Big Apple Chills

As yours truly from the RM64 crew braved the chilly and rainy NYC weather last week, news of dramatic changes happening at Sony Music was driving industry chatter on the street. With Epic Records head Charlie Walk exiting his post, the gossip mill churned talk of the label being folded in Columbia. In the process, senior A&R player Andy Gershon makes the departure as well. However, expect A&R exec Pete Giberga, who is coming off the success of Sara Bareilles, to stay put. And rightfully so, Giberga gets big kudos for the development and success of Bareilles considering today’s difficult music landscape. Speaking of Columbia, label head Steve Barnett and A&R hitter Maureen Kinney sign Chairlift…

Some follow-ups to our previous post: Former Columbia Records A&R exec Lee Danay joins the Warner/Chappell crew representing in the East Coast.  Veteran music exec Jeff Aldridge exits his longtime A&R title at Warner Bros. and joins Barry Weiss’ crew at Jive. Meanwhile, we hear WB Records head Tom Whalley brings in veteran A&R exec Kate Hyman into the fold, hence replacing Aldridge. Hyman has held senior creative positions notably at V2, Chrysalis, and Imago Records (editor’s note: newbies in the biz won’t remember Imago. We do, cuz we’re old skool… it’s like that and that’s the way it is)…

Lastly, it’s a late report, but a notable one to mention, L.A.-based Robert Francis signs with Atlantic Records. The major has already put their logo stamp on Francis’ Myspace page. But here’s a little indie trivia for you RF fans out there—the singer/songwriter is the younger brother of Hello Stranger frontwoman Juliette Commagere. He briefly played bass for HS, joining his sister and drummer Joachim Cooder, who famously played with the Buena Vista Social Club along with his father/legendary guitar player Ry Cooder. Francis’ 2007 indie release through Aeronaut Records received rave reviews from rock critics…

IN THE MIX: Jon Pikus, The Temper Trap, and Eggnog (the holiday drink, not a band)…
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