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Former Warner Bros boss launches joint venture with Universal
By CMU Editorial | Published on Friday 13 April 2012
The former boss of Warner Bros Records in the US, Tom Whalley, has announced a new alliance with Universal Music, in the form of a joint venture. The veteran label exec will launch a new company called Seven Four Ent in partnership with Universal Republic Records.
There have been rumours for a while that Whalley, who before his decade at Warner had a stint at Universal helping grow the Interscope label in the 1990s, would return to the mega-major. Some reckoned he would head up EMI’s Capitol division (another of his former employers) if and when Universal’s acquisition of its rival is cleared by competition regulators. Billboard reckons that could still happen down the line, but for the time being Whalley’s focus will be his new joint venture.
Meanwhile the trade mag quotes Universal boss man Lucian Grainge as saying: “As we continue to expand opportunities for new artists and their music, Tom and his label are a natural fit. His renowned ability to spot new talent and work in true partnership with artists complements the creative vision that [we at Universal share]”.