Capitol Music Group (CMG) has elevated promotion vet Greg Marella to president of promotion and executive vp, the company’s chairman/CEO Jeff Vaughn announced today.
In his new role based in Hollywood, Marella will continue to oversee promotion strategies for the Universal Music Group company’s portfolio of labels, including Capitol Records, Blue Note and Motown, as well as determine CMG’s future direction as a member of Vaughn and CMG president/COO Michelle Jubelirer’s executive management team.
Marella joined CMG as as executive vp of promotion in 2016, moving over from producer/songwriter Dr. Luke’s Kemosabe Records, where he served as executive vp of promotion for three years. With Marella’s leadership, the promotion team at CMG has garnered more than 40 No. 1 singles across all genres over the past two years, according to the company, including hits by artists including Halsey, Lewis Capaldi, Lil Baby, Katy Perry, Sam Smith, Niall Horan, Migos, Marshmello, Queen Naija, Maggie Rogers and, recently, Internet Money’s “Lemonade.”
“Greg’s elevation to president of promotion reflects the impressive track record of breaking hit records he and his team have built over the past several years,” Vaughn said. “Greg has a keen understanding of how promotion strategy fits into the larger picture of artist development, and he will play a key role in shaping our company’s future as a member of our executive management team. I know everyone at the Tower joins me in congratulating Greg on this well-deserved promotion.”
Marella’s 25-year career began at Priority Records in 1995 as West Coast regional director of promotion. From there, he spent 16 years in senior promotion positions with Interscope Geffen A&M and MCA Records before moving to Kemosabe and then CMG.
“I’m incredibly proud to be leading a promotion team that is so passionate and committed to advocating for our artists and music that are the heart and soul of CMG,” Marella said. “The company is in great hands with Jeff and Michelle at the helm, and I’m excited and committed to helping our company reach new heights as a member of the executive management team.”
His new title comes as label promotion departments are adapting to the pandemic-fueled consolidation of radio. Radio giants like iHeartMedia (which laid off over 100 programming staffers in November) and Entercom have replaced local personalities with syndicated shows and remote DJs, leaving label promoters with fewer programmers to focus on. And while promotion executives once jetted around the country year-round to meet with programmers, they’re now handling the same business over Zoom.
