🎵 Heads up, music lovers! Big things are happening in the music universe. Virgin Music Group (VMG) and Downtown Music Holdings have finally tied the knot, setting the stage for an epic new era in music! 🔥
After getting the green light from the European Commission, this mega-deal was officially sealed on February 20th, taking the music scene by storm. But wait, there's more! With Pieter van Rijn stepping up as the new COO of VMG, after leading Downtown since last year, the vibes are shifting big time. He’ll be dishing out his genius from Amsterdam, collaborating with the Virgin dream team, Nat Pastor and JT Myers. 🚀
In a heartfelt farewell, Downtown’s creator, Justin Kalifowitz, is stepping away from the company he kicked off back in 2007. His words remind us how Downtown shook the world with 2007’s 'Ringtone of the Year' (That’s right, ringtones were a big thing!), and how even back when CDs were fading, he saw an explosive future for music on the horizon.
Now, Downtown caters to a whopping 5,000 business clients and over 4 million creators in 145 countries. Say hello to a world filled with global beats, as they rock divisions like Artist & Label Services and Music Publishing, powered by names like CD Baby and Songtrust. 🎶
With Pieter van Rijn at the helm, there’s talk of breaking boundaries and bringing artists closer to their dreams with killer services, tech, and collaboration opportunities. Nat Pastor was pumped, saying Pieter’s role is all about making Virgin and Downtown the ultimate powerhouse for budding music heroes everywhere.
So get ready, because this team is all set to bring the boom, empowering independent artists to shine like never before! 💥