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Universal Music Australia rejigs

By | Published on Thursday 5 June 2014

Universal Music

Universal Music announced a revamp of its Australian division earlier this week, which will see all but its EMI unit coming closer together under one banner led by two joint Managing Directors, Michael Taylor and Darren Aboud.

Reporting into Universal’s Australasia President George Ash, the two MDs will oversee the mega-major’s various frontline labels and international teams in the country, including Island, Mercury, Modular, Polydor, Republic and IDJ. Compilations, classical and jazz will also sit under the new streamlined Universal Australia banner

Already speaking as one, the two new joint MDs said in unison: “Creating a standalone label for Universal Music Australia, which will bring the international and Australian marketing, strategic marketing, promotions, Classics & Jazz and the A&R teams together will give us a more efficient, creative, nimble and entrepreneurial music company, that can harness the collective resources of our entire organisation to better serve our artists, their music and their creative talents”.

Ash, meanwhile, added: “Both Mike and Darren are true music people who have forged entrepreneurial and creative visions for our company. To have them now running Universal Music and sprinkling their magic dust across the business is fantastic, I couldn’t be more excited. Our aim is to drive entrepreneurial and innovative activities across all our labels and ensure our artists get the best possible partnerships with our teams into the digital future and with Mike and Darren they couldn’t be in better hands”.

The EMI business in Australia that Universal acquired back in 2012 will remain a standalone entity led by John O’Donnell.



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