111 Helming a Global Eam That Has Signed Zayn Malik, Lionel Richie

FROM THE DESK OF CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER, KOBALT MUSIC GROUP 'Sas Metcalfe 111 Helming aglobal eam that has signed Zayn Malik, Lionel Richie and Mike iLL Made-It, the A&R veteran welcomes the return of angry Irics and recalls advice from Prince BY GAIL MITCHE _HOTOGRAPHED BY MICHELE THOMAS Metcalfe photographed July 10 at Kobalt Music in West Hollywood. IRED AS KOBALT MUSIC London. Alesser-paying job as ascout for What music trends are you seeing? Group's first employee, astartup label/publishing firm, Rocking Obviously, R&B/hip-hop is growing, and Sas Metcalfe recalls that Horse Records, with former CBS boss/ that's something we're expanding upon Hshe and founder/CEO mentor Jeff Gilbert, gave her the A&R at Kobalt. It's also happening in the U.K., Willard Ahdritz "started in 2001 with itch. After three years with Arista Records where Afrobeat is the big scene and acts aplain piece of paper and an idea" of (which bought Rocking Horse) as an A&R like Stormzy are coming through. I'm pursuing Ahdritz's vision of adigital-age manager, she segued to Warner/Chappell also enjoying the melting pot of artists publishing company. Since then, she says, for nine years as head of A&R, where she from Sweden, Australia, New Zealand and "the world has come our way abit." signed acts such as Radiohead and Dido. elsewhere all working together. All of the Fueled by its data-centric, real-time Metcalfe took asimilar post at EMI Records barriers are being broken down, which royalty tracking technology, the privately in 1998 before joining Kobalt in zoo'. ultimately is good for art. held independent music publisher closed And I'm beginning to hear more anger, out 2016 with estimated revenue of 1 1 do love reading music What are the biggest changes you've lyrically, from the youth. I've been hearing $320 million, a30 percent boost over books," says Metcalfe, witnessed in A&R? it in hip-hop, but you have to dig deep to whose collection zo15. Armed this year with $75 million in includes the Rolling That A&R is not just being done necessarily find it in indie rock. But now it's starting to funding, led by Hearst Entertainment and Stones and David Bowie within record companies. There are many come through, which I'm pleased about. such 2°16 acquisitions as publisher Fintage books from Taschen small boutiques comprised of very talented I'm like, "Come on, kids, do something. gallery. 2 A concert House and the Nettwerk publishing posterfrom the Pet Shop managers, producers and publishers that Where are you all?" We have aU.K. band catalog, Kobalt stands at No. 4in Billboard's Boys' 2016 Los Angeles are working early on to help develop artists. called Wolf Alice whose latest single is show atthe Microsoft new Publishers Quarterly (see page 16) Theater. The print was And artists also have alot more freedom called "Yuk Foo." It's angry and quite great. with close to 8.9 percent of U.S. airplay. agift from the group's these days. People are more into the art: the management; Kobalt From her flower-filled fourth-floor office What artists have made an enduring added theBoys'catalog voice and the song. And there are no rules with sweeping views of West Hollywood, to its roster last year. as to how the two are put together. impression on you? Metcalfe, 56, oversees aglobal creative Ispent an afternoon team housed in nine additional cities: New 2 with Prince at Paisley York, Miami, Nashville, Atlanta, London, Park several years ago. Sydney, Stockholm, Berlin and Hong We put out acouple Kong. Under her watch, it has secured of singles on his label. such recent high-profile signings as Zayn He was exactly like I Malik,Lionel Richie, producer Mike thought he would be: WILL Made-It, deadmau5, Banks and imartsà 1 very nice, very funny. the Elvis Presley estate. - a One thing he kept Anative of North Wales, Metcalfe saying was, "It's all in has been "mad about music" since her P T the eyes. Always look 1 0 P first post-college gig in the early '8os as SOIS in the eyes of singers amarketing assistant at CBS Records in to see the passion." 0 18 BILLBOARD I AUGUST 19. 2017 .

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