NEW YORK (SONY BMG) - In keeping with the label's longstanding commitment to Artists & Repertoire, Steve Greenberg, President, Columbia Records, has announced today the appointments of five new members of the Columbia Records A&R team.
Steve Yegelwel has been named Senior Vice President, A&R, Columbia Records. Mr. Yegelwel comes to Columbia Records from S-Curve Records where, from 2000-2005, he served as Executive Vice President of A&R signing Fountains of Wayne among numerous other successes.
Mr. Yegelwel entered the music industry in 1990 as an A&R assistant at Island Records. He left Island in 1992 to enter the A&R department at Atlantic Records where he remained until becoming the General Manager at Scratchie Records in 1999, a post he held until going to work for S-Curve. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from American University.
Mr. Yegelwel is based in New York and will report to Mr. Greenberg.
Coming aboard alongside Mr. Yegelwel are Maria Egan, Maureen Kenny, Beka Callaway, and Benjamin Simone. Each holds the title of Manager, A&R, Columbia Records.
Maria Egan comes to Columbia from Nettwerk Management/Nettwerk America NYC where as an A&R manager from 2002-2005, she managed Capitol Recording artists Fischerspooner among others. She began her music industry career as a publicist at Alan James PR in 1995 and went to work as a manager at Big Brother Management in 1996. From 1999-2002, Ms. Egan served as a manager at Magus Entertainment in New York City. She is based in New York and will report to Mr. Greenberg.
Maureen Kenny was the Associate Manager of A&R for Universal Records from August 2002 through May 2005. During her tenure at Universal, Ms. Kenny signed the Scissor Sisters, among others. A communications major, she holds a Bachelor of Arts & Science degree from Boston University. She is based in New York and will report to Mr. Greenberg.
Beka Callaway was most recently an Associate Director of Writer/Publisher Relations for BMI, a job she'd held since January 2004. Her first industry post was as Creative Director for Deston Songs in Nashville, from August 2000 through May 2002 when she became Professional Manager-Creative for Major Bob Music, also in Nashville. In July 2003, Ms. Callaway was hired as Director-Business Development for Nashville's iMusic Group, a job she held until moving to BMI. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration, Music Business, degree from Belmont University. She is based in New York and will report to Mr. Greenberg.
Benjamin Simone comes to Columbia from Deston Songs Music Publishing and Management, where he's served as Creative Director since 2003. Concurrent with his tenure at Deston (2003-2005), Mr. Simone worked as an A&R Director at Blacklist Entertainment and Management. He first worked in A&R at Edel Records UK from 2002-2003. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Business from the University of London and was voted into Hitsheet's "Top 5 Under 25's In UK Music 2003/2004." He is based in New York and will report to Mr. Greenberg.
"Steve Greenberg has put together one of the most enlightened, versatile and formidable A&R teams in the music industry today and they are sure to add a great new energy and perspective to the A&R department at Columbia," said Will Botwin, Chairman, Columbia Records Group. "This group of young talented A&R executives is well-positioned to meet the challenges of a rapidly shifting musical landscape. I look forward to working alongside Steve and his team."
"Throughout its rich history, Columbia Records has always been devoted to the idea that A&R is the bedrock and foundation of the music business," said Mr. Greenberg. "I have been privileged to work with Steve, Maria, Maureen, Beka and Benjamin over the years and greatly admire their respective track records and future potential. Each of them believes in the power and beauty of music and has the ears and the acumen to know great music when they hear it. Please join me in welcoming them to Columbia Records."
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