Former Red Bull Records GM Joe Calitri launches rock label Black Hill Records

A new rock music label has entered the fold, and if the past success from its new president is anything to go by, you need to watch this space.

Black Hill Records launches as the brand new label offering under independent publisher Round Hill Music, the company which boasts The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Bon Jovi, The Offspring and Bush in its catalogue. It also boasts Australian act Confidence Man on its writer roster.

Black Hill Records the label will be based out of LA and distributed worldwide by The Orchard. It launched overnight with three artists:

• Toronto two-piece Black Pistol Fire, who were dubbed “one of the best at combining guitar and drums into a forceful, heavy rock attack” by Forbes.
• Nashville blues and rock guitarist Jared James Nichols, who was set to make his debut appearance in Australia last month, pre-COVID-19.
• and British icons The Cult, who have been behemoths in the rock sphere since the mid ’80s.

Leading the charge of Black Hill as president will be Joe Calitri, the indie label veteran who changed the label game as general manager of Red Bull Records most recently, and as general manager of the famed Fueled By Ramen.

Calitri’s team includes head of operations and business development Michael Volk, who comes from Kobalt’s AWAL; and project director Lucy Bartozzi, who previously held the role of DSP Marketing Director at artist development company mTheory.

Black Hill Records president Joe Calitri said:

“The staff and I are deeply passionate about rock culture and it’s been a dream for all of us to have the opportunity to build a new rock label from scratch.

“I’m also thrilled to join Josh and the remarkably talented team at Round Hill Music to nurture its growing portfolio of recording catalogs and develop the labels’ frontline strategy.”

Joe Calitri

Round Hill co-founder and CEO Josh Gruss said:

“They say rock is dead when in fact it is very much alive. Rock prevails in touring, album sales, streaming in most countries and boasts extremely devoted fans who provide steady support to their favourite artists.

“That’s the start of a good recipe. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love hard rock and metal, so the launch of Black Hill is a very special and proud moment.”

Check out the Black Hill Records launch clip below:

This article originally appeared on The Industry Observer, which is now part of The Music Network.