Tom Mackay has been promoted to EVP/GM, west coast, for Republic Records by label founders and chief executives Monte and Avery Lipman.
Mackay has been part of UMG’s Republic Records label since its inception in 1998. As an A&R executive, he participated in the signing and artistic guidance of Republic Nashville country crossover juggernaut Florida Georgia Line and Eli Young Band as well as rock radio mainstays 3 Doors Down and Hinder. He also proved integral to the introduction and 2011 launch of NBC’s Emmy Award-winning “The Voice” and the music released in conjunction with the top-rated show.
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In the fall of 2011, he relocated to L.A. from New York in order to expand the label’s west coast office and enhance its influence within the worlds of film and television, in addition to signing and developing new acts. He spearheaded highly successful soundtracks for “The Hunger Games,” “Son of God,” “Muscle Shoals,” “The Walking Dead” and “TURN,” among others.
Commented Monte Lipman: “Tom’s contribution to the success of Republic Records has been invaluable to the label for over 15 years. His unbridled support of artists and executives alike has made him a natural leader within the company. While fiercely competitive, his vision and outside-the-box mentality has navigated us through uncharted waters into groundbreaking and innovate deals.”
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Added Mackay: “I hope to continue the expansion of the L.A. office and our presence on the west coast. It’s fantastic to have the opportunity to spread the culture of this label from Manhattan to L.A. Signing and finding new bands is always the most rewarding aspect of my job. I’m honored to continue growing the label’s film and television division. Monte and Avery Lipman are executives who completely instill and foster an entrepreneurial spirit within all of us. They create a culture that’s very supportive and inspiring, built on finding, signing and breaking new acts every year. In order to do that, we have to be faster, more aggressive and more pro-active. It’s an outlook that I wholeheartedly embrace.”
Mackay first served as vp of A&R at Universal Records before becoming svp A&R at Universal Republic Records in 2006. During 2009, he gained the title of evp of A&R, eventually becoming evp of Republic Records in 2012. To date, his projects have amassed cumulative sales exceeding 40 million albums globally.
- This article originally appeared in THR.com.