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The Lost Highway label, which helped define Americana music in the 2000s and 2010s, has been relaunched by Universal Music Group’s Interscope Geffen A&M company. The label will be led by executive vice presidents and co-heads Robert Knotts (pictured above, right) and Jake Gear (left) and overseen by IGA chairman/CEO John Janick.
“Harkening back to its roots, the relaunched Nashville-based label is committed to nurturing the creative vision of each artist and building their global connections with an intuitive, entrepreneurial approach” the announcement reads. “As plans have developed over the past year, the objective has always been to give artists the freedom and the resources to make the kind of records they’re driven to make.”
Veteran artist-producer T Bone Burnett, who produced the new hit country album for Ringo Starr, will continue to collaborate with the label on a number of projects. First up will be the 25th anniversary edition of the Grammy-winning “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” soundtrack, produced by Burnett for the 2000 Coen Brothers’ film of the same name.
Knotts joins Lost Highway from Nashville-based Thirty Tigers, where he rose through the ranks from intern to senior VP over 12 years, working with such artists as Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Sturgill Simpson, Lucinda Williams, Turnpike Troubadours and more. Gear comes from UMG Nashville where, as VP of A&R, he was instrumental in signing and developing breakthrough artist Tucker Wetmore, working closely with Vincent Mason (whom he previously signed for publishing), as well as A&Ring studio albums by Parker McCollum, Jordan Davis and Dierks Bentley.
Janick said, “Lost Highway carved out a special place in the remarkable musical legacy of Nashville. It was a left-of-center label with one-of-a-kind artists who, at their core, were great songwriters and moved culture. Similarly, Interscope has always been a beacon to artists who don’t fit into a box yet are destined to inspire what comes next. With this new chapter in Lost Highway’s history, we are devoted to empowering the next generation of trailblazers, both artists and executives.”
Founded in 2000 by Luke Lewis, Lost Highway became home to such artists as Kacey Musgraves; Willie Nelson; Ryan Bingham; Hayes Carll; Lucinda Williams; Drive-By Truckers; Lyle Lovett; Tift Merritt; Robert Earl Keen; Shelby Lynne; Elvis Costello; and Mary Gauthier. The label was absorbed into Mercury Nashville when Lewis retired in 2012.
+ Warner Music Group has named Armin Zerza as executive vice president and ahief financial officer, effective May 5, reporting to CEO Robert Kyncl. Zerza brings extensive global financial, commercial, and operational leadership experience, most recently serving as CFO of Activision Blizzard, while it was traded on the NASDAQ stock exchange. At the same time, it was announced that current EVP & CFO Bryan Castellani will serve until May 5, and then act as advisor.
Zerza comes to WMG with three decades of experience across the entertainment, technology, and consumer goods industries. During his time at Activision Blizzard, he served as CFO, Chief Commercial Officer, and played a pivotal role in the company’s $69 million acquisition by Microsoft.
Kyncl said: “Armin arrives with 30 years of global experience and a track record of delivering outstanding results through operational excellence, commercial innovation, and financial discipline. He’ll help us evolve our long-term strategy and build WMG for the lasting benefit of our artists, songwriters, investors, employees, and partners.
“I’d also like to thank Bryan for his invaluable contributions to WMG,” he added. “He’s been a great partner and exemplary team player during many important moves, positioning the company for sustained success. All of us wish him the best in his next chapter.”
Zerza joined Activision Blizzard in August 2015 following more than 20 years of senior leadership experience at Procter & Gamble, serving in North America, Europe, and Latin America.
