NEW YORK (CelebrityAccess) — Universal Music Group announced that they are launching the Verve Label Group and appointed veteran manager and film & television producer Danny Bennett as the group's President and CEO.
The Verve Label Group will be comprised of Verve and UMG's U.S. classical music labels including Deutsche Grammophon, Decca Records, Decca Classics, Mercury Classics, and distributed label ECM. he jazz and classical labels will maintain distinct A&R, marketing and promotions teams, while leveraging UMG's resources for administration and support.
Bennett will report to Michele Anthony, Executive Vice President of UMG. Bennett and Dickon Stainer, President and CEO of Global Classics for Universal Music Group, will announce shortly a President of Verve Label Group's classical music labels. Verve will relocate their offices to New York, where the label was originally founded 60 years ago.
David Foster, one of the most successful record producers in history, who led the Verve label since 2012, has decided to return full-time to producing, and will continue to work closely with UMG's labels and artists. Foster is currently producing albums for UMG artists Carla Bruni and Jordan Smith.
Bennett, who founded RPM Productions in 1979, an artist management and strategic marketing company, is perhaps best known for managing the later career of his father, Tony Bennett. Bennett has also represented recording artists including Elvis Costello and Jamiroquai and directed marketing campaigns for Ozzy Osbourne, Pearl Jam, and John Legend to name a few. – Staff Writers
