Virgin Music Label & Artist Services officially launches in Oz, with Timothy Janes as MD
Universal Music Australia (UMA) has today officially made the move of transforming its label Caroline Australia into Virgin Music Label and Artist Services.
The local move comes after news emerged in February that the Universal Music subsidiary would undergo the transformation in order to revitalise the Virgin Music brand and create a “powerful new global network”.
At the time, Universal Music Group’s CEO, Lucian Grainge, said Virgin has always been associated with “disruptive innovation, musical creativity and entrepreneurialism”.
The local operation will be built from the foundations of the Caroline Australia team, and led by its general manager, Timothy Janes, who takes on the role of MD.
Janes has steered Caroline Australia since its inception in 2013.
In addition to his own promotion, Janes announced some key movements in his team.
Sam Cross and Ella Symons have both been promoted to senior label manager, while Claire Tate moves into the newly created position of marketing and audience manager. In addition, Lachlan Duthrie has come on board as label co-ordinator, and Juliette Younger and Jodie Grinsted complete the team as media and promotions managers.
Janes said with the new team in place, he can’t wait for the new chapter to begin.
“We are excited to form a new integral part of UMG’s new global distribution and services division. Our team in Australia has a genuine passion for partnering with and servicing the best and most innovative independent artists and labels from around the world,” he said.
George Ash, president of Universal Music across Australia and New Zealand, praised the team and its work thus far.
“Tim and the Melbourne-based Caroline Australia team have built a formidable label that will continue to grow with the new global launch of Virgin Music Label and Artist Services. Their incredible roster and existing label partnerships will benefit from the significant global infrastructure and support that the new Virgin Music Label services division will provide internationally,” he said.
“This new reinvigoration of the iconic Virgin Music brand will be a home for innovative music-based entrepreneurs from Australia and New Zealand, who can extend their reach by partnering with a global powerhouse.”
The label said locally it has a huge year planned, with new music expected from Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, You Am I, King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard, Marlon Williams, Alex Lahey, Good Morning and CW Stoneking, alongside repertoire from current local partner labels including indie stalwart Spunk! and Melbourne punk label Damaged (Private Function and Clowns).
Other current label partners for Virgin Music Australia include: Fiction, Nuclear Blast, Neighbourhood, Spinefarm, Deadbeats, LG105, Photo Finish and AMF.
Its wider roster features international artists and labels including Aitch, Catfish and The Bottlemen, Mac DeMarco, UK Mercury Prize winner Dave, SG Lewis, Iggy Pop, UK Grime Superstar Digga D and global label partnerships with Clairo via Fader Label, Internet Money, Trippie Redd and Iann Dior via 10k Projects, Denzel Curry, St Vincent and Skegss via Loma Vista Recordings, I Prevail and Pierce The Veil via Fearless, The Offspring, Nathaniel Rateliff and The Nightsweats and Rise Against via Concord, Christine and The Queens and Parcels via Because Music.
Virgin Music Label & Artist Services has already launched in the US, Japan, UK, Germany, France and Latin America. It aims to provide artists with global solutions, it said.