This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Business News Industry People Labels & Publishers
Universal makes some classical announcements
By CMU Editorial | Published on Wednesday 20 October 2010
Universal Music has announced the expansion of its classical music operations centring on its Deutsche Grammophon and Decca Classics divisions. Both new executive appointments and new signings have been confirmed after a recent meeting in London of Universal classical staffers from twenty different territories.
Execs-wise, Lut Behiels, formerly marketing man at Deutsche Grammophon, will become Director of all Classical Marketing, while Barry Holden, formerly of classical indie label Naxos, will become Director of Universal’s Classical Catalogue.
They will both sit on a central classical management team that will also include Senior VP Of Classical A&R Costa Pilavachi and VP of Business Development Florence Siebert, who were both appointed to their current roles earlier this year. Marek Filipiak, meanwhile, has become CFO for the division.
Artists-wise, Universal has confirmed the signing of Polish soprano Aleksandra Kurzak and American cellist Alisa Weilerstein to Decca Classics, and Armenian violinist Mikhail Simonyan to Deutsche Grammophon. The major has also announced debut albums from recent signings German soprano Mojca Erdmann and Montenegran guitarist Milo Karadaglic, were now in the pipeline.
Confirming all of this, Universal Music International’s Chief Operating Officer Max Hole, who oversees the classical labels, told CMU: “Deutsche Grammophon and Decca Classics have incomparable rosters of superstars and new talent. With their artistry, coupled with our labels’ commitment, imagination and innovation, the best people in the industry and an unmatchable catalogue, Universal Music intends to assert its classical music leadership as never before”.
