As expected, Ron Fair has been named Chief Creative Officer / Executive Vice President of Virgin Records, it was announced today by Capitol Music Group chairman/CEO Steve Barnett. According to a statement, Fair is “charged with rebuilding Virgin Records across all contemporary music genres, launching its resurgence with an A&R team and a marketing staff” helmed by Ashley Burns, who was announced as the label’s general manager today.
Promotion and other centralized functions will be handled by the core teams within Capitol Music Group. Fair will be based in Los Angeles and will report to Barnett.
Fair, who was hired in a consultancy role at Front Line management in April of last year, has a 30-year track record as an A&R executive and record producer. He is known for his substantial role in the career of Christina Aguilera and his contributions to producing and providing A&R services for the Black Eyed Peas, Mary J. Blige, Queen Latifah and others. His recordings have won 18 Grammy Awards. He previously held positions at Chrysalis Records, RCA Records, Island Records and EMI Records.
In her new position, Burns will helm the company’s marketing and publicity efforts and work with Capitol Music Group’s core teams on sales and promotion plans, as well as utilizing the Group’s other centralized services. She will be based in Los Angeles and will work alongside Fair and report to Barnett.
Burns has spent her entire career as an executive within EMI and Capitol. She was most recently Executive Vice President, North America for EMI, overseeing the company’s partnerships within the digital, mobile and online spaces – including iTunes, Amazon, Youtube and Vevo – and overseeing digital planning and strategy for EMI artists. She also helmed the company’s strategic initiatives and new product development in the digital space. She joined EMI’s Commercial team in 2007 and oversaw the company’s digital sales as Senior Vice President of Commercial Development. Burns was named Vice President of Finance for Capitol Records in 2003, and was ultimately promoted to Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for the company in 2006.
Virgin is a division of the former EMI labels that were acquired by Universal last year, which are now united under the Capitol Music Group umbrella; Barnett came over from Columbia to helm the group last fall. The labels in the group are Capitol, Virgin, Blue Note, Astralwerks, Harvest, Capitol Christian Music Group and Caroline. Dan McCarroll, most recently president of the Capitol & Virgin Label Group, is expected to remain at the helm of Capitol.
The moves have been coming fast and furious in the Capitol Music Group, as Greg Thompson was appointed EVP of Capitol Music Group just yesterday. [Billboard.biz]
