AUSTRALIAN INDEPENDENT LABEL ELEVEN ENTERS JOINT VENTURE WITH UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP
July 30th 2008 07:06
Link: www.elevenmusic.com/
Indie flexibility and major muscle to benefit artists including Missy Higgins, Kisschasy, Little Birdy, Paul Mac, Silverchair
SYDNEY, July 30, 2008 – Acclaimed Australian independent label, Eleven: a music company, and the Universal Music Group, the world's leading music company, announced today that they have entered into a new joint venture. The two companies will partner equally in releasing recordings by leading Australian artists, including Missy Higgins, Kisschasy, Little Birdy, Paul Mac and Silverchair.
The agreement will continue to provide these artists with full control over the creation of their music. Marketing will be brought in house at Eleven, and promotion will be outsourced. Universal Music Australia will provide funding, distribution, back office services and strategic oversight. This new model will allow Eleven's artists to combine the freedom and flexibility of an independent career with the muscle of a major label.
"Everyone at Eleven is very excited to be entering into this partnership," said label President, John Watson. "We share Universal's belief that transformative times like these demand new ways of doing business. This new structure will allow our artists to make the music they want to make and to get it heard as widely as possible over the years ahead."
George Ash, Managing Director, Universal Music Australia, commented: "John Watson, Melissa Chenery, the team at Eleven, and their amazing artists are at the forefront of success and creativity, and the Universal Music family is honoured to be partnering with them as we work towards an exciting new future. Our bond is based upon a passion for artists and connecting them with their fans in a fast changing music world. Eleven are the leaders, the innovators and the true home for artists. We couldn’t be more excited."
John Watson Management, which counts most of the Eleven roster as clients, will continue to operate as a completely independent entity for its current roster. Future signings will be made to a new management company in partnership with Universal Music. In each case, the new structure will allow JWM/Eleven artists to more closely combine the exposure of their recordings and touring.
"In this cluttered media environment, we believe that artists need to aggregate their finite marketing and promotional resources," said John Watson. "Instead of the traditional approach of having one group of people trying to sell CDs while others try to sell “concert tickets", artists need to be in the broader business of building enduring relationships with their audiences in all the different forms that may take. Universal Music truly understands all this, so our new deal will allow us to integrate those processes much more seamlessly."
Max Hole, Executive Vice President, Universal Music Group International, and President, Asia-Pacific Region, said, “John Watson has an enviable track record for finding and developing great talent. This partnership with Eleven promises a new way of connecting those artists and their music to the widest possible audiences. We can’t wait to get started.”
The Universal Music joint venture brings to an end Eleven's remarkably successful association with Virgin/EMI Music Australia. During that time, Eleven's artists sold over two million albums and received 21 ARIA Awards.
“On behalf of ourselves and our artists, I want to sincerely thank EMI Australia’s past and present staff for all their fantastic and dedicated work,” said John Watson. “While we’ll miss our friends there, we believe that this new venture with Universal Music will definitely provide the best strategic fit for us over the years ahead. We are very excited to be starting this new chapter in partnership with George Ash and his team.”
The new distribution arrangements for Eleven will take effect from September 1. Existing global licensing arrangements for Eleven artists are unaltered.
SYDNEY, July 30, 2008 – Acclaimed Australian independent label, Eleven: a music company, and the Universal Music Group, the world's leading music company, announced today that they have entered into a new joint venture. The two companies will partner equally in releasing recordings by leading Australian artists, including Missy Higgins, Kisschasy, Little Birdy, Paul Mac and Silverchair.
The agreement will continue to provide these artists with full control over the creation of their music. Marketing will be brought in house at Eleven, and promotion will be outsourced. Universal Music Australia will provide funding, distribution, back office services and strategic oversight. This new model will allow Eleven's artists to combine the freedom and flexibility of an independent career with the muscle of a major label.
"Everyone at Eleven is very excited to be entering into this partnership," said label President, John Watson. "We share Universal's belief that transformative times like these demand new ways of doing business. This new structure will allow our artists to make the music they want to make and to get it heard as widely as possible over the years ahead."
George Ash, Managing Director, Universal Music Australia, commented: "John Watson, Melissa Chenery, the team at Eleven, and their amazing artists are at the forefront of success and creativity, and the Universal Music family is honoured to be partnering with them as we work towards an exciting new future. Our bond is based upon a passion for artists and connecting them with their fans in a fast changing music world. Eleven are the leaders, the innovators and the true home for artists. We couldn’t be more excited."
John Watson Management, which counts most of the Eleven roster as clients, will continue to operate as a completely independent entity for its current roster. Future signings will be made to a new management company in partnership with Universal Music. In each case, the new structure will allow JWM/Eleven artists to more closely combine the exposure of their recordings and touring.
"In this cluttered media environment, we believe that artists need to aggregate their finite marketing and promotional resources," said John Watson. "Instead of the traditional approach of having one group of people trying to sell CDs while others try to sell “concert tickets", artists need to be in the broader business of building enduring relationships with their audiences in all the different forms that may take. Universal Music truly understands all this, so our new deal will allow us to integrate those processes much more seamlessly."
Max Hole, Executive Vice President, Universal Music Group International, and President, Asia-Pacific Region, said, “John Watson has an enviable track record for finding and developing great talent. This partnership with Eleven promises a new way of connecting those artists and their music to the widest possible audiences. We can’t wait to get started.”
The Universal Music joint venture brings to an end Eleven's remarkably successful association with Virgin/EMI Music Australia. During that time, Eleven's artists sold over two million albums and received 21 ARIA Awards.
“On behalf of ourselves and our artists, I want to sincerely thank EMI Australia’s past and present staff for all their fantastic and dedicated work,” said John Watson. “While we’ll miss our friends there, we believe that this new venture with Universal Music will definitely provide the best strategic fit for us over the years ahead. We are very excited to be starting this new chapter in partnership with George Ash and his team.”
The new distribution arrangements for Eleven will take effect from September 1. Existing global licensing arrangements for Eleven artists are unaltered.
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