EMI Music has formed the Blue Note Label Group, a new structure for its adult pop, jazz and classics labels. The revamped organization, which will be run by president/CEO Bruce Lundvall, updates the EMI Jazz & Classics operation, which was also headed by Lundvall.
“We’ve been able to put together what, I believe, will be the most extensive, dedicated adult music label group in the industry,” says Lundvall, who continues to report to David Munns, chairman/CEO, EMI Music North America. “We’re representing really every genre of music that is aimed at this audience.”
Key to the formation of the new structure is the move of EMI’s Narada label from its longtime home in Milwaukee to New York. With the relocation, an unspecified number of positions at Narada will be lost. Among those known to be leaving are David Neidhart, Narada’s senior VP of sales and marketing, and Mario Martin, manager of national media and promotions.
However, Lundvall tells Billboard.biz that new hires will be brought on board in New York to accommodate the new structure.
The division will be organized into three separate A&R and marketing streams, each headed by a general manager. Ian Ralfini, senior VP/GM of the Manhattan label, will also assume GM duties for Narada. Ralfini will oversee all classical crossover artists, including Sarah Brightman. Lundvall says this will allow the new group to market crossover artists with a pop spin.
A&R and marketing for “serious” classical artists will continue to be overseen by Tom Evered, who has been named GM for all classical releases, encompassing titles from Angel, EMI and Virgin Classics.
Zach Hochkeppel, formerly VP of marketing for EMI Jazz & Classics, has been named GM of Blue Note and will supervise all releases on Blue Note, Metro Blue and the Narada Jazz labels.
To service these three streams, the sales, promotion, digital, creative and international departments are expanding. These departments will report to Lundvall and newly appointed COO, Dave D’Urbano, who had been CFO. Kevin Carroll, previously the head of promotions for EMI Music Collective, has been named VP of promotion. Sales VP Saul Shapiro will supervise sales and field marketing for the division.
