Steve Barnett is the former chairman and CEO of Capitol Music Group.[1]
Early career
Barnett began his music career as an agent in London in 1970, working for the Bron Agency (Gerry Bron) and dealing with bands such as Colosseum and Uriah Heep. He became an agent for NEMS Enterprises, the company originally formed by Beatles manager Brian Epstein. While there from 1972 to 1974, Barnett represented artists such as Elton John, Black Sabbath, and Deep Purple. He briefly managed Rough Diamond in 1977, a short-lived British band that featured David Byron (ex Uriah Heep), Dave Clempson (ex Colosseum), and Geoff Britton (ex Wings). In 1980 he became a manager and partner in the U.K. artist management firm Part Rock, where his clients included AC/DC, Cyndi Lauper, Foreigner, and Gary Moore. In 1988 he established Part Rock's U.S. company, Hard to Handle Management, where he served as President.
Epic Records
Barnett joined Epic Records in 1996 as Senior Vice President International, and was named Senior Vice President Worldwide Marketing for the label in 1997, then Executive Vice President/ General Manager in 2001. He was named President of Epic in 2004. At Epic Barnett took a role in marketing artists including Pearl Jam, Audioslave, Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, Franz Ferdinand, Modest Mouse, Good Charlotte and Natasha Bedingfield.
Columbia Records
In December 2005, he was named Chairman of Columbia Records, with responsibility for overall management of the label.[2] During his tenure, Columbia's marketshare rose consistently, resulting in a 50 percent increase in current marketshare between 2009 and 2012 and attaining the #1 slot among all labels in 2011 and 2012.[3]
Barnett has presided over successful campaigns for Adele, Beyoncé, John Mayer, Jack White, The Shins, One Direction, Maxwell, Foster the People, J. Cole, AC/DC, Susan Boyle, soprano prodigy Jackie Evancho and the marketing and release of the Glee soundtracks. He oversaw critically acclaimed and commercially successful albums by artists including Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Barbra Streisand, Neil Diamond, Celine Dion, and Harry Connick Jr.
Adele's 21 was the first time that an album reached the RIAA Diamond plateau since Usher's Confessions, which was released in 2004 and Diamond certified in July, 2012.
Capitol Music Group
2012 - 2014
In November 2012, Barnett became chairman and CEO of the Capitol Music Group.[5] Barnett broadened the company's portfolio of labels in 2013, inking high-profile deals with T Bone Burnett (Electromagnetic Recordings) and Troy Carter (Atom Factory), as well as a partnership with Arcade Fire for that band's Reflektor album.
In October 2013, it was announced that Beck signed to Capitol Records.[6] On January 21, 2014, Barnett announced the signing of Neil Diamond to a long-term recording agreement with Capitol Records. The contract united Diamond's Columbia, UNI/MCA, and Bang catalogues of recorded music for the first time, encompassing the artist's entire body of recorded work.[7]
Retirement From The Music Industry
2020
On November 5, 2020, Barnett announced that he would retire from his position as Chairman & CEO of Capitol Music Group on December 31, 2020, capping a 50-year career in the music business, including eight years at the helm of CMG. In a letter to the CMG staff, Barnett, 68, called the move “a long-planned decision,” one that he made in conjunction with his wife and children “through many hours of discussion and soul-searching.”[36]
In an email to CMG's staff, Universal Music Group Chairman Sir Lucian Grainge wrote, “Today Steve Barnett announced that after an incredible five-decade career in music, capped by nothing less than the revitalization of our iconic Capitol Music Group, he has decided to retire at the end of the year. When Capitol joined our family as part of the EMI acquisition, it was in desperate need of vision, passion and drive. Steve brought all of that and more to the Tower, and today, once again, Capitol stands as a symbol of creative and commercial success in music—a magnet both to great artists and great music business professionals."[37]
The Los Angeles Times marked the occasion of Barnett's retirement by acknowledging his "24-karat ears which helped propel the careers of artists including Beyoncé, Adele, Katy Perry, AC/DC
External links
References
- Steve Barnett to lead Capitol Music Group^
- Steve Barnett Named Chairman, Columbia Records FMQB, Dec 2, 2005, retrieved Oct 23, 2012^
- Columbia COO Steve Barnett in Line to Head Up Universal's New Capitol Label Group: Source Billboard Magazine, Oct 5, 2012, retrieved Oct 23, 2012