UNIFIED Music Group makes a series of hires and promotions across A&R, marketing, e-commerce & strategy

(L-R) Anna Clemson, Michelle Rose, Ben Patashnik & Francesca Caldara

UNIFIED Music Group has hired Michelle Rose to the newly created position of commercial marketing manager, and Anna Clemson has joined the Super Special Merchandise team as e-commerce and digital marketing manager.

Rose joined from Live Nation Entertainment, where she was commercial strategy manager of product and experiences, but she has also spent time as manager of business development and partnerships across the now-defunct Pandora in ANZ, and as partnerships and event manager at Sonos.

She will now focus on the development of commercial and community opportunities for the global UNIFIED Artist Management roster, the Red Hill Entertainment festivals and other group companies.

Clemson, meanwhile, has worked as a freelance design and marketing consultant across fashion and online retail brands, as well as a senior marketing co-ordinator at T2 in London.

Super Special Merchandise is UNIFIED’s merchandise, print production, tour, online and fulfilment business. Clemson will now oversee the company’s online stories including 24Hundred and SpaceMirror Merchandise.

Internally, UNIFIED’s recorded music department has promoted two existing staff members into newly-created roles to help with the label’s global expansion.

Francesca Caldara, previously the North American label manager for UNFD, will now be senior A&R manager. She has already launched and led the US operations and played a key role in signings including Silverstein, Like Moths To Flames and Hollow Front.

In her new role, she will continue to scout and negotiate new worldwide artist deals in line with UNFD’s A&R strategy.

And Ben Patashnik, previously the label manager for the UK and Europe, takes on the new title of senior strategy manager. He previously launched the London office in 2014, and was once editor of the UK’s Rock Sound. 

In his new global role, he will present and execute plans for the label to achieve its Australian and international expansion goals. He will provide strategic direction to all areas of UNFD including operations, marketing, PR, community management and branding.

UNIFIED Recorded Music’s general manager, Luke Logemann, noted the company’s growth during its 10th anniversary.

“After beginning in 2011 as a label that only operated in Australia, but with a view from day one to expand into other countries, UNFD celebrates 10 years in existence this year. Since 2014 we have been more active in having people on the ground and doing our best to connect the dots so that our Australian artists had more pathways to international markets, as well as licensing internationals records for Australia. Fast forward to 2021 and we have teams on the ground in Europe and America, and 11 out of the 27 artists on our current roster are from Europe, Asia or North America,” he said.

“All of that growth is only possible because of the two incredible people who we have worked with from the ground up to build our dream of a global label. Ben has worked tirelessly for 7 years to build a great team and network in Europe, and has contributed globally to strategy and marketing. Francesca joined us three years ago and has signed a list of brilliant artists for us. I’m extremely proud of, and grateful for both of them.”

The group also recently expanded into podcast management, and worked with Modern Day Entertainment to bring live music to the inaugural NBL Cup.