LONDON, UK (Top40 Charts/ Warner
Music Central Europe) - Warner
Music Central
Europe (WMCE) officially unveiled two newly-formed units that further expand the company's ability to partner with artists across all aspects of their careers. Neuland Concerts is a tour promotion and booking agency and WMCE Merchandising will create physical music-related products. Both will service a wide variety of artists, functioning as stand-alone units whilst drawing on Warner Music's infrastructure, resources and commercial footprint.
Neuland Concerts is headed up by Christian Gerlach as Managing Director, reporting into Bernd Dopp, Chairman & CEO, Warner Music Central & Eastern Europe. Neuland has worked on or is currently involved in tours with acts from Warner Music's international roster including Estelle, The Virgins and Biffy Clyro as well local stars such as Max Mutzke, whose national tour during April is a co-operation with promoters Mario Mendrzycki and Marek Lieberberg. In addition, Neuland is booking and promoting German tours for artists like Jos? Gonzalez and Peter, Bjorn & John in March.
The merchandising team is lead by Karsten Lutz as Head of Merchandising Central Europe, reporting into Sascha Lazimbat, Managing Director, Business & Corporate Development, WMCE, who in turn reports to Dopp. Product ranges have already been manufactured for domestic artists Jennifer Rostock and Peter Fox, international acts The Subways, Ashley Tisdale and Mastodon as well as third-party brands including Hamburg's well-known Reeperbahn Music Festival and 11Freunde, the soccer magazine.
Bernd Dopp said "Our new capabilities in touring and merchandising are further evidence of our re-definition of what a modern music company is and does. We continue to evolve our abilities to provide an expanded range of services, forge broader creative partnerships with artists and take a more comprehensive approach to their long-term development. We will also now be well-positioned to bring together different configurations of recorded music, ticketing and merchandise to offer a variety of innovative products and experiences that take fans closer to the artists they love."
"Christian and Karsten are both passionate, progressive experts in their respective fields. Their skills, knowledge and resource will be important assets in the diversification of our business."
Christian Gerlach said "Neuland's flexibility to either behave as a separate company or collaborate with Warner Music on integrated campaigns presents us and our artists with a wealth of possibilities. We're particularly focused on fostering up-and-coming acts and building careers. I'm very excited about the future."
Karsten Lutz said "Whilst music fans are embracing the explosion in ways to enjoy digital music, the demand for merchandise and other physical product remains strong. I look forward to building on our initial success and exploring the new opportunities ahead."
Gerlach joined Warner Music from one of the leading German live promoters, Karsten Jahnke Konzertdirektion, where he worked for 13 years. As General Manager, he was responsible for the touring and booking division as well as for all special events and productions including a role as Managing Director of Hamburg's Reeperbahn Festival.
Karsten Lutz arrived at Warner Music from Deutschrock, one of German's biggest merchandising specialists with clients such as Tokio Hotel , Die Aerzte and Herbert Groenemeyer.
This news follows other key hires, partnerships and acquisitions that Warner Music Europe has made to expand the range of services it can offer its artists. Last year, Warner Music Spain acquired Get In, a company with activities in artist management, live production and brand partnerships, Warner Music Italy announced the formation of F&P Group, a wide-ranging entertainment company with Ferdinando Salzano (a key figure in Italy's live scene) and Warner Music France acquired Camus Productions, the country's leading tour production, promotion and booking company. In 2007 HMC (Helsinki Music Company), a Finnish company with operations across recorded music, merchandising, music publishing and touring became part of Warner Music Nordic, whilst Warner Music UK unveiled an agreement with B-Unique that included the launch of a management division alongside the label.
