Industry News

Universal Music Canada (UMC) has announced a significant expansion to its A&R department and new approach to finding talent only two months after a round of layoffs.

UMC president and CEO Randy Lennox promoted Mark Spicoluk to the head of the department after five years with the label. Shawn Marino recently left that role to become vice-president of Universal Music Publishing Canada.

Spicoluk, a bassist and singer, toured with Avril Lavigne, was an early member of Sum 41 and a founding member of punk band Closet Monster. While in his teens, he founded the independent label and management company Underground Operations, which is distributed by UMC. He has overseen and developed the careers of Lights, Stereos, Protest The Hero and Abandon All Ships.

"Mark is a leading music man and I'm delighted to announce his promotion to the top A&R job in the nation," Lennox said in a press statement.  "His track record of developing and nurturing our artists speaks for itself and Mark is the person to help lead our company's domestic repertoire into the future."

In his new role, Spicoluk will head a team of A&R experts on the look out for talent exclusively for UMC, such as multi-platinum, Juno Award-winning producer Gavin Brown (Metric, Three Days Grace, Sarah Harmer, Billy Talent) and songwriter/producer Chin Injeti (Eminem's "Recovery"), formerly of Bass Is Base. They will both report directly to Spicoluk but are not full-time employees.

Other positions in the expanded A&R team include Ivan Evidente, formerly the manager, national lifestyle marketing, who is now director, A&R/lifestyle department; and Susan Brearton, who has been promoted to director, A&R administration. Susan Michalek and Simon Paul, both from the art department, will now report to Brearton.  Dan Hand, formally of Underground Operations, is now a UMC A&R representative.  

Don Kitchen has been promoted to manager, A&R/artist rights, where he will oversee artist ancillary rights, reporting also to Spicoluk.  Jasmine Spence, ex of Metalworks Studios, is now as A&R assistant, replacing Shelley Charron-Bella who joins Marino as publishing assistant.  Paul Jessop, vice-president of national promotion continues Quebec A&R duties.

UMC has also launched a Facebook page (www.facebook.com/umctalentscouts) to allow artists from across Canada to securely submit their music and connect directly to Spicoluk and his new team. After liking the page, one can fill in a form to submit links to an artist's music or say why you would make a great talent scout.