Patrick ‘Smiley’ Cleary Exits Neon Records

Neon Records boss Patrick “Smiley” Cleary has left the company, The Music Network can confirm.

Cleary and Carl West headed the Australia-based electronic music specialist, an affiliate of Universal Music Australia.

Since opening for business more than a decade ago, the label has worked with a long list of platinum and multi-platinum electronic artists, from Milky Chance to Joel Corry, Young Franco, Skrillex, Rudimental, Meduza, James Hype, Adrian Lux, Feenixpawl, TV Rock, Ivan Gough, Timmy Trumpet, Sgt Slick, Gorgon City and others.

Cleary has decided to step down as CEO of Neon Records, with immediate effect, to focus on his Peppermint Blue Publishing company, according to an internal memo to staff, penned by Sean Warner, Universal Music Group president and CEO – Universal Music Australia and New Zealand.

UMA’s “long standing partnership with Smiley has been significant and fruitful,” says Warner in the message, seen by TMN.

“His contributions to our business, our artists and the team have been welcomed and applauded by all who have had the pleasure of working with him. I would personally like to thank him for his support, commitment, and friendship over many years.”

The Neon brand “has become an iconic label in ANZ thanks to his vision, creativity, and passion, and we will take great pride in continuing to expand and enhance the Neon legacy, that we have all built together,” Warner continues.

Cleary established Neon Records and Peppermint Blue Entertainment in 1999, at the dawn of the EDM explosion.

“Over the past 12 years, I have been fortunate to have signed or worked with an incredibly talented list of artists,” he comments, adding that he’s “particularly proud of Neon’s domestic artist success and leave the company thrilled by what the label has achieved over this time.”

Recent releases include James Hype’s “Drums” (featuring Kim Petras), Young Franco and Franc Moody’s “Daydreaming” and D.O.D plus Jax Jones’ “Need You Now.”