Jason Ellis has been promoted to Managing Director of Universal Music Group-owned UK dance label Positiva Records.
Ellis (pictured) will continue in his role as A&R Director for Virgin EMI Records, with a roster that includes Duke Dumont, Gorgon City, Sub Focus and Wilkinson.
His promotion coincides Positiva’s 25th anniversary, with a Positiva 25 album released on October 5.
Having joined the EMI sales team in 1995, Ellis moved to London as A&R manager for Positiva in 1999.
After moving into the Virgin label in 2009, he playing a key role in breaking David Guetta in the UK and worked with acts such as Deadmau5 and Swedish House Mafia.
Since joining Universal in 2012, he has enjoyed success with the likes of Avicii, Armin van Buuren, David Zowie and Martin Garrix.
More recently, Ellis has signed Martin Solveig and Jonas Blue.
“I’m proud to have helped keep Positiva on the frontline for so long.”
Jason Ellis
Virgin EMI President Ted Cockle said: “Even though the parent company has evolved through several guises, Jason has at all times remained focused on identifying the very best records, and alongside the teams that he nurtures so well, has helped deliver hits consistently across the years.
“It therefore gives me great pleasure to announce the career elevation of Jason into the new position of Managing Director of Positiva, whilst continuing in his role as A&R Director, Virgin Records ensuring that global dance floors will be superbly sonically furnished for quite some time to come!”
“Jason has at all times remained focused on identifying the very best records.”
Ted Cockle, Virgin EMI
Ellis added: “2018 has been a great year for Positiva, with three huge hits over the summer and a wide reaching anniversary campaign that has given us the opportunity to remind everyone of the contribution the label has made to dance music culture over the last 25 years.
“I’m proud to have helped keep Positiva on the frontline for so long, with thanks to Ted Cockle, everyone at Virgin EMI and Universal who have enable us to regularly keep breaking dance tracks and artists worldwide. Here’s to the next 25.”Music Business Worldwide