State Champ Radio Artist and Label Services
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Recently-launched music company By Design, co-founded and led by music execs Josh Bailey, Jeremy Holley, Rod Riley and Josh Thompson, has partnered with BMG. The new partnership is set to include global distribution, label services, joint label signings and a co-investment strategy that will reach across catalog acquisitions through Archetype Music (a music rights holding company acquiring faith-based music rights).
By Design’s roster currently includes country singer-songwriter Frankie Ballard, as well as pop-folk singer-songwriter Zoe Levert and singer-songwriter Alex Jude. The label is also part of a larger company ecosystem, which includes Archetype Music, and nonprofit organization Blueprint, which aims to equip and empower faith-based creators.
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“Faith-driven music has long been of particular interest to many members of the BMG team,” Jon Loba, President of Frontline Recordings, BMG Americas, said in a statement. “Even though we have not specifically engaged in that line of business, there has always been the desire and intention to do so. The opportunity to partner with By Design offered the perfect, complimentary alliance with exceptional, proven industry executives, who have the same heart and artist-first approach to music as BMG. We are so incredibly excited to join forces with Rod, Jeremy, both Josh’s and the entire By Design team, to enter a global genre that is one of the most powerful cultural forces rising today.” “We partnered with BMG to scale purpose-driven music without compromising values,” Thompson said. “Their global reach empowers us to honor each artist’s original design – and share it on a global stage.” “We believe the next global movement in music will be rooted in faith and community, not algorithms and trends,” Bailey added. “With BMG’s international infrastructure and our shared commitment to empowering artists, we’re building a new kind of platform, one that’s both spiritually grounded and globally scaled.”
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“By Design exists to champion the creators behind this movement, artists who carry purpose in their message and originality into a culture hungry for meaning,” Holley added.
By Design’s launch comes as the Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) genre has seen a surge. Earlier this year, two CCM songs made simultaneous appearances on Billboard’s all-genre Hot 100, marking the first time two CCM songs have reached that mark simultaneously in 11 years. Those songs were Forrest Frank’s “Your Way’s Better” and the Brandon Lake-Jelly Roll collaboration “Hard Fought Hallelujah.” Earlier this month, Phil Wickham also made his Hot 100 chart debut with the song “What An Awesome God.”
Sony Music Entertainment and the leader of one of its frontline labels are launching a new artist and label services company. The major and Alamo Records founder and CEO Todd Moscowitz announced on Monday (Jan. 9) the formation of Santa Anna, a New York-based company that aims to “support entrepreneurs and assist artists in maximizing their creative potential and build their businesses.”
Lee L’Heureux, most recently general manager at Geffen Records, has been onboarded to lead Santa Anna as well as take on the newly created role of president of Alamo, reporting to Moscowitz and working closely with chief operating officer Juliette Jones to support operations, signings and partnerships.
Prior to Geffen, L’Heureux was senior vice president of rhythm, urban and hip-hop promotion at Warner Records, working hits for Lil Pump, Andra Day, PARTYNEXTDOOR and BlocBoy JB, among others, and earning a spot on Billboard’s Hip-Hop Power Players list.
“I’m excited for Lee to join the team and leverage his experience to create new opportunities for Alamo as well as launch the start of what will be an incredible journey for Santa Anna,” commented Moscowitz.
Moscowitz founded Alamo in 2016 after leaving 300 Entertainment, which he started alongside Lyor Cohen, Roger Gold and Kevin Liles three years prior. While initially distributed through Universal Music’s Interscope Records, Alamo decamped to Sony Music in June 2021 after the latter acquired a majority stake, bringing its entire catalog and roster over to SME.
Over the years, Alamo has had several breakthroughs with its artists, particularly Rod Wave, blackbear and Lil Durk. Other artists on the label include Smokepurpp, Comethazine, Yung Mal, 03 Greedo, Lil Gotit and more.
“I’ve always admired Todd’s approach to the music industry, as well as his dedication to supporting artists and their distinct, creative visions,” said L’Heureux. “I’m honored for the opportunity and look forward to taking Alamo to the next level and carving out a path for Santa Anna.”
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