EMI Group today announced the company is merger of its Capitol
and Virgin labels to form The Capitol
Music Group, a front line pop, rock and
urban label group. Jason
Flom has been promoted to lead The Capitol Music Group as Chairman and
CEO. Flom, who joined EMI 
as Chairman
and CEO of Virgin Records America in November 2005, reports directly to EMI Chairman Nicoli.
Andy Slater, who has headed of Capitol Records since 2001, has stepped down. Many other layoffs are sure to follow since combining these two major 
labels is part of EMI's recentlyannounced restructuring designed to
deliver $217 million in annual savings.
Bruce
Lundvall, head of The Blue Note will continue to
report directly to Nicoli, as will EMI Music North America's COO
Ivan Gavin and CFO Colin
Finkelstein. EMI
Music Marketing President Ronn Werre, Capitol Nashville President and CEO Mike
Dungan, EMI Christian Music Group Chairman/CEO & President Bill Hearn and
Caroline Distribution General Manager/SVP Bill Hein will all continue to report
to Ivan Gavin.
Full press release after the jump.
Subject:
PRESS RELEASE: EMI MUSIC FORMS CAPITOL MUSIC GROUP IN THE US
NEW YORK
, JANUARY 25, 2007 – After a review of EMI Music’s
American operations, Eric Nicoli, the Chief Executive Officer of EMI Group
today announced that the company is merging its Capitol and Virgin labels to
form The Capitol Music Group, a front line pop, rock and urban label group that
will comprise the Capitol and Virgin Records imprints.
Jason Flom has been promoted to
lead The Capitol Music Group as Chairman and CEO. Flom, who joined EMI as Chairman and CEO of
Virgin Records America in November 2005, reports directly to Nicoli and will
now oversee the combined Capitol and Virgin rosters in the US
Nicoli said: "The music
business shows exciting growth potential, but the environment remains extremely
challenging. In order to thrive and meet
the demands of a rapidly evolving and dynamic music market, we must re-think
our operations, not only to make them efficient, but also more effective and
focused on creative excellence. By
bringing Capitol and Virgin into one label group, we will be better equipped
than ever to promote and nurture artistic talent. We remain strongly committed to developing
artists in America New York
“Jason Flom quickly demonstrated
his leadership and artist development abilities since he has been at Virgin. I
am confident that he will take us to new levels of success in the rock, pop and
urban genres as leader of the Capitol Music Group.”
Andrew
Slater, who has been President and Chief Executive Officer of Capitol Records
in the US
“I would like to thank Andy for
his contribution to Capitol and EMI over the past six years and wish him well
in all that he does in the future,” said Nicoli.
The
formation of this combined US
EMI Music Marketing President
Ronn Werre, Capitol Nashville President and CEO Mike Dungan, EMI Christian
Music Group Chairman/CEO & President Bill Hearn and Caroline Distribution
General Manager/SVP Bill Hein will all continue to report to Ivan Gavin.
“The combined Capitol Music
Group under Jason Flom will become part of a portfolio of labels that position
us to be best-of-class in all genres in the US market: the new Capitol Music Group, our very
successful Capitol Nashville label, the market-leading EMI Christian Music
Group, The Blue Note Label Group aimed at the adult music buyer, our US Latin
label EMI Televisa Music, EMM’s terrific catalog business and Caroline as a
full service distribution and marketing arm for the independent label area,”
said Nicoli.
# # #
ABOUT EMI GROUP
EMI Group is
one of the world’s leading music companies, operating in 50 countries. Its two
divisions include EMI Music Publishing, the world’s top music publisher, and
EMI Music, its recorded music division.
ABOUT EMI MUSIC
IN THE US
EMI Music North
America is a part of EMI Group. Its
U.S. 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
Contact:
Jeanne Meyer,
EMI North America
Amanda Conroy,
EMI worldwide, +44.20.7796.7529
Bio, picture of
Jason Flom available upon request
