Martin Kierszenbaum, head of Cherrytree Records and president of international operations for Interscope Geffen A&M, will now add president of pop & rock A&R for Interscope Records to his duties. Kierszenbaum will oversee the label’s pop and rock roster and A&R staff. He will be based in Los Angeles and will report directly to Jimmy Iovine, chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M Records.
“Martin is a one-man record label,” said Iovine. “He’s unstoppable, and he brings a global musical and business sense to the job.”
Prior to establishing Cherrytree Records, Kierszenbaum signed the Russian duo t.A.T.u. and Keane, the British group, to Interscope. In 2005, Kierszenbaum launched the independent label Cherrytree with the release of Canadian singer songwriter Feist’s album, “Let It Die.” Her second album for the label, 2007’s “The Reminder,” has sold 636,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan and garnered four Grammy nominations. Cherrytree is also home to Robyn, Tokio Hotel and Lady Gaga.
“I’m grateful to Jimmy Iovine,” says Kierszenbaum, “I’m excited to take on this new role at Interscope where I’ve had the privilege to work with cream-of-the-crop acts as well as the opportunity to develop Cherrytree Records as a comfortable and dynamic environment for trend-setting artists.”
Kierszenbaum began his career in 1988 working in the mailroom at PolyGram Music Group. In 1989, he was hired by Warner Bros. as international publicist until 1991 when Kierszenbaum moved to A&M Records eventually becoming VP of international. He joined Interscope Geffen A&M in 1998 to run the international division of the newly created IGA Group.