Kieran Thurgood has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Global Marketing for Capitol Music Group (CMG).
Thurgood will continue to report to Capitol Records General Manager and CMG Executive Vice President Larry Mattera, a position Mattera has held since December 2020.
Thurgood is based at the company’s Hollywood headquarters within the Capitol Tower.
In his elevated position, Thurgood will lead the label group’s international department, overseeing global marketing and promotion strategy for all artists spanning CMG’s portfolio of labels including Capitol, Blue Note, Capitol Christian Music Group and Virgin Music Label & Artist Services.
Prior to his promotion, Thurgood was Vice President of International Marketing for the label group, having held the position since 2017.
He joined CMG in 2013 as Director of International Marketing, and has since overseen global campaigns for Halsey, Katy Perry, Paul McCartney, Niall Horan, Calum Scott, Migos, Lil Baby, Troye Sivan, Maggie Rogers, Fletcher, NE-YO, Mary J. Blige, Banks, Alesso, Beck, Norah Jones, Avenged Sevenfold and NF, among many others.
Thurgood will continue to oversee global strategy for Motown Records and Quality Control Music, whose roster of artists includes Lil Baby, Migos, Lil Yachty, City Girls, NE-YO, Erykah Badu, Bankroll Freddie and Tiana Major9.
Thurgood recently led global marketing efforts on Paul McCartney’s latest studio album McCartney III, which garnered #1 album debuts in Germany, the Netherlands, Mexico, Japan and the UK – marking the artist’s first UK #1 Album in 31 years.
Since 2013, the executive has overseen the global strategy for pop superstar Katy Perry, has been key to the doubling overseas sales of hip hop trio Migos over the past 18 months, and is credited with expanding the international footprint of Lil Baby.
Thurgood also oversaw the global release of Barry Gibb’s latest studio album Greenfields, which landed atop the official charts in the UK and Australia.
These chart-topping entries marked Gibb’s first ever solo #1 and first #1 overall in 42 years, since the 1979 release of The Bee Gees’ Spirits Having Flown album.
Prior to joining CMG, Kieran spent ten years in London, holding various domestic and international marketing positions at Columbia Records UK, Sony Music UK and Decca Records.
While in the UK, he worked on projects for numerous artists, including Bob Dylan, Foo Fighters, Kings Of Leon, Kesha, AC/DC, Michael Jackson, Andrea Bocelli, The Lumineers, Rod Stewart, Sting and Robert Plant.
“Kieran is a forward-thinking and collaborative executive .”
Jeff Vaughn, CMG
Jeff Vaughn, CMG Chairman & CEO, said: “Kieran is a forward-thinking and collaborative executive whose proactive approach is integral to our company’s ability to break artists worldwide. I congratulate him on his well-deserved promotion.”
Photo Credit: Lester Cohen
“[Thurgood’s] contributions to CMG’s success make him the ideal executive to lead our International endeavors.”
Larry Mattera
Larry Mattera, said: “Kieran has a passion for music that has helped him develop deep relationships with our artists, and he’s forged strong partnership with our international affiliates through his decisive leadership and strategic thinking.
“He consistently develops innovative methods for breaking artists on a global level as well as enhancing the careers of established superstars.
“His contributions to CMG’s success make him the ideal executive to lead our International endeavors.”
“Our ambition moving forward is clear.”
Kieran Thurgood
Kieran Thurgood, added: “I’m grateful to Jeff Vaughn, [CMG President & COO] Michelle Jubelirer & Larry Mattera for the opportunity.
“Our ambition moving forward is clear: to expand CMG’s global reach & cultural impact, while fostering a nurturing & creative environment where our artists can thrive.
“I’m also hugely thankful to all of our world-class Universal Music Group teams globally and even more so to our phenomenal artists who entrust me each day to champion them and their art around the world.”
CMG has been led by Jeff Vaughn and Michelle Jubelirer since January 2021.Music Business Worldwide
