Atlantic Records has announced a new label partnership with vnclm_ (pronounced vin•cu•lum), headed by the management teams of artists including Faouzia and Royal & The Serpent, Billboard can exclusively announce.
vnclm_ will be led by Jorge Hernandez, Mike Kosak, and Tim Jones, after their artists have enjoyed successful runs as part of their Atlantic roster. The new label’s first signee is Los Angeles-based pop singer-songwriter Arden Jones, who has unveiled his new song, “Rollercoaster”; under the terms of the new deal, all vnclm_ artists will be distributed, promoted and marketed through the Atlantic team.
“We have worked with Atlantic for years on various projects and were always blown away by the label’s commitment, attention-to-detail, and passion,” Hernandez, Kosak and Jones said in a shared statement. “We just knew it was the right place for us because everyone shared our excitement to make it happen and release this incredible music. Craig Kallman, Julie Greenwald, Pete Ganbarg, and Paul Sinclair have only fortified Atlantic’s legacy in this era. They really believe in what we’re doing. It wasn’t just about one song or one artist for them; it was about everything. There wasn’t a question about signing. We wanted partners who believe in us and what we do. They do wholeheartedly.”
While working with Kosak and NBD Management, Royal & the Serpent scored a top 10 alternative hit last year with their single “Overwhelmed.” Meanwhile, Moroccan-Canadian singer-songwriter Faouzia has earned acclaim for her string of recent singles, including the John Legend collaboration “Minefields,” wile working with Jones as part of Pipe & Hat management. And with IAT Artist Management, Hernandez has worked with rising artists like Will Jay, who recently released the single “Please Don’t Get Any Older.”
“By uniting three great talent-spotters under one roof, vnclm_ promises to be a fantastic incubator for emerging artists,” Atlantic Records’ Chairman/CEO, Craig Kallman and Chairman/COO, Julie Greenwald said in a shared statement. “Jorge, Mike, and Tim have an uncompromising vision, incredible energy, and a true commitment to finding, developing, and breaking original voices. We’re excited about all the amazing music they’ll be bringing into the Atlantic family.”
Pete Ganbarg, Atlantic Records President of A&R, added, “We’re always looking to expand our relationship with great partners. Getting to know Mike through Royal & The Serpent and Tim through Faouzia has given us the opportunity to really appreciate how good they are at what they do. And Jorge’s work with his clients has been something we’ve been impressed by from afar. The opportunity to get to work with all three now on vnclm_ is very exciting. And Arden is someone we’re all very eager to get to work with.”
vnclm_ will operate out of West Hollywood, with more music from Jones and more signees expected soon.
