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Universal shuts Verve UK
By CMU Editorial | Published on Thursday 26 April 2012
Universal Music is shutting the UK office of its Verve imprint, with those artists signed to the division working with sister label Decca moving forward. The legendary jazz label will continue to operate in the US. The move will see Verve UK execs Simon Gavin and Sarah Levy leave the major.
The former confirmed his departure from Universal after nearly two decades to Music Week, saying: “I’ve had an amazing eighteen years working for Universal and have been privileged to have been Managing Director for two legendary labels, A&M and Verve. I’m proud to have signed and A&R-ed some of Universal’s most successful global acts including the multi-million, Grammy Award winning Duffy. These are exciting and interesting times in the music industry. I am very much looking forward to my next adventure and to spending some time at Lord’s this summer!”
Meanwhile, after also confirming the close of Verve UK, Jazzwise quotes Decca Records’ Mike Bartlett as follows: “Verve will continue as a US-based label. We will be announcing some exciting new releases from them very soon. Decca will continue to work with the artists that were brought to the company under the Verve UK imprint”.
