The team Down Under “has a genuine passion for partnering with and servicing the best and most innovative independent artists and labels from around the world,” he adds.
Joining Janes at Virgin Music Australia are former Caroline Australia colleagues Sam Cross and Ella Symons, who switch over to the positions of Senior Label Manager (both were Label Relations and Marketing Managers at Caroline), while ex-Caroline label coordinator Claire Tate shifts into the newly-created role as marketing and audience manager.
Also, Lachlan Duthie joins as label coordinator, and Juliette Younger and Jodie Grinsted are named media and promotions managers.
With the new team in place, enthuses Janes, “we are energized for our biggest year yet, and I cannot wait for this new chapter to begin.”
That new chapter will play out with new music from current local artist partnerships including Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, You Am I, King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard, Marlon Williams, Alex Lahey, Good Morning and CW Stoneking, along with repertoire from current local partner labels including indie stalwart Spunk! and Melbourne Punk Label Damaged (Private Function and Clowns).
Additionally, Virgin Music Australia will release Sydney rapper Chillinit, with support from Universal Music Group’s global Virgin Music network, announced last month.
The Australia hub is the latest in UMG’s international rollout of its Virgin Music artist and label solutions activities, unveiled in February as part of a major relaunch of Richard Branson’s famous Virgin brand.
Already, Virgin Music Label & Artist Services are open for business in the U.S., Japan, U.K., Germany, France and across Latin America, and with more markets and territories to come online in the months ahead.
George Ash, president, Universal Music Australia & New Zealand, paid tribute to Janes and his Caroline Australia team for building a “formidable label” that will “continue to grow with the new global launch of Virgin Music Label and Artist Services.”
Caroline’s roster and existing label partnerships “will benefit from the significant global infrastructure and support that the new Virgin Music Label services division will provide internationally,” adds Ash. “This new reinvigoration of the iconic Virgin Music brand will be a home for innovative music-based entrepreneurs from Australia and New Zealand, who can extend their reach by partnering with a global powerhouse.”
Currently, the Virgin Music Australia roster includes such international artists and labels as Aitch, Catfish and The Bottlemen, Mac DeMarco, Dave, SG Lewis, Iggy Pop, Digga D and label partnerships with Clairo via Fader Label, Internet Money, Trippie Redd and Iann Dior via 10k Projects, Christine and The Queens and Parcels via Because Music and much more.
