Songwriter Amanda Ghost Named New President Of Epic Records
For once the artist really has come out on top, as singer songwriter Amanda Ghost has been named the new president of Epic Records, part of Sony's Columbia/Epic Label Group. She replaces Charlie Walk, who left Epic after his contract expired late last year.
Ghost has written songs that sold more than 25 million records in the
last three years including James Blunt’s "You are Beautiful"; Beyoncé
& Shakira’s “Beautiful Liar” and
Jordin Sparks “‘Tattoo.
”I'm not a conventional choice as an executive in the music business, but it is testament to the new mood at Sony where content is now king and the music business is being put back in the hands of creative talent such as myself," says Ghost. "I’m here to draw on my experiences as an artist, songwriter and producer to make the new and existing artists signed to Epic as brilliant and successful as possible”.
Amanda Ghost released her own major label debut "Ghost Stories" (Warner Bros.) in 2000 and later went on to release records in the UK on her own record label, Plan A distributed through Universal Records. During that time she also started a publishing label and music production company where she signed new and developing artists, most recently, Hugo Chakra, who is licensed through Jay Z’s record label Roc Nation.
“I am delighted that Amanda has chosen to bring her creative vision and
flair to the Epic label. In the changing environment of the music
business record labels undoubtedly need to be complete partners with
the artistic community and Amanda will be the perfect executive to meet
that challenge,” Rob Stringer, Chairman Columbia/Epic Label Group said in a statement.
This hire is a joke. The woman has no Executive experience or track record re finding/signing talent.
This will bomb! Especially since the reason that Walk failed is mainly due to the decisions his A&R staff made…. and a lot of them are still there.
Wow – this is great news! It’s the most unique and progressive thing I have heard about a label in a long time. Hiring a woman and a singer-songwriter might just be the vision and new perspective they need. Here are some possible directions she might consider:
1. Change the vision and thinking of record companies to media enablers, not starmakers. Set a reasonable rate of return for investment – not just the big win
2. Recognize the different potential functions of a label: “Bank”, A&R (educator), Producer, Manufacturer, Marketing, Distribution and identify how the internet and new tools can enhance the vision of all musicians that want to create/play.
3. Create/buy/hire for subsidiaries within each of these functions that take advantage of the creative urge of any aspiring musician/band. identify goals and milestone for musicians to earn and reap the rewards for self development within the programs.
4. Conduct education classes or joint venture with ones that already exist (ASCAP, NSAI, SongU, etc. Even conduct classes about money management for musicians “show me the money”. Classes on legal issues. Marketing, Skill development.
5. Arrange “loans” when musicians reach a certain point with an agreement that really works for both parties and doesn’t end up being exploitive. Ditch the recoupment nightmare.
6. Create a musician’s “helpline” where musicians who are using their own energy can ask questions 24 hours a day and get some reasoned and reasonable suggestions.
7. Advocate that musician’s cannot divest themselves of their copyright ever – that they can only license it for a specific term and purpose.
There are many other brain storm-type ideas she might consider along these lines.
YOU GO GIRL!
The bottom line is, how can it be any worse than what has preceded Ms. Ghost?
Sure, it would be very nice to see creative folks running the show, but there’s a reason ‘business’ people have been in control (excluding lawyers, who, as a rule, suck at running businesses). There are very few people who can be organized, objective and financial, while at the same time also be creative and have creative vision for the company business, as well as the music of artists.
But, it could be a home run. And, if it’s another failure, then… it’s just one more in a pretty long line for the last 25 years.
When a business stops investing in the very things that earned it greatness in the first place, failure is only a matter of time.