Sony Music UK has announced the promotion of Joanna Kalli to Managing Director of the Sony Music Commercial Group.
Under the new role, Kalli will oversee the catalog division, Music For Nations, and Masterworks, Sony Music UK announced Monday (June 3).
Kalli has been a key part of Sony Music since joining as a Product Manager in 2008. She began her career in independent labels before transitioning to Sony Music, where she most recently served as Director of Marketing for Sony Music’s UK catalog division. At Sony, she led global campaigns for a number of artists, including George Michael, The Clash and Judas Priest.
One of Kalli’s recent achievements includes steering Natasha Bedingfield’s chart resurgence, which saw Unwritten enter the UK Top 15 for the first time in 19 years. Kalli also spearheaded the 2023 WHAM! campaign, successfully securing the UK Christmas Number One spot for Last Christmas nearly four decades after its original release. The track has now been streamed more than 1.6 billion times worldwide.
“I’m delighted to be taking on this new role, leading Sony Music Commercial Group’s great team. It’s an exciting time to be working the repertoire of such a dynamic roster of artists.”
Joanna Kalli, Sony Music UK
Commenting on her promotion, Kalli said: “I’m delighted to be taking on this new role, leading Sony Music Commercial Group’s great team. It’s an exciting time to be working the repertoire of such a dynamic roster of artists.”
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Kalli is a Co-Founder and Co-Chair of Sony Music’s women’s network, SWIM (Sony Women In Music). Over the past two years, she has built networks and hosted events in partnership with Sony’s affiliate companies.
Sony Music Commercial Group oversees a vast collection of legendary and award-winning artists. The Commercial Group produces, manages, and maintains a catalog of reissues in partnership with the company’s data, analytics, and campaign teams. The collection spans “thousands” of digitally remastered titles representing nearly every musical genre, such as pop, rock, jazz, blues, R&B, folk, country, gospel, Broadway musicals, movie soundtracks, world music, classical, comedy, and more.
Kalli’s appointment comes as Sony’s catalog continues to grow. Last week (May 29), Bloomberg reported, citing sources, that Sony is in talks to acquire the catalog of British rock act Queen. Sony is reportedly “working with another investor” on a transaction that “could potentially total $1 billion”.
About two weeks ago, Sony Music Publishing inked a deal to represent the legendary Otis Redding catalog in the United States. Redding is known for chart-topping hits such as Respect (also a hit for Aretha Franklin), Try A Little Tenderness, and Hard To Handle, covered by the Black Crowes.
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