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WARNER/CHAPPELL UK TAPS NEW MD

Mike Smith will become Managing Director of Warner/Chappell UK, moving over from Virgin EMI, where he has been President of Music since 2013. He will make the move in November.

Smith, a former exec at Mercury Records and Columbia Records plus MCA Music Publishing, will report to Jon Platt, Chairman & CEO of Warner/Chappell, who is overseeing UK operations on an interim basis until Smith’s arrival.

“Throughout his brilliant career, across both music publishing and recorded music, Mike has demonstrated his commitment to the art of songwriting, putting great songs at the heart of everything he does,” Platt said. “His inspiring leadership style, thoughtful approach to building creative careers, and unquenchable thirst for new music all make him ideally suited for Warner/Chappell.”

As President of Music at Mercury Records, starting in 2012, he oversaw the signing of The Strypes and Iggy Azalea; as President of Virgin EMI, he signed The Chemical Brothers, The Libertines and Squeeze.

During his six years as Managing Director of Columbia Records U.K., he signed Mark Ronson, Calvin Harris, Band of Horses, Ryan Adams, Miike Snow, The Civil Wars, The Vaccines and others.

He began his career in 1988 as a talent scout for MCA Music Publishing, where he signed Blur. In 1992, he began a 14-year stint at EMI Music Publishing, where he progressed to head of A&R. Signings included Elastica, Supergrass, Doves, The Beta Band, Gorillaz, The White Stripes, Arcade Fire and Arctic Monkeys.

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