EXCLUSIVE: Cowell picks Handlin for UK gig

Sony Music Australia (SME) is losing Pat Handlin to Simon Cowell’s Syco Music in London, TMN can exclusively reveal.

Handlin has been appointed to the role of senior A&R manager for Syco Music UK following a number of domestic successes; this includes Justice Crew’s eight times Platinum smash Que Sera, which became the longest running Australian #1 single in history when it secured nine consecutive weeks at the top of the ARIA Singles Chart in 2014.

On the announcement, Handlin acknowledged his co-workers and said that it had been “an aboslute pleasure” to work at SME.

He added: “Now I am truly honoured to be given the opportunity to join Syco Music and work with Simon Cowell and his team who are, undoubtedly, one of the best and most respected in the business both in the UK and around the world.”

In a statement issued exclusively to TMN today (23 September), SME credited Handlin as the A&R who discovered and developed many of SME’s most successful domestic artists. These include Guy Sebastian, Jessica Mauboy, Justice Crew, The Veronicas, Jai Waetford, Samantha Jade and Peking Duk.

Syco founder Simon Cowell, who is never short of a good soundbite, had some choice words on the announcement: “Pat, get ready for the ride. Now the fun really starts.”

Handlin began his career in A&R as an intern at Red Label with Sony Music Australia in 2006 and was appointed A&R talent scout just two years later. That same year, he also spent time at Columbia Records in New York City as part an internal secondment programme.

In 2010, he was named A&R Manager for Sony Music Australia before being promoted to Director of A&R in 2013.

Handlin also introduced producer-writer duo DNA Songs to the major label, which SME said had led to an incredible creative partnership and delivered a succession of hits from Australian artists.

Tyler Brown, head of A&R at Syco Music, said Handlin is a proven record-maker and artist-focused A&R.

“We will all benefit from his talent and wealth of experience. I’m very excited to welcome Pat to our already fantastic A&R team and look forward to having many hits with him over the coming years,” he said.

SME are expected to announce a new A&R to replace Handlin, and confirm the recent appointments of two senior creative executives, as soon as next week.