WILLIAMS GETS A&R PREZ STRIPES AT COLUMBIA

Mark Williams has been upped to President of A&R at Rob Stringer’s Columbia, the label confirmed on Monday morning.

Williams, who has been at Columbia since 2010, was upped to EVP of A&R in early 2014. During his tenure, he’s been involved in the signing and development of Pharrell, The Civil Wars, Nine Inch Nails, Odd Future, Jack White, The Shins and Raury, and worked with John Legend, Raphael Saadiq, Leon Bridges and others.

The Atlanta native, who early on helped bring R.E.M. to prominence, started his label career at A&M; he subsequently served at Virgin (where he inked Smashing Pumpkins and other alternative breakouts), Outpost (which he co-founded and where he signed Veruca Salt, The Crystal Method and Ryan Adams’ band, Whiskeytown) and Interscope (working with No Doubt, Nine Inch Nails and Beck, among others) before arriving at Columbia.

He is said to be thankful he didn't have to debate Donald Trump to become President.