Sony Classical appoints new management team: Peter Gelb named President

Business Wire, March 7, 1995

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 7, 1995--Peter Gelb, president, Sony Classical USA, has been named president, Sony Classical, the world-wide record label, and Jean-Hugues Allard has been named executive vice president, Sony Classical, with responsibility for Artists and Repertoire and International Marketing, it was announced Tuesday by Mel Ilberman, chairman, Sony Music International.

In addition, it was also announced that Udo Von Stein will continue in his current role as executive vice president, Business Affairs, Sony Classical. Ervin Veg, currently senior vice president, Artists and Repertoire, Sony Classical, is planning to retire at the end of July, but will continue to furnish his services to the company as a consultant after that date. Gelb will continue to report directly to Ilberman, while Allard and Von Stein will report to Gelb.

"Collectively," said Ilberman, "this senior management team will provide the creative leadership and entrepreneurial skills we require to continue the growth of Sony Classical."

The appointment of Gelb is effective immediately, while Allard will join Sony Classical on April 1st.

"The classical record business has undergone dramatic changes in the last few years and must be reinvented to a certain extent," Ilberman said. "We intend to achieve a balanced repertoire and market more aggressively without losing our artistic integrity."

Ilberman also indicated that Sony Classical's worldwide operations would continue to be dually situated in Europe and the United States. Gelb will remain in New York, while Allard will join Von Stein in Hamburg. Veg is based in Paris.

"We will pursue an A&R policy of diversity and eclecticism," said Gelb. "We want to retain our important artistic relationships and also vigorously pursue new recording artists, composers and projects in all areas of classical music, with artistic excellence being the main criterion."

The artists with whom Sony Classical records, on either an exclusive or extensive basis, include Claudio Abbado and the Berlin Philharmonic, Emanuel Ax, Kathleen Battle, Yefim Bronfman, Placido Domingo, Evgeny Kissin, James Levine, Lorin Maazel, Yo-Yo Ma, Wynton Marsalis, Bobby McFerrin, Midori, Murray Perahia, Marcus Roberts, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Isaac Stern, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and John Williams.

Gelb joined Sony Classical in August, 1993, after 12 years at Columbia Artists Management Inc., as president of its CAMI Video division. In that position, he won six Emmy awards for the classical music television programs and films which he produced. In the late 1970s, Gelb served as assistant manager of the Boston Symphony; and in the 1980s, he served as manager of Vladimir Horowitz.

Allard comes to Sony Classical from Erato Records, where he is currently executive vice president, International Marketing. He was trained as a concert pianist and also directs the International Festival of Music Piano en Valois in France. "His understanding of artists and their repertoire, combined with a thorough knowledge of the European market," said Gelb, "make him the ideal executive to oversee A&R in today's challenging environment."

CONTACT: Sony Music Entertainment Inc., New York

Mary Ellen Cataneo, 212/833-5047