Jamie Nelson (VP A&R) and Gemma Reilly (VP Marketing UK) are to jointly lead BMG’s frontline recordings business reporting to President, Repertoire & Marketing UK Alistair Norbury.
Together Nelson and Reilly have played key roles in delivering consecutive UK Number One albums for Kylie, the first Number One album for Jack Savoretti, a Top 10 single for KSI, a Top Five album for Richard Hawley and the crossover successes of both Luke Evans and Aled Jones & Russell Watson.
According to the Official Charts Company, BMG in the UK increased its album sales by 11.9% against a market decline of 0.4% in 2019. In streaming it increased volume by 24.4% against a market increase of 15.3%.
BMG’s 2020 schedule includes releases from The Shires, Amy MacDonald and Groove Armada.
“We are now the most successful UK record company outside of the three traditional majors,” said Norbury. “A&R and marketing are the foundations upon which we consistently deliver for artists and outperform industry trends by maintaining robust physical sales while hitting new heights in streaming.”
Gemma Reilly has enjoyed successes at BMG including her work with artists such a sJack Savoretti, Rick Astley and Texas.
Jamie Nelson joined BMG in 2015, having worked with artists including Kylie Minogue, Lily Allen, and Eliza Doolittle. His work with Kylie on her 2018 BMG album Golden helped return her to the top of the charts in four countries including the UK.
As part of the new structure, Korda Marshall has extended his deal with BMG after five successful years since the sale of his Infectious Music label to the company. He will continue to A&R artists such as The DMA’S, alt-J, RY X, Richard Ashcroft and Morrissey as well as a string of recent new signings to be announced shortly.
Said Norbury, “Korda is a byword for good taste and achievement in A&R, and has justly been named an ‘A&R Icon’. We are delighted that five years after the acquisition of Infectious that he has agreed to extend his successful collaboration with BMG. We are privileged to have Gemma and Jamie at the helm whilst retaining the invaluable counsel of Korda Marshall.”Music Business Worldwide
