EMI Appoints Universal’s Billy Wragg To Head Digital

Barney Wragg has been appointed head of digital for EMI Music worldwide. Wragg was formerly senior vice president for Universal Music Group’s digital division, eLabs. In his five years at the company, he was responsible for the international operations of the division, developing Universal’s digital business and generating new revenue streams from emerging technologies.

In his new role, Wragg who will be based in London will be responsible for developing and leading the implementation of EMI Music’s digital strategy globally, working closely with the company’s five regional offices and its subsidiaries around the world.

Read the EMI press release after the jump.

EMI MUSIC APPOINTS BARNEY WRAGG TO LEAD DIGITAL BUSINESS

LONDON, 1 AUGUST 2006 — Barney Wragg has been appointed head of digital for EMI Music worldwide, reporting to Alain Levy and David Munns, chairman and CEO and vice chairman respectively of EMI Music.

Wragg was formerly senior vice president for Universal Music Group’s digital division, eLabs. In his five years at the company, he was responsible for the international operations of the division, developing Universal’s digital business and generating new revenue streams from emerging technologies.

In his new role, Wragg will be responsible for developing and leading the implementation of EMI Music’s digital strategy globally, working very closely with the company’s five regional offices and its subsidiaries around the world. He will help maintain and build EMI’s relationships with the key digital service providers, and ensure that EMI continues to explore, develop and capitalise on appropriate new digital opportunities and business models. He will also implement best digital practice across the various EMI companies at a national and regional level as they continue to embed digital into all aspects of their business.

Wragg will be based at EMI’s headquarters in London, and will take up his appointment later this year.

Alain Levy said: “We are very pleased that Barney is joining EMI to lead the next phase in the evolution of our digital strategy. He is a highly experienced and respected digital music executive who will drive EMI Music’s ongoing development in this exciting period of innovation and growth in the market.”

Barney Wragg commented: “EMI has always been at the forefront of the digital music boom, and I’m very excited to be joining Alain, David and the EMI team around the world to help realise the company’s digital aspirations.”

At Universal Music Group International, Wragg established relationships  with all of the division’s key digital retailers and defined licensing terms for all of its digital products (including downloads, subscription, internet radio and video and mobile). Wragg was also instrumental in major artist campaigns including Live 8’s digital downloads (setting the world record for the fastest time from the recording of a track to its distribution to consumers), the U2/Apple campaign and the digital release of the early Rolling Stones Abko catalogue.

Prior to his time with Universal, Wragg worked from 1996 to 2001 as audio business development manager for Advanced RISC Machines (ARM), a leader in microprocessor intellectual property whose designs are at the heart of the iPod and can be found in over 85% of cellphones worldwide. He began his career as an independent club and concert promoter, promoting live and dance events across the north of England. He has a BSc in Acoustics from the University of Surrey in the UK.

EMI has been at the cutting edge of the rapidly growing digital music marketplace since it released the world’s first ever album to be offered as a digital download in 1999.  In 2005, the album X&Y by EMI band Coldplay was the world’s biggest selling digital album.  In the company’s last fiscal year, digital revenues more than doubled to reach £112 million.  EMI has signed agreements with hundreds of digital partners to distribute its music across the globe.  It continues to facilitate the development of a growing range of new digital business models to enable fans to experience and purchase its artists’ output through a number of different platforms including, most recently, legal peer-to-peer agreements with QTrax, Mashboxx and GNAB, and a deal to offer advertising-supported videos on mobile phones in the US through Rhythm NewMedia.

About EMI Music
EMI is the world’s largest independent music company, operating directly in 50 countries. Its EMI Music division represents more than 1,000 artists spanning all musical tastes and genres. Its record labels include Angel, Astralwerks, Blue Note, Capitol, Capitol Nashville, EMI Classics, EMI CMG, EMI Records, EMI Televisa Music, Manhattan, Mute, Parlophone and Virgin. For further information on EMI, please visit www.emigroup.com 

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