Universal Music Group is set to merge its iconic Island and EMI label divisions as part of a major restructuring of the company’s UK business, which also includes the launch of new Audience and Media Division to support artists and labels, Billboard has reported.
The reorganization of Universal Music’s UK operations follows changes to the major’s US teams earlier this year with the formation of Interscope Capitol Labels Group and Republic Corps. The EMI Label Group will run by Louis Bloom as president, and the newly formed Polydor Label Group will be headed up by Ben Mortimer.
As part of the restructuring, effective October 1, Universal is shuffling its executive structure.
EMI Records co-president Jo Charrington (pictured, right) has been appointed president of a “reimagined” UK arm of Capitol, which will sit within the wider Polydor Label Group, as will 0207 Def Jam, led by president Alec Boateng.
EMI Records’ other co-president, Rebecca Allen (pictured, left), will become president of Universal’s Audience and Media Division (AMD), a newly formed UK-based department dedicated to serving artists and labels that will have a global remit.
Allen will be joined by Suzy Walby (media), Kate Wyn Jones (Audience and Digital Strategy) and data and strategic branch The Square insight team, led by Jack Fryer.
The total number of jobs affected by the restructuring is yet to be confirmed.
For decades, EMI and Island have been among the UK’s most iconic and successful record labels. The former is, or has been, home to the likes The Beatles, Queen, Elton John, Pink Floyd, and The Spice Girls to name but a few, while the latter’s roster has included the likes of Bob Marley, Grace Jones, U2, Roxy Music, Amy Winehouse, and many others.