Universal Republic and Island Def Jam Motown Expand Creative Teams With the Appointment of Prominent Artist Manager and A&R Executive Brandon Creed

Universal Republic and Island Def Jam Motown Expand Creative Teams With the Appointment of Prominent Artist Manager and A&R Executive Brandon Creed

NEW YORK, Aug. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Republic and Island Def Jam Motown, divisions of Universal Music Group, have further expanded their creative teams with the addition of prominent artist manager and artist & repertoire (A&R) executive Brandon Creed. Serving as an exclusive A&R consultant for both companies, Mr. Creed will report to Barry Weiss, Chairman & CEO of Universal Republic and Island Def Jam Motown.

"As we continue to expand our creative investments, Brandon is a perfect fit," stated Mr. Weiss. "Besides being a great artists' manager, he is also a talented A&R and creative executive. We plan to get him very involved across our labels at Island Def Jam Motown and Universal Republic."

"Barry is known for being an artist-focused, A&R-driven leader and I am privileged to be a part of his and Lucian Grainge's (Chairman & CEO, UMG) creative team," stated Mr. Creed. "I'm also looking forward to working with Monte Lipman (President & CEO, Universal Republic), Steve Bartels (President & COO, Island Def Jam), Karen Kwak (Executive Vice President and Head of A&R, Island Def Jam), and their illustrious artist rosters as they take these great labels into an exciting new era."

Mr. Creed serves as manager of superstar Bruno Mars, whose career has skyrocketed following the release of his debut album, Doo-Wops & Hooligans, which was certified platinum in the U.S. and was a chart-topper internationally. Earlier this year, Mars was nominated for a whopping seven Grammy Awards, winning Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for "Just The Way You Are." Mr. Creed also manages The Smeezingtons, one of the most sought-after writer/producer collectives in the industry. The Smeezingtons consists of Bruno Mars, Philip Lawrence and Ari Levine, who have produced and written songs for such artists as the Sugababes, B.o.B, Brandy Norwood, Flo Rida, Chad Hugo, Lil Eddie, Brave New World, Bad Meets Evil and Cee Lo Green, among many others. They have produced a string of #1 charting hits, including "Nothin' on You" by B.o.B, and co-writing "Right Round" by Flo Rida featuring Ke$ha and the smash "F**K You!" by Cee Lo Green. Mr. Creed also served as an A&R consultant at Epic Records where he signed new teen sensation Jasmine V, as well as multi-platinum selling R&B/Hip Hop artist Sean Kingston, whose single "Beautiful Girls" was one of 2007's most successful songs. He has also worked closely with superstars Jennifer Lopez and Brandy. Mr. Creed began his career at Arista Records and was later recruited to be one of the founding employees of J Records. At J, Mr. Creed was the product manager for Pearl Jam, Dido and Santana, among others, and gained experience in almost all areas of record label activity including marketing, sales, international and video. It was also at J Records that he began to work in A&R, under the tutelage of famed label head Clive Davis.

About Universal Music Group

Universal Music Group is the world's leading music company with wholly owned record operations or licensees in 77 territories. Its businesses also include Universal Music Publishing Group, the industry's leading global music publishing operation.

Universal Music Group's record labels include A&M/Octone, Decca, Def Jam Recordings, Deutsche Grammophon, Disa, Emarcy, Fonovisa, Geffen Records, Interscope Records, Island Records, Lost Highway Records, Machete Music, MCA Nashville, Mercury Nashville, Mercury Records, Polydor Records, Show Dog-Universal Music, Universal Motown, Universal Music Latino, Universal Republic and Verve Music Group as well as a multitude of record labels owned or distributed by its record company subsidiaries around the world. The Universal Music Group owns the most extensive catalog of music in the industry, which includes the last 100 years of the world's most popular artists and their recordings. UMG's catalog is marketed through two distinct divisions, Universal Music Enterprises (in the U.S.) and Universal Strategic Marketing (outside the U.S.). Universal Music Group also includes eLabs, its new media and technologies division; Bravado, its merchandising company; and Twenty-First Artists, its full service management division.

Universal Music Group is a unit of Vivendi, a global media and communications company.

SOURCE Universal Music Group

Universal Music Group

CONTACT: Peter LoFrumento or Maria Ho-Burge, maria.ho-burge@umusic.com, both of Universal Music Group, +1-212-331-2569

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