LONDON (Hypebot) – EMI Music Publishing UK, has appointed Kenny McGoff to head function as SVP, Head of A&R. He will report to EMI Publishing UK President Guy Moot and to be based in London. McGoff originally joined the company as A&R Manager in 2000, and has since signed UK songwriters including Arctic Monkeys, The Enemy, The Feeling, the Fratellis, Kasabian, Paul Epworth, Reverend & The Makers, Scouting For Girls and The Zutons.
NOTE TO LABELS, PUBLICISTS, ETC: Despite the many stories we run on EMI, Hypebot is not partial to them. (We don't dislike them either.) It just that their press department does a better job of getting us timely info.
Having worked in a number of record stores including HMV’s London Oxford Street flagship, McGoff began his career in the music industry working within the national promotions team at EMI Records. He joined EMI Music Publishing as 2000, and was promoted to Senior Vice President of A&R in 2005. Other signings completed by McGoff at the company include Bloc Party, Dirty Vegas, The Automatic, Eric Prydz, Audio Bullys and Goldie Lookin’ Chain.
FROM THE PRESS RELEASE:
Guy Moot commented: “Kenny has a winning ethic, and a unique ability to nurture and develop songwriters. That ability to connect with writers is reflected in a record of signings that would be the envy of any A&R in the country. His passion and enthusiasm is infectious, and I’m sure that these qualities will enable him to be a real success in his new role.
Kenny McGoff said: “It’s a privilege to be given this role by Guy, and to be able to lead what I genuinely believe to be the best A&R team in the UK.
The team has never been about title or power, but instead just using each others strengths to remain one step ahead of the game. The team now is stronger than ever, and we’re going to keep signing and developing the best songwriting talent in the world.”
Reverend and The Makers frontman Jon McClure said: “In a business where the majority have fins where their backs should be, Kenny is a soldier who speaks our language and not that of the boardroom. Top man, well deserved Ken.”
Tom Clarke from The Enemy commented: “Kenny is a dying breed, as he cares about music, is passionate about his bands, fights to the death and overall is a jewel in the crown at EMI Music Publishing. We would stick with him now and the future as he believed in us when no one else did.”
Writer/producer Paul Epworth said: “Kenny is the music man's music man. His knowledge of music in all genres combined with his wit, integrity and loyalty have been a blessing for me since even prior to my time with EMI. I am lucky to have him as an ally and a friend.”
EMI Music Publishing’s 1.3 million copyrights include some of the best-known songs ever written, such as “New York New York”, “You’ve Got A Friend”, “The James Bond Theme”, “Lady Marmalade”, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”, “Always On My Mind”, “Over The Rainbow”, “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” and “Singin’ In the Rain”. Its current hit-making writers and producers include Arctic Monkeys, Natasha Bedingfield, James Blunt, Cathy Dennis, Duffy, Gorillaz, Calvin Harris, My Chemical Romance and Mark Ronson.
