Eric Nicoli, former CEO of EMI Music Group, has returned to the music industry after acquiring an undisclosed stake in U.K. music marketing and management firm Nick Stewart & Associates (NSA).
Nicoli, who left EMI a year ago following the major label’s takeover by private-equity company Terra Firma, is also expected to play an advisory role in NSA.
NSA founder Nick Stewart, an industry veteran who began his career at Island Records where he signed the likes of U2 and Killing Joke, confirmed Nicoli’s involvement during a Billboard.biz interview.
“I am absolutely delighted that he has agreed to bring a great deal of management savvy and integrity to my business,” Stewart says.
NSA currently looks after U2’s catalog regeneration and represents Irving Azoff’s Frontline Management in the U.K., with acts including the Eagles and Neil Diamond. Stewart says he expects to make announcements about new artists in the next few weeks.