The Mute label, relaunched as an independent by original founder Daniel Miller albeit with an elaborate arrangement with EMI, has revealed plans to enter the artist/producer management business.
The new version of Mute was unveiled in September and Miller has now confirmed the structure.
Angie Somerside, a former Mute publicist, returns to the company as group managing director. She will oversee the established label and publishing business as well as launching the new Mute management company. She is a former GM at QPrime Management U.K. and left her role as GM of Columbia U.K. in May this year.
The first artists to sign to the new version of Mute label are London five-piece S.C.U.M., Texan singer songwriter Josh T Pearson and New York alternative act Yeasayer.
Mute is currently working with Nick Cave and his current Grinderman project, Yann Tiersen, Erasure, Andy Bell, Liars, Polly Scattergood and A Place To Bury Strangers.
Andrew King continues to head up the publishing arm Mute Song. In addition to Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, Grinderman and Liars, Mute Song represents writers such as Underworld, Juno Reactor, and Max Richter and has recently taken on Bob Geldof’s catalog.
The Mute European distribution tier, which has been launched to unite a network of independent distributors, has been bolstered by the opening of a new office in Germany. Office space and marketing staff will be shared with Domino in Berlin.
The New York office of Mute, headed by long term CEO Mark Fotiadis, will work alongside the U.K. company on both publishing and management deals.
Distribution in the rest of the world will be covered by licensing deals.
