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Sony appoints new chiefs for Epic UK

By | Published on Friday 12 July 2013

Sony Music

Sony Music yesterday announced the appointment of Dougie Bruce and Steven Melrose as joint MD A&Rs of the major’s Epic UK division. They will report directly into Sony’s UK chief Nick Gatfield, suggesting an expansion of the unit (ie they are not reporting into Richard Connell, who is now overseeing the firm’s so called Associated Labels, the smaller imprints that would have previously included Epic in the UK).

Of course Epic, revived in the UK in 2007, does count British pop’s most unlikely superstar, Olly Murs, on its roster. Bruce and Melrose seem likely to now quickly grow the number of artists aligned with the label, having already signed up Example, who will release his fifth long player with the company next year. Bruce was previously an A&R scout for the earlier incarnation of Epic UK, before moving into music publishing, and then over to Simon Fuller’s empire, before returning to Sony to lead the label’s Fuller JV The Sign Of The Times in 2011. Melrose joined Sony in an A&R role last year, having previously worked for both EMI and Universal.

Commenting on his new role, Bruce told CMU: “Steve and I are so excited to have this opportunity to lead Epic into a new era, particularly as it’s full circle for myself starting as a scout for Epic all those years ago. We can’t wait to get going”. Melrose added: “We are thrilled to be taking the reins at Epic and are hugely excited and motivated to work on such an iconic label”.

For the last two years Epic UK has been led by Tops Henderson and Paul Lisberg as part of Sony’s alliance with their label Phonogenic. The duo will now refocus their efforts on their own label’s activities once again. Says Gatfield on all this: “I’ve known Dougie and Steven a long time, they each have a great mix of A&R and management skills and they will be a strong force together. I’m also delighted that Paul and Tops will be taking on the task of building the Phonogenic label back up”.



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