EMI Restructures Caroline

As part of an aggressive cost cutting and restructuring EMI has reorganized its Caroline "indie" music division into three distinct units focused on repertoire, artist development and independent distribution. The new Caroline will continue to be overseen by Senior VP and GM William Hein.

Caroline’s A&R unit will focus on releasing EMI UK and International repertoire in the US through three labels –  Astralwerks for electronic, dance and alternative, Caroline Records which will launch as a hard rock, metal and punk label, and Internationally Known to issue physical and digital releases for i nternational pop and digital-only titles.

Errol Kolosine, the GM of Astralwerks, will be exiting and Glenn Mendlinger will assume day-to-day management. Jeff Rougvie has been tapped to manage both Caroline Records and  Internationally Known. Both executives report to Hein.

Caroline’s new Artist Development unit will offer shared services to the three labels with promotion and traditional, digital and street marketing. These services will also be available to labels distributed by Caroline as an add-on.

Caroline has brought on new regional and national radio promotion staff to increase the firepower of the new team. Imperial, which launched in 2006 as an urban marketing service will operate 
alongside this unit; and Ramsey Dean, most recently GM of Victory has been hired to oversee the rock genre.

Caroline Distribution will continue to service indie labels with marketing and promotion as well as global distribution for physical and digital music.

It’s not yet clear how many lost their jobs in the restructuring which appears to be a creative re-allocation of resources. And despite a few key hirings, "combined divisions" and "shared resources" often mean fewer people covering more releases.