Mark Poston announces Head of A&R for Parlophone Australia

Following Mark Poston’s interview with The Music Network in January – where he announced his new role as Managing Director of Parlophone Australia and as Managing Director of Warner Bros. Records Australia – the former EMI Australasian Chairman has welcomed James Roberts as Head of A&R, Parlophone.

Roberts has eight years experience at Sony Music UK with previous stints at Sony BMG, the label’s imprint Brightside Recordings and its flagship RCA Records.

His tenure as Senior A&R Manager at RCA saw him establish his own imprint label, Ugly Truth in 2006. Ugly Truth was formed to offer artists a longer timeline than the major label system allowed and helped to push UK artist Newton Faulkner and Albury singer-songwriter Lisa Mitchell globally. Roberts achieved two UK #1 albums and generated over 1.3 million in album sales with Ugly Truth. While the imprint is no longer associated with Sony, it will run as an independent UK imprint for occasional digital single/EP releases.

Roberts teamed with Simon Cowell’s Syco Records during his time with Sony UK; the joint venture saw him work with Rebecca Ferguson, Diana Vickers and Alexandra Burke. Before his time with Sony UK Roberts was A&R Editor of UK industry trade paper and website Music Week for four years.

Roberts says of his appointment, “’This is a really exciting opportunity to be part of Parlophone’s growth in a territory I love and one which continues to build in importance as a source of innovative new music and global hits. I’m especially looking forward to working with Tony [Harlow, Warner Music Australasia Managing Director], Mark and the brilliant team they have assembled.”

Roberts will work closely with Parlophone’s Head of Creative Liaison and A&R Manager Loretta Bogard, who has moved from her previous role as Head of Artist Relations. Mark Wilson will continue to be based in Melbourne, working across A&R for both the Parlophone and Atlantic labels. Wilson recently signed The Kite String Tangle, Jones Jnr and Oscar Key Sung.

Roberts will begin his role at Parlophone on March 26.

This completes the core team for Parlophone, which Poston joined as MD in January. All eyes are on what comes next as they hold court on the charts with Coldplay, Kylie Minogue, David Guetta, Gabrielle Aplin and Lily Allen.