Ashley Newton is President of Capitol Music Group and Executive Vice President of Creative/Special Projects at Universal Music Group.
Newton has held both roles since 2016.
As a successful A&R, Newton has worked with a variety of artists, being credited for signing the likes of The Spice Girls, Massive Attack and N.E.R.D. at Virgin, and working with David Bowie, Daft Punk, George Ezra, Haim and more at Columbia.
Ashley Newton: Career beginnings
Newton began his A&R career at Island Records in London under the mentorship of founder Chris Blackwell.
He went on to become Co-Managing Director of Virgin Records UK, having joined the company as co-owner of venture label Circa Records. Newton was then appointed Co-President of Virgin Records America and Senior Vice President of A&R of Virgin Music Group Worldwide.
Ashley Newton: A decade at Sony and move to Universal
Prior to joining UMG, Ashley Newton was the President of Columbia Records, a position he held since January 2010.
Newton arrived at Columbia from RCA Records, having served as Executive Vice President of A&R from 2003. He helmed the label’s A&R for multi-platinum, platinum and gold artists such as Foo Fighters, Kings of Leon, Velvet Revolver and Ray LaMontagne.
After more than a decade at Sony, in 2016 Ashley Newton moved to a dual role at UMG, reporting into his one-time Columbia boss Steve Barnett as well as Lucian Grainge.Music Business Worldwide