Music exec Flom lines up Universal post
NEW YORK (Billboard) - Former Atlantic and Capitol top executive Jason Flom is nearly finished with negotiations that would bring him into the Universal Music Group fold, Billboard has learned.
UMG chairman/CEO Doug Morris was a mentor to Flom when the latter started Lava Records as an imprint of Atlantic and Morris was chairman of Warner Music Group. Flom left his position as chairman/CEO of Capitol Music Group earlier this year, amid layoffs and restructuring at parent company EMI.
A source close to the negotiations said it is likely that Flom will start a new imprint through Universal Republic, headed by president/CEO Monte Lipman.
Morris, for his part, said that Flom would be working in an A&R (artists and repertoire) capacity. "Jason will be doing exactly what he's always done, which is trying to get hits," Morris said. "I'm simplifying this so it sounds pedestrian. Jason is going to bring in talent."
In the early '90s, Flom headed Atlantic's A&R department, overseeing a team that broke new acts including Jewel, Hootie & the Blowfish, Stone Temple Pilots and Collective Soul. While at Atlantic, Flom was also instrumental in the development of Kid Rock and Matchbox Twenty.
Flom was unavailable for comment.
Reuters/Billboard
