Exclusive: BMG Aus beefs up creative team

BMG Australia, which launched in March and acquired iconic music company Alberts last month, has tapped Kobalt’s Allegra Caldwell for its creative team.

Caldwell joins the Sydney-based stand-alone publisher as Senior Creative Manager. She reports to newly appointed Creative Director Rachel Kelly, who moved over from Alberts in June, where she had held the Head of Licensing role since 2008.

Caldwell joins BMG Australia from fellow publisher Kobalt Australia & New Zealand, where she had been TV, Film & Licensing Manager since last January. Prior to her stint at Kobalt, Caldwell was General Manager of music supervision company inSYNC where she worked on local TV shows Packed To The Rafters, Wonderland and Love Child.

Caldwell told TMN the opportunity to work with Johns and Kelly was the reason behind her move.

"The opportunity to be a part of such an innovative and creative team, working with Heath Johns and Rachel Kelly was definitely one I couldn’t pass up," she said. "Heath’s wealth of knowledge and experience in A&R makes him someone I’m excited to be working closely with. His energy is infectious and his vision for BMG is ambitious and inspiring. 

"Mix this with Rachel’s immense publishing and synchronisation experience and you’ve got a dynamic team who are ready to make BMG a power player in the industry," Caldwell added. 

BMG Australia’s Managing Director, Heath Johns said he and Kelly had previously identified Caldwell as “part of our dream creative team.”

“I have no doubt that our growing roster of local and international artists will benefit immeasurably from Allegra’s drive, energy and deep love of music- she is a force,” said Johns.

BMG Australia has been on a signing spree since its launch. Its artist roster includes Wave Racer, LDRU, Chris Ross and Myles Heskett of Wolfmother and Chris Cheney of The Living End to global deals. Through BMG’s international deals, the publisher also includes local artists Peking Duk (ex-ANZ), Meg Mac, Tame Impala (ex-ANZ) and Matt Corby on its roster. And through its acquisition of Alberts, it now looks after AC/DC, Rose Tattoo, Josh Pyke, Urthboy, and San Cisco, among others.

BMG Australia’s staff team also includes Senior Royalties/Copyright Manager Sarah Breese, who worked for 3 ½ years at the company’s Berlin office.

Globally the Berlin-based BMG ranks #4 in the music rights market. Australia is the eleventh market in which it operates, after Germany (where it’s the biggest publisher), the US, UK, France, Canada, Italy, Scandinavia, Spain, Benelux and China. It has a staff of over 450.