Flom Exits Capitol. Are Label Heads Dinosaurs?

Sources have confirmed that Jason Flom, who heads EMI's recorded-music operations in North America as chairman of Capitol Music Group, is negotiating an exit. He follows Capitol President Lee Trink whose last day at the company is June 30th. Trink also told the Wall Street Journal, "Their view is that there is no local management. There is no such thing as a president of Capitol Records going forward."

COMMENTARY - In our ongoing poll, 66% of Hypebot readers have voted either that label presidents were a costly waste (18%) or at least that running without them was a worthy experiment (48%) . I totally disagree. My understanding of the changes...

at EMI include Nick Gatfield assuming some kind of uber-A&R role over the UK, North America and maybe beyond.  A marketing czar is also being sought.  But who is left to set priorities and negotiate the inevitable conflicts?

More importantly, while the world is increasingly one marketplace, musical tastes are becoming more segmented. Not only are their fewer international mega-stars left to promote across borders, but parochial tastes are shifting and new niches being born more quickly than ever.

The demise of Flom,Trink and an era of costly executives and private jets is long overdue.  But organizations need leadership and the buck always needs to stop somewhere. 

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