Flom Names Trink And Kempler To New Capital Executive Team

In an effort to consolidate his new team, Jason Flom, the head of the new Capitol Music Group has appointed Lee Trink as President and Jeff Kempler as COO. The Capitol Music Group was formed last week by the merger of EMI Music’s Capitol and Virgin labels in the US.

Trink, who had been General Manager and Executive Vice President at Virgin Records since joining in that role in January 2006, reports to Flom. While at Virgin, he played a critical part in breaking new gold artists such as Red Jumpsuit Apparatus Trink also helped the Grammy-nominated KT Tunstall achieve platinum sales in the US, and drove the rejuvenation of 30 Seconds To Mars’ latest record, “A Beautiful Lie,” which has now achieved platinum status. Prior to joining Virgin, Trink was the GM of Lava Records, where he worked closely with Flom, who founded and ran Lava.

Kempler was most recently Executive Vice President at Virgin since October 2005 guiding business affairs. Prior to Virgin, he was SVP Business and Legal Affairs for Atari and before that was SVP Business and Legal Affairs for the Island Def Jam.

Press release after the jump.

EMI’S CAPITOL MUSIC GROUP APPOINTS LEE TRINK PRESIDENT AND JEFF KEMPLER CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

NEW YORK, JANUARY 31, 2007 – Jason Flom, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Capitol Music Group, today announced the appointment of Lee Trink as President and Jeff Kempler as Chief Operating Officer of the label group. The Capitol Music Group, formed last week from the merger of EMI Music’s Capitol and Virgin labels in the US, is a front line pop, rock and urban label group comprised of the Capitol Records and Virgin Records imprints.

“With Capitol Music Group, we are combining a fantastic roster, talented, experienced staff and a willingness to rethink how a label operates,” said Flom. “Lee and Jeff are the best executives in the industry for these roles. I have the benefit of first-hand experience with Lee and Jeff and know that as my partners they will help me realize our vision. Capitol Music Group’s focus will take the label concept back to its essence – as a home where artists can flourish, take chances and develop their best work – but in a new, supercharged way that is right for the digital marketplace.”

Trink, who had been General Manager and Executive Vice President at Virgin Records since joining in that role in January 2006, reports to Flom. While at Virgin, he played a critical part in breaking new artists such as Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, whose debut album “Don’t You Fake It” has gone gold. Trink also helped the Grammy-nominated KT Tunstall achieve platinum sales in the US, and drove the rejuvenation of 30 Seconds To Mars’ latest record, “A Beautiful Lie,” which has now achieved platinum status. Prior to joining Virgin, Trink was the GM of Lava Records, where he worked closely with Flom, who founded and ran Lava.

"Our roster includes some of the world's greatest musical stars as well as today's brightest up-and-coming stars. And we have a smart operation with some of the industry's most experienced and respected professionals. We're in a great position to meet the challenges and embrace the opportunities of our rapidly evolving business," said Trink. "Jason, Jeff and I are committed to making the Capitol Music Group the preferred home for the best creative and executive talent in the industry."

Kempler, who also reports to Flom, was most recently Executive Vice President at Virgin since joining the label in October 2005. In his position, Kempler guided all of Virgin’s business affairs and business development activities, including strategic deals with media properties such as USA Networks, as well as structuring strategic marketing arrangements such as the partnership between Virgin, KT Tunstall and Origins. Prior to Virgin, Kempler was General Counsel and Senior Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs for Atari, the global interactive entertainment and game publisher, and before that, was Senior Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs for the Island Def Jam Music Group, a unit of Universal Music Group. He also spent 14 years as an entertainment lawyer specializing in music industry matters with Greenberg Traurig, LLP and Loeb & Loeb, LLP.

”The newly formed Capitol Music Group is dedicated to delivering on the promise of our incredible roster, to identifying and nurturing exciting new talent and to connecting artists and their fans in the most effective and genuine manner possible,” said Kempler. “With a strong team led by Jason and Lee, and expertly supported by our many talented EMI colleagues around the world, I could not be more confident in the future.”

The Capitol Music Group consists of the Capitol and Virgin imprints and its roster includes such artists as 30 Seconds to Mars, Lily Allen, The Beatles, Corrine Bailey Rae, Chingy, Coldplay, Decemberists, Gorillaz, Interpol, Lenny Kravitz, OK Go, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, The Rolling Stones, Joss Stone and KT Tunstall.

ABOUT EMI MUSIC IN THE US
EMI Music North America is a part of EMI Group. Its US units include Astralwerks; The Blue Note Label Group, which includes the Angel, Blue Note, EMI Classics, Manhattan and Narada imprints; The Capitol Music Group, which includes the Capitol and Virgin imprints; Capitol Nashville; Caroline Distribution, serving the independent label community; EMI Christian Music Group; EMI Televisa Music; and Mute. Its EMI Music Marketing unit comprises catalogue marketing, strategic marketing and sales for all of EMI’s US labels. For further information, please visit www.emigroup.com.

Contact:

Jeanne Meyer, EMI North America, +1.212.786.8850
Adam Grossberg, EMI North America, +1.212.786.8850
Angelica Cob-Baehler, Capitol Music Group, +1.323.692.1195

Pictures of Lee Trink and Jeff Kempler are available upon request

Adam Grossberg
Senior Director
Corporate Communications
EMI Group
150 Fifth Ave, 8th Floor
New York, NY 10011
212.786.8855 (W)
917.907.1144 (M)