Sony Music Entertainment UK has promoted Jamie Spinks to Head of A&R at Columbia Records UK, with immediate effect.
He will report directly to Dipesh Parmar, President of Columbia Records UK.
With more than a decade of experience working in A&R, Spinks joined Columbia Records UK last year and since then has signed and developed 22-year-old breakthrough artist Venbee, whose hit single Messy In Heaven has spent 20 weeks in the charts. The track peaked at No.3 and has achieved 112 million global streams.
In his expanded role, Spinks will be responsible for overseeing the direction of the A&R strategy for Columbia Records UK and signing and developing talent for its roster.
Prior to Columbia, he spent 10 years at Polydor where he signed Jax Jones and worked across eight UK Top 20 singles, including UK Top 3 hit You Don’t Know Me, a collaboration with another of his signings RAYE.
The announcement also notes that Spinks worked on No.1 albums for BRIT Award-winning artists Celeste and Ellie Goulding, and with Mura Masa on his debut album, helping him to secure A$AP Rocky for his feature on Love$ick.
In addition to Spinks’ new Head of A&R role, he will also run a joint venture label called Room Two. Described as a “boutique imprint”, the label will operate under the Columbia Records UK banner.
Spinks’ promotion comes two months after Dipesh Parmar was appointed President of Columbia Records UK.
At the same time, Amy Wheatley was appointed Managing Director of Columbia Records UK, reporting to Parmar.
“Jamie’s the definition of a true A&R who understands how to achieve the best from artists and bring real value to records.”
Dipesh Parmar, Columbia Records UK
Dipesh Parmar, President of Columbia Records UK said: “Jamie’s the definition of a true A&R who understands how to achieve the best from artists and bring real value to records.
“I’ve admired Jamie’s work over the years, and we’ve been in close competition for as long as I can remember.
“I’m delighted about his well-deserved new position and to finally be joining forces and working side by side to take the new Columbia into the future, alongside the brilliant team and incredible roster.”
“I’m incredibly proud to have been offered the opportunity to be Head of A&R at such a prestigious label.”
Jamie Spinks
Jamie Spinks, Head of A&R, Columbia Records, said: “I’m incredibly proud to have been offered the opportunity to be Head of A&R at such a prestigious label.
“It comes with huge responsibility to maintain its legacy as one of the biggest UK record labels, and to emulate the global success of its current established roster, with new artists. I’m hugely grateful for the support of Jason Iley and Dipesh, both of whom I have immense respect for.
“I’m excited to be working closely with Dipesh after years of admiring his A&R acumen from afar, and leading the Columbia A&R team, which is filled with a mixture of valuable experience and talent.”Music Business Worldwide
