ from Arista Records, where he was SVP Legal & Business Affairs from 2000-'04. Prior to that, he spent five years at BMG Entertainment, eventually being named VP Worldwide Legal & Business Affairs in 1999. He is a graduate of Harvard Law School, so he knows what he's talking about.
*George Marolda is the new CFO for the combined labels, reporting to Weiss. Marolda was CFO for UMRG, overseeing all the money and paper clip allocation as well as human resources, information technology, marketing administration, recording administration and office services for the company. The underpaid, overworked dude joined UMRG in 1999 as Sr. Director Finance and was promoted to VP Finance for the label in 2001. Before that, he was at PolyGram Video, and has held various financial positions at EMI Music Publishing and Next Plateau Records. He started his career at David Berdon LLP as an auditor, so he knows his way around a ledger.
*Matt Voss is the new SVP International, reporting to both Universal Republic President Monte Lipman and IDJ President Steve Bartels. He was VP Marketing for Universal Music Group International in London, having joined the company in 1999. Previously, he was GM of the MCA/Geffen division of Universal Music UK. From 1995-'97, he was GM of Virgin America's Astralwerks/Caroline division in N.Y. He's on a first-name basis with Sir Richard Branson, meaning he gets to call him "sir."
*Jon Vanhala is the new SVP Digital, Brand Integration and New Business for both labels, reporting to Lipman and Bartels. He was SVP Digital & New Business Development for IDJ, overseeing all digital strategy, e-commerce, digital marketing and new business initiatives. He worked for Festival Network LLC as SVP Digital Initiatives, Content Development & Sponsorship, a producer and aggregator of music festivals around the world. The 13-year UMG veteran was most recently SVP Digital & Strategic Marketing for Verve Music Group.
*Meredeth Oliver upped to VPA&R Administration for the combined group, repoirting to Gawley. She served as Sr. Director of A&R Administration for UMRG, starting at UMG in 2000 before being promoted to A&R Administration in 2001.
Added Weiss: “I am confident that Steve, George, Matt, Jon and Meredeth will provide our artists and business partners with the very best in creative management and business savvy. They are truly among the very best in the next generation of entertainment executives. And even better, they work real cheap.”
