NEW YORK (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Music industry veteran Larry Jenkins, who consulted CBS during the development and launch of the newly formed CBS Records, was named Executive Vice President and General Manager of the label, it was announced today by Nancy Tellem, President, CBS Paramount Network Television Entertainment Group, to whom Jenkins will report. He will be based in CBS Records’ West Los Angeles headquarters.
As head of the new music label, Jenkins will oversee its strategic direction as well as its day-to-day creative and business operations. He will lead the A&R process of signing and developing artists, and interact with CBS Television Network and CBS Paramount Television executives to create Company-wide, integrated marketing plans in support of the artists and their music. Additionally, Jenkins and his team will actively establish strategic relationships with third parties to broaden the scope of the Company’s non-traditional approach to marketing and distributing music.
"Larry is a widely known and well-respected music industry veteran whose guidance and direction during the ramp-up and launch of CBS Records has been invaluable," said Tellem. "Larry’s vision and passion for this marriage of music and TV, combined with his experience and long-standing relationships in the music world, make him the ideal executive to lead this exciting new venture."
CBS Records, a new venture launched by CBS in December 2006, is building a select roster of talent from the ranks of artists who write and record their own music. The company combines multi-platform marketing and promotion services with its unique abilities to integrate its music and artists into television series and promotional spots airing on CBS and The CW networks, as well as into CBS’s other media assets, such as Showtime and CBS Interactive (including CBS Mobile and Last.fm).
"Our powerful media assets uniquely position us to make this new-model music venture a success, not only from our business perspective, but, equally as important, for our artists, as well," said Jenkins. "Music is more popular than ever, and there is so much potential in exploring new and exciting ways to make consumers aware of great artists and their music," he said.
Jenkins is a 23-year veteran of the music and entertainment industries, having most recently headed his own management and consultancy firm, L J Entertainment since 2004. Prior to that, he was Senior Vice President/Marketing & Media for Columbia Records. During his 11-year tenure there, he designed, implemented and oversaw marketing campaigns for projects by some of music’s most highly acclaimed and commercially successful artists. Jenkins previously worked in similar capacities at Capitol Records and Arista Records.
CBS Records has signed seven artists to date, and its first wave of releases scheduled for the fall include CDs from Boston-based singer/songwriter Will Dailey (Backflipping Forward — Oct. 2) and eclectic critical favorite PJ Olsson (American Scream — Oct. 16). Also set for the Fall are EP offerings from pop-duo Karmina (The Kiss — September 4) and rockers You Are I Am (You Are I Am — Sept. 4), in advance of those artists’ early 2008 albums. The label has also signed singer/songwriter/guitar-slinger Keaton Simons, Boston-based rock band Señor Happy and husband-and-wife duo The Wilshires, all of whom will be releasing new music in early 2008. – CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
