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Fuller company forms label with Sony

By | Published on Thursday 24 November 2011

Sony Music

Sony Music UK has formed an alliance with Simon Fuller’s XIX Entertainment to create a new imprint called Sign Of The Times which will be led by Dougie Bruce, the former Universal Music Publishing A&R who has been managing various acts for XIX since 2009, including Aloe Blacc. The new label’s first signings are Essex band The Milk.

Cue some concise quotage from both sides of the deal, Sony Music UK top dude Nick Gatield and, for XIX, the Fuller man himself. Says Gatfield: “Dougie Bruce is an executive with very strong all round business acumen in both A&R and management. This deal significantly ramps up our A&R firepower”.

Fuller: “Sign Of The Times has been shaped around Dougie’s unique set of skills; he’s got a great track record for delivering hit acts and we’re delighted to be partnering him on this”.

Bruce himself had a little more to say. He told CMU: “This feels like a great natural progression for me. I’ve always wanted my own label, and to creatively manage the process through from signing a complete unknown to delivering a number one act in the UK. It’s fantastic to know I’ve got the strategic weight and resource of Nick Gatfield, Sony Music and XIX Entertainment behind me. This is an exciting time for music, and I strongly believe that we’re well placed for great things in 2012”.

Elsewhere in Sony Music UK news, Nicola Tuer has been promoted from the role of Senior Vice President to Executive Vice President, an ‘executive’ being more senior than a ‘senior’ apparently. Tuer already oversees sales and new digital business, and will now also head up catalogue, compilations and other licensing flim flam.

She’ll report directly to the Gatfield in the new role, he saying this: “Nicola is one of the most experienced and skilled executives in the UK music business and her contribution to Sony Music UK has been immense. I’m delighted to have her at my right hand as we build for the future and continue to evolve and grow Sony Music”.



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