Sony Music has done it once, why not try it again? While producer legend Rick Rubin is still trying to turn around the music industry as head of Columbia Records (is he really?), the other Sony label group will get some hands-on experience with a creative-person-gone-music-exec soon. The major music company has hired acclaimed songwriter/producer/performing artist Amanda Ghost (aka Gosein) to run Epic Records.
Ghost will replace Charlie Walk who had to walk in December amidst a firing spree at the company. Ghost will assume her position on February 16 reporting directly to Columbia/Epic Chairman Rob Stringer.
“I’m not a conventional choice as an executive in the music business”, Ghost said in a prepared statement. “But it is testament to the new mood at Sony where content is now king and the music business is being put back in the hands of creative talent such as myself.”
Ghost is probably best known for James Blunt’s hit single “You’re Beautiful” which she co-wrote and for which she had received an Ivor Novello Award (the UK’s songwriter prize). Aside form Blunt Ghost has worked with performers like Beyoncé, Shakira, Jay-Z and Kanye West in the past. According to Sony Music her records have sold north of 25 million copies worldwide in the last three years.
Ghost also used to be busy as a recording artist herself. Warner Music in 2000 released her debut album that goes by the name of – wait for it – “Ghost Stories”. Anybody listened (or maybe even bought) that? Let me know.
