July 11th, 2007
EMI Launches New Label Via Caroline
This just came in… I’ll do some digging and check it out.
NEW YORK AND LOS ANGELES, July 11, 2007 – EMI Music has formed a joint venture record label with music industry veterans Bryan Coleman, John Greenberg and Tim Heyne, best known for working with multi-platinum rock group Nickelback via their Union Entertainment Group (UEG) management company. The new label, called Audionest, will take a full-service approach to supporting and promoting the careers of musical artists, focusing on all aspects of the artist’s career, in recording, and in other non-recording areas as well. EMI’s Caroline Music will work closely with UEG on promoting and distributing Audionest artists.
The first artists signed to the label include the rock bands Cinder Road and The Black Summer Crush. Cinder Road just concluded four months on the road opening for Daughtry and is currently on tour with Candlebox. Cinder Road’s debut album “SuperHuman” was released on June 19 and the first single “Get In Get Out” is a fast-rising track in the Active Rock radio format. The Black Summer Crush’s debut album will go on sale in early 2008.
“As EMI expands its portfolio of repertoire sources in the US, this venture with UEG will provide us with another set of great ears, creativity and instincts, plus well-rounded music industry skills,” said William Hein, EVP/General Manager, Caroline Music. “We will bring our expertise in working with artists on all aspects of their careers to this venture, as well as EMI’s global reach, digital relationships and marketing prowess.”
As part of the deal, UEG will handle all A&R for the label as well as the majority of the marketing and promotional services for artists signed to the joint venture in the US. EMI’s Caroline unit is also providing promotion services for select US releases and will release albums from the venture under license outside the US.
Audionest’s releases will be distributed by Caroline, EMI Music’s US independent music umbrella organization. EMI will also have the opportunity to distribute releases from the joint venture under license on a worldwide basis.
“It was immediately clear that EMI was excited about, and willing to create a label with us that extends every consideration to developing and breaking artists in today’s rapidly evolving industry,”
“We are proud to be a part of EMI’s vision.”
“John, Bryan, and Tim have an incredible track record and we’re thrilled that the new partnership is off to such a great start with the Cinder Road album ‘SuperHuman.’ The deal is an exciting and powerful combination that compliments Caroline Records’ mission to develop new rock acts,” said Jeff Rougvie, VP of Repertoire, Caroline Music.
Written by Bill Wilson
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On July 11th, 2007 at 11:30 am
Nick DOminguez said:
“The new label, called Audionest, will take a full-service approach to supporting and promoting the careers of musical artists, focusing on all aspects of the artist’s career, in recording, and in other non-recording areas as well.”
In other words, we as a label realize that we’re not making as much money off of record sales as we used to… so we are now going to delve into the few areas bands and artists can actually make money in. Weak.
On July 11th, 2007 at 2:25 pm
Bill Wilson said:
Diversifying is one way of surviving. Bands expect the label to be the primary driver of marketing by hiring press, radio, and sales teams to “work” them, pay for recording, make a video, and all the other things. That marketing sells less music now than it did, but it still contributes to selling shirts and show tickets.
Labels like Equal Vision and Revelation have been doing shirts for the bands on their roster for YEARS. Roadrunner used to have BlueGrape Merchandise and Victory owns publishing and merchandising.
This isn’t a bad idea… it’s just how it’s executed that will tell the tale.
On July 11th, 2007 at 3:52 pm
vinniebagadonuts said:
Being that this is a label being fformed by a management company, will this be another one of those, “we’ll manage you AND put your records out” situations? Yucky.
On July 11th, 2007 at 4:25 pm
bill said:
Vagrant has done that for years, and so have many others including mega-management company The Firm. This is just an in-your-face announcement about it. This is the way of the world. Labels and managers are VC’s for talent. They earn from all aspects of your career. The bands have nobody to thank for this situation except those who think music should be “free.”
On October 23rd, 2007 at 8:21 am
lahipster said:
these bands dead on arrival Bat for lashes carolines beak out indie band