Ex-Atlantic Music Group Chairman and CEO, Lava Records founder, and hit-maker begins immediately

New York, NY, Oct. 21, 2005 – Jason Flom, the respected hit maker and A&R executive whose artists have collectively sold more than 150 million records around the world has been appointed Chairman and CEO of Virgin Records in the U.S., it was announced today by David Munns, EMI Music North America chairman and CEO. 

Flom, who will be based in New York, will report to Munns.  His appointment is effective immediately.

Flom, who until August was Atlantic Records Group Chairman and CEO, has a 26 year career in the music business.  He is behind some of world’s biggest selling artists to emerge on the pop and rock scene, including Detroit hip-hop artist Kid Rock, as well as matchbox twenty; both of whom have achieved *Diamond certification in the U.S. and whose albums have each sold more than 20 million units around the world.  He also signed and developed The Corrs, who have sold nearly 30 million units worldwide, and worked with numerous other multi-platinum selling artists.

Under his leadership of Atlantic in the past year, the label group had five albums entering the Billboard Top 200 chart in the top five, including Staind’s “Chapter V”and Rob Thomas’ solo debut, “Something to Be,” both entering the chart at #1; Simple Plan’s “Still Not Getting Any…,” which charted at #3; Death Cab For Cutie’s “Plans,” which charted at #4; Jason Mraz’s “Mr A-Z” which charted at #5; and the year’s highest charting debut from a new rock band, The Click Five, whose debut release “Greetings From Imrie House” charted at #15.

As the founder of Lava Records, Flom discovered, signed and developed artists who went on to sell in excess of 100 million records around the world in the label’s nine years of existence, including multi-platinum and platinum-selling artists Kid Rock; The Corrs; matchbox twenty; Uncle Kracker; Simple Plan; Edwin McCain; Sugar Ray and Trans Siberian Orchestra.

In the early ‘90’s, Flom headed the A&R department at Atlantic, overseeing a team that enjoyed incredible success in breaking new artists, including Jewel, Hootie & the Blowfish, Stone Temple Pilots and Collective Soul.  He began his career in 1979 as a field merchandiser, hanging posters in record shops.  He moved on to a post as an A&R representative, signing artists including Twisted Sister, White Lion, Skid Row and Tori Amos.

“Jason Flom has a rare and unique combination of A&R skills, charismatic leadership and drive to take Virgin to the next level,” said David Munns.  “We are fortunate to have one of the industry’s most talented music executives lead Virgin.  We’re delighted he has joined the EMI family.”

“We are fortunate to have Jason Flom join EMI,” said Alain Levy, chairman and CEO EMI Music worldwide.  “I have followed Jason’s career over the years and have always admired his leadership skills as well as his ability to discover and nurture talent.  Not only will he greatly contribute to Virgin’s future; he will also have a tremendous impact on EMI’s worldwide endeavors.”

“Alain and David are visionaries who consistently demonstrate a talent for discovering and nurturing some of the industry’s most successful artists,” said  Flom.  “I’m honored to join their team and take on the pivotal role of leading Virgin; a label whose legacy is synonymous with dynamic and groundbreaking music.”

In addition to having success with U.S.-based artists, Flom has proven his ability to cultivate talent around the globe, including The Corrs (Ireland), James Blunt (UK) and Australian chart-toppers The John Butler Trio, whom Flom signed to Lava for the U.S.

In addition to his love of music and his success in the record industry, Flom is equally known for contributing his voice and commitment for change to many charitable organizations and social causes.  He is currently an active board member for causes including the Drug Policy Alliance, the nation's leading organization working to end the war on drugs; the Innocence Project, which exonerates unjustly imprisoned individuals by using post-conviction DNA testing; and Families Against Mandatory Minimums (F.A.M.M.), whose mission is to oppose mandatory drug sentencing and to fight to free drug offenders from unduly harsh prison terms.  Flom has been involved with securing early release for many prisoners convicted under such laws.  He also serves on the board of the Legal Action Center, whose mission is to fight discrimination against people with histories of addiction, HIV/AIDS, or criminal records.   He is also on the board of The New School University.

He has been honored by the UJA Federation as that organization’s first “Music Visionary of the Year,” awarded the ACLU’s “Torch of Liberty” distinction, and was the recipient of the T.J. Martell Foundation Humanitarian award in 2005.

About EMI

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, Blue Note, Capitol, EMI Records, EMI Classics, EMI CMG, Mute, Virgin and Parlophone.

About Virgin Records

Virgin Records is a division of EMI Music, the world's largest independent record company.  Among the artists on the Virgin roster are Bubba Sparxxx, Jermaine Dupri, Gorillaz, Ben Harper, Janet Jackson, Lenny Kravitz, and The Rolling Stones. Virgin's U.S. headquarters are located in New York.

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Enquiries:

Jeanne Meyer, EMI New York, 212.786.8850