Spotify has hired a replacement for long-time head of label relations Steve Savoca in the US, MBW can reveal.
The streaming company has hired Rob Harvey from Universal‘s Republic Records in a key role.
His official position is Head Of Label Relations North America, covering both the US and Canada.
Harvey has been VP of Top 40 at Republic & Island Records in Santa Monica since 2013 – a position he accepted after a near-14-year tenure in radio promotions at fellow UMG label group Interscope Geffen A&M.
MBW is told that Harvey (pictured inset) has been personally hired as part of a new industry relations team being put together by Troy Carter, who joined Spotify as Global Head Of Creator Services in June.
One of Carter’s key tasks is to slow the stream of US artist exclusive deals taking place on rival platforms Apple Music and TIDAL.
Prior to joining Interscope Geffen A&M in 1999, Harvey worked for the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in public relations.
His appointment in the US comes as Apple hires Universal Music UK commercial MD Brian Rose – who has been internally replaced at the major by Island’s David Hawkes.
Streaming services have done pretty well out of former senior UMG staff – from Interscope’s Jimmy Iovine and Larry Jackson (Apple Music) to Pat Shah and Francis Keeling (Spotify).
Steve Savoca left Spotify after five years in July, finishing his tenure as Global Head of Label Relations. It is understood that respected UK-based exec Kevin Brown has assumed Savoca’s responsibility for ex-US/CA label relations.
Meanwhile, another new member of Troy Carter’s team joined Spotify in recent weeks.
Dave Rocco has been appointed as Spotify’s Head Of Artist Marketing, based in New York.
For the past four years, Rocco (pictured inset) has been EVP, Music Creative Director at advertising giant Deutsch.
Rocco was also a Creative Services consultant at Westwood One for five years until 2014, and a Content/Music Producer at BBDO between 2011 and 2012.
His career has also seen him become an on-air personality on CBS Radio, and a Production Director/artist relations exec at the same station.
He also spent spells as an A&R/talent scout at both Atlantic Records and Epic Records.Music Business Worldwide
