Sony Music Australia expands Local Artist, A&R and Artist Management Division

By Mediaweek

Posted on 6 October 2016

Sony Music Australia’s renowned focus on local artist development + the newest members to the A&R team

Sony Music Entertainment chairman & CEO, Australia & New Zealand and president, Asia, Denis Handlin was the guest keynote speaker this month to open the major Asia Pacific Conference All That Matters in Singapore. In an upbeat and motivating speech, Handlin commented: “In my 46 years in the industry, there has never been a more exciting time to be in the business. We have global market growth for the first time in 15 years and the ability to market and connect with music fans constantly through online and social media channels.

“We are more focused than ever before and excited to increase our investment and resources in A&R and local artist development, right across the Asia Pacific region. This will see us continue to invest with intelligent aggression, plenty of passion and truckloads of enthusiasm.”

Sony Music Australia’s renowned focus on local artist development continues with recent signings of hotly contested artists The Lulu Raes and Strangers as well as country artist Missy Lancaster.

Denis Handlin has also announced the appointment of new members to its A&R team.

September also saw Sony Music Australia’s A&R director Pat Handlin move to the UK. Pat has been promoted to the position of senior A&R manager for Syco/Sony Music UK, to develop and A&R UK artists including performers from UK’s forthcoming series of The X Factor. He commenced in the London office on September 15, reporting to the president of Syco Music Worldwide. Syco founder Simon Cowell said: “Pat, get ready for the ride. Now the fun really starts.” Syco further commented: “Pat is a proven record maker and artist-focused A&R [executive] and we will all benefit from his talent and wealth of experience.”

Pat Handlin with Timomatic and Jessica Mauboy at his farewell

Earlier this month a special farewell for Pat was held in Sydney attended by many of the artists, producers, media and staff colleagues he has worked with over the years.

Pat commenced as an intern in the Red Label with Sony Music Australia in 2006 and was promoted to A&R talent scout in 2008. Pat also worked as part of an internal training program for Columbia Records in New York in 2008. In 2010 he was promoted to manager A&R and in 2013 promoted to director A&R.

Pat has A&R’d many major successes of Sony Music’s local artists including Guy Sebastian, Jessica Mauboy, The Veronicas, Justice Crew, Timomatic, Stan Walker, Jai Waetford, Samantha Jade and Peking Duk.

Justice Crew’s smash single “Que Sera”, sourced and A&R’d by Pat, became the longest-charting Australian number one single ever for nine consecutive weeks on the National ARIA Singles Chart, selling more than 8x platinum in 2014.

Pat and Denis Handlin with Pats Sony Music A&R achievement award

Pat also introduced the songwriting and production team DNA to Sony Music which has established a successful creative partnership and has delivered an amazing array of hits for Sony Music artists.

Joining the team in December will be Claes Uggla, a highly experienced A&R executive from Sony Music Sweden, who will take on the position as director A&R, reporting to Denis Handlin. Most recently, Uggla was responsible for signing and breaking Alan Walker, which has seen his smash hit “Faded” at the top of the charts in more than 25 countries.

Uggla joined the Swedish company in A&R in 2013 and previously worked as head of TV/A&R, where he was responsible for artists from Idol, The Voice and Swedish reality show Så mycket bättre, as well as working in both A&R and marketing in Sweden for independent labels Roxy Recordings, Juju Records and Pope Records.

Denis Handlin has also attracted to the company the highly experienced A&R and marketing executives Peter Karpin and Robert Rigby.

Karpin returns to Sony Music as director A&R, having worked for Sony Music Australia firstly in the 1970s, then moving to New York as director International A&R, returning to Sony Music Australia as head of A&R in the 1980s through to 1999. He has also worked as head of BMG Music Publishing and Mercury Records. Karpin will focus on new artist signings and have a regular presence in Melbourne where he also has longstanding A&R contacts.

Jessica Mauboy signing her Parade Management contract with Denis Handlin, joined by her parents Therese and Ferdy Mauboy

Commenting on his return, Karpin said, “It’s so great to be working back at Sony Music with Denis. Our mutual passion and our joint success in signing and developing Australian artists, both locally and globally, started back with artists such as Air Supply and Dragon in the 70s and has never waned. I am both excited and proud to be working under him again, along with the second-to-none team he has built, who are driven by the love and respect for artists and their music.”

Robert Rigby has also joined the company as a senior consultant director for A&R & Strategic Projects. Rigby has a long history in the music business, having formerly held various marketing and management positions at both Sony Music Entertainment and Warner Music Australia including managing director of the Warner Bros division for 10 years during the 1990s. More recently he was the A&R head for The Voice.

In addition Rigby is MD of Ambition Entertainment which has just signed an exclusive distribution deal with Sony Music Entertainment Australia effective from September 2016.

Claes Uggla, Peter Karpin, Robert Rigby, Wayne Ringrow, Ken Outch

Peter Karpin, Robert Rigby and Claes Uggla join Sony Music Australia’s A&R leading team of Ross Fraser – senior A&R consultant, Tim Pithouse – senior director, marketing & artist development, Ryan Wilson – director, electronic music, Paul Harris – senior A&R manager, Lee Danilewitz – manager A&R in Sony Music’s A&R division and Hayden Bell – senior A&R consultant, Asia.

As reported in Mediaweek, Sony Music launched its A&R Academy intern initiative this year hiring four young music enthusiasts in Sydney and Melbourne. Handlin was excited to reveal that the interns Hazel Gordon, Jackson Christie, Fletcher Diamantis and Katie O’Hagan have already identified new artists that the company is currently signing.

Handlin believes the Sony Music A&R team provides a unique mix of youth and experience which will continue to lead the way in local artists’ development.

The A&R Academy is also being introduced across the Asia Pacific region by the end of this year.

Denis Handlin and regional team in Singapore with Kazuo Hirai, global president & CEO of Sony Corporation (front centre), and Dennis Kooker, Sony Music president global digital business and US sales (front row second from left)

Sony Music’s Parade Management has also announced the renewal of Jessica Mauboy’s management deal, continuing their successful partnership of over 10 years.

This week also sees Jessica Mauboy starring in Seven’s new local drama The Secret Daughter, which features a brilliant array of classic songs and new compositions from the super talented singer, performer, songwriter and actress.