This week saw Tom Watson, the UK’s former Shadow Culture Secretary and Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, named as the new chair of UK Music.
Watson (pictured) succeeds outgoing chair Andy Heath in the role. Watson, who stepped down from Parliament at the December 2019 General Election after almost two decades as an MP, has been appointed by the Board of UK Music following an extensive recruitment process.
Watson said he would look to secure the maximum support for the music industry to combat the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and return the sector to growth “as soon as possible”.
UK Music is the umbrella body for the commercial music industry in the country.
Caroline Buckland has started a new role as fan engagement lead at Premier League football club Chelsea.
Buckland joined Chelsea in January 2019 as a marketing manager, having previously worked as a marketing executive at fellow Premier League club Manchester City.
Dirk Dreyer has been named general manager of Berlin’s recently-opened Verti Music Hall.
The venue has a capacity of 4,350 and is operated by AEG. Dreyer formerly served as a manager at Sony Music and he will report directly to AEG Germany vice-president Uwe Frommhold in his new role.
Verti Music Hall opened 18 months ago and the role of general manager is a newly-created one.
Warner Chappell Music UK’s managing director Mike Smith has stepped down from his role for “family reasons.”
Smith joined Warner Chappell UK as managing director in 2016, moving over from Universal’s Virgin EMI label business, where he was president of music
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