Our First Ronin Post…

Welcome to RM64… For those of you who have transitioned to the new music landscape from the major label world as we have, you’re probably operating in the entrepreneurial spirit, and looking to take advantage of the changes happening in the biz.

What’s evident is that new players have the opportunity to compete with the majors in breaking and developing new talent. Music entrepreneurs as well as ex-major label pros are now consultants running their own companies, or running new labels. And what we expect to see is the rise of dominant forces in the business run by risk-takers, which is how this industry started from the beginning.

What’s important to point out is that the lifeline of the music industry will continue to be new artists. And the task of A&R (i.e. finding/filtering quality talent, making records, and guiding an artist’s career) will continue to be the driving force in this industry. So we look forward to continuing this journey with you. And as we’ve said in the past, this space is your space…

Here’s a little catch-up on what’s been happening:

On the West Coast, new Warner/Chappell U.S. CEO Scott Francis makes some moves at the pubbery. Francis ups longtime W/C exec Greg Sowders to the Head of A&R post, and brings in A&R hitter Brad Aarons as VP of A&R. Entertainment attorney Stephen Butler also joins the pubco’s business affairs department. Butler was previously at powerhouse entertainment law firm Manatt Phelps & Phillips. Meanwhile, A&R Creative Judy Stakee exits her position after years at the company…

A&R hitter Craig Winkler will be leaving his Columbia A&R position to return to NY to work at a new publishing venture run by Q-Prime Management, thus reuniting him with his former Sire Records boss Michael Goldstone…

Former Capitol Music exec David Wolter has settled in his new post as SVP of A&R at RCA, as he rejoins his former Virgin Records boss Ashley Newton. Wolter is based in NYC…

Speaking of RCA, word on the street is that BMG ruler Barry Weiss is not consolidating the A&R departments within the BMG labels. And we hear he’s looking to add another seasoned record maker to further compliment his A&R staff at Jive…

Lots of buzz surrounding the pub derby on the Reid Hunter-repped/ROAR-managed Zac Brown. The singer/songwriter has been blazing the Country radio charts for weeks and now has a #1 single. Brown’s initial label arrangement with Live Nation has now been upstreamed to Atlantic Records. Expect this one to get nutty…

The Nick John-managed Mastodon signs a healthy pub deal with Chrysalis Music, as newly-promoted Chrysalis Creative VP James Cerreta closes the deal. After last year’s media frenzy about the pubco up for sale, looks like Chrysalis head honcho Kenny MacPherson and crew are back in biz in a big way, and with fancy new offices in Beverly Hills to boot.

Lastly, indie stalwart Gogol Bordello is parting with longtime label home SideOneDummy Records. The band is currently in the studio with producer Rick Rubin working on their next album, and we hear the bearded studio whiz is signing the band to Columbia…