CORE COMPETENCIES: NEW COLLABORATION PAIRS MANAGEMENT SHOP WITH UNI CANADA

Universal Music Canada and The Core Entertainment are launching a JV that will find the management company repping and developing artists for possible signing by the Canadian major. UMC Chairman/CEO Jeffrey Remedios and GM Kristen Burke have joined forces with The Core founders Kevin “Chief” Zaruk and Simon Tikhman and newly appointed The Core Canada prexy Tracy Martin to curate a roster that the above-named principals believe will have a global impact. The first artist to come down the pike: Nashville-based Canuck troubadour Steven Lee Olsen, whose new project is slated to arrive on 7/30.

“I’ve long admired Chief, Simon and Tracy’s individual strengths, smarts and passions,” reads a quote from Remedios. “The Core Entertainment’s vision and drive in championing artists is inspiring. This partnership is an opportunity to work with people we admire to do what we love—support a wide range of artists in lockstep with a formidable management team.” Remedios went on to praise Olsen as “a prolific songwriter with a voice that demands to be heard.”

"The Core strives to work with the most innovative and authentic industry leaders, and there's no doubt Jeffrey, Kristen and the Universal Music Canada team are among the best in the business," goes a statement attributed to Tikhman, Zaruk and Martin. "We all know the artist comes first, and this powerful collaboration will allow us to holistically support some of today's brightest talent across genres. We're thrilled to welcome country singer-songwriter Steven Lee Olsen to the family as our first joint signing and look forward to a long and successful partnership."

The parties also solemnly agreed that they would do everything in their power to save Canada by keeping HITS far away.