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THE BUSINESS OF MUSIC
www.musicweek.com
NEWS 02
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BIG INTERVIEW Willard Ahdritz
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“An industry based on short-term bonuses is not sustainable and it’s not good for creators”
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15 Above & Beyond “Our marketing is all
about word of mouth. Our fans are our footsoldiers”
Black Butter join Iley’s Sony LABEL OPERATES AS STANDALONE ENTITY ALONGSIDE RCA, COLUMBIA AND SONY CMG
LABELS ■ BY TIM INGHAM
I
f the UK music industry was waiting for a signal of intent from new Sony Music UK chairman & CEO Jason Iley, it’s just been handed a monster: Iley has agreed a landmark global deal which will see revered London-based independent label Black Butter effectively become a frontline label within the major record company. Black Butter, which was
started by Henry Village and Joe Gossa in 2010, will operate as a standalone entity at Sony Music UK alongside RCA, Columbia and Sony Music CMG. That arguably renders the deal
as the most significant piece of major-indie label business since Universal acquired V2 in 2007. Black Butter has stormed
to prominence in the past four years through its early association with acts including Rudimental, Clean Bandit, Gorgon City, Jess Glynne, Dusky and Will Heard. Black Butter’s Village and
Gossa will now head up the label as co-presidents reporting directly to Sony’s Iley with
immediate effect. Music Week understands a historic Sony label brand may also come under their remit in the coming months. “Black Butter is the most
exciting label to have emerged in the last five years,” said Iley, “This a real coup for us. Henry and Joe bring with
As well as being the first label to release material from platinum-sellers Rudimental and Clean Bandit, Black Butter also runs successful publishing and management divisions. Its Stackhouse management company includes on its
roster artists such as Gorgon City, Redlight and Rudimental (pictured). Stackhouse’s Henry Village recently also took on Parlophone-signed star and former Rocket Management client Lily Allen. Stackhouse will work in tandem with Scott Rodger at Quest Management on projects with Allen. Black Butter Publishing operates as a JV with BMG
Chrysalis UK in a deal signed by the company’s EVP Alexi Cory-Smith. Clients here include Jess Glynne (who Joe Gossa
them a rare talent for spotting exceptional acts. The deal is a significant benchmark in Sony Music UK’s growth plan for the future. Henry and Joe’s vision and enthusiasm is incredible and they’re the perfect fit for the new-look Sony Music.” “It’s been an incredible four
years for Black Butter and we’re very proud of what we’ve achieved,” said Gossa. “We see partnering with Jason as a great opportunity to build on this. Jason’s vision for the future is very exciting and forward thinking. It was this, along with his understanding of our business
calls an “insanely good writer behind the scenes”) and James Newman, who co-wrote the BRIT Award-winning Waiting All Night with Rudimental. Warner, EMI, London Records and Live Nation/ Ticketmaster veteran Roger Ames acts as a business partner and mentor to Gossa and Village across all three divisions, and the group also puts on its own live nights. “We’ve wanted to make sure all three areas of the Black Butter business are properly backed with the best partners,” Village told Music Week. “It feels like we have real figureheads and great collaborators involved with every part of what we do now.”
[Left to right]: Joe Gossa, Jason Iley and Henry Village
that ultimately persuaded us to come to Sony Music UK.” Added Village: “Jason was
very supportive early on in Black Butter’s ascendancy and has always made it very evident he wanted to work with Joe and I as soon as we were ready. I’ve always been a supporter and now that he’s taken the helm at Sony, the time felt right.” Iley has given the duo a “clean
sheet” to sign and develop talent on a global scale with Sony. Guiding the A&R team
at Black Butter will be Nick Worthington (formerly of XL/679) whose past signings include Plan B, Basement Jaxx and The Streets. Worthington has been a partner in Black Butter for the last three years. Iley added: “Nick is one of
the smartest, considered music execs I have ever met. He has great taste and signed some of the most exciting and innovative artists in recent years. We are all delighted he is on board.” While Black Butter’s current
roster will stay with their respective labels, all new talent will come under the Sony Music UK deal.
BREAD AND BUTTER: HOW BLACK BUTTER KEEPS GROWING AS A LABEL, PUBLISHER AND MANAGEMENT COMPANY
Added Gossa: “Black Butter is a true music camp, and there aren’t many of them around these days. We tip our hats to PMR, Method and Roc Nation. We’ve got a formidable roster.”
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