Zomba Records Canada to Open July 1, 1999

Back - Index - Submissions - - What is RSS? Date: May 26, 2099 Source: ENTERTAINMENT WIRE Submitted By: a href NEW YORK--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--May 25, 1999--Surrounded by the record breaking sales week of it's Jive label artist Backstreet Boys album Millennium, the Zomba Record Group is set to open Canadian offices on July 1, 1999. The launch of this Canadian operation is the next phase in the Zomba Group of Company's worldwide evolution as the world's largest independent record company, following it's recent opening in Australia. The Zomba Labels (which include the hugely successful Jive label) will continue to be distributed in Canada by BMG Music Canada. According to Barry Weiss, President of Zomba's US Record Group, "The move in Canada parallels our American expansion to a fully fledged, self-standing record label in 1991. This model has now worked for us in America, the Benelux, Germany, Austria, Scandanavia, the UK, and now Australia. We expect Canada to follow suit. Lisa Zbitnew (President of BMG Music Canada) and her team have done a superb job on our repertoire and they will continue to be closely involved with the future development of the label in Canada as we move to the next level with BMG." Zomba Records (Canada) is also thrilled to announce the appointment of Laura Bartlett as President. This follows Bartlett's successful stints as Sr. VP Universal Music Canada, VP Marketing HMV North America, and a 13-year tenure at Virgin Music Canada where she departed as VP/GM. Weiss says, "It was a goal of ours to make a major statement in the Canadian marketplace with this critical appointment. Simply put, I can't think of a better statement than Laura Bartlett." Bartlett says of her appointment, "It's incredibly exciting to be part of the Zomba and Jive family. I look forward to taking the Zomba Group of Labels and it's artists to new heights (which is a tall order given this week's historical sales success of the Backstreet Boys) in the Canadian marketplace." Laura will join on June 7 and will assemble a fully integrated and expansive team working from the company's new Toronto head office. Promotion representatives will work from BMG branches across the country, in conjunction with BMG's promotion and street team staff. Weiss adds, "Canada has been a great market for us since our inception. From A Flock of Seagulls to Samantha Fox and the recent explosion of the Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears, Canada has often led the way before America with our acts. We look forward to the new success that a fully dedicated and aggressive team will bring. The stand-alone operation that will be launched will be able to help further maximize artists from our myriad of repertoire sources around the world such as the multi-platinum UK phenomenon Steps." The Zomba Group of Companies is the world's largest independent music group. Jive Records is the world's leading independent record label, the most influential and progressive exponent of today's Pop, R&B and Rap genres. The label features such acts as Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, R. Kelly, Joe, KRS-One, and Mystikal. Other labels within the Zomba Group of Companies are Silvertone, Volcano, and Verity Records, with artists such as Tool, Weird Al Yankovic, Buddy Guy and Jars of Clay. For further information please contact Sean Cassidy at Dan Klores Associates at 212-685-4300, Sonia Muckle at Jive Records at 212-824-1370 or Cam Carpenter at BMG at 416-586-0022. Comment on this item. Next Item: Millennium News From Billboard Prev Item: MILLENNIUM MADNESS