Entertainment One (eOne) is pleased to announce the appointment of leading music industry attorney and music industry entrepreneur, Chris Taylor, to the role of President, Entertainment One Music. The Company also shared that Taylor will bring his independent recording, publishing and artist management company Last Gang to eOne, whose impressive roster includes record label clients Death From Above 1979, Chromeo and Ryan Hemsworth, and management clients Lights and Arkells. The announcement was made today by Darren Throop, President & Chief Executive Officer, Entertainment One.
Taylor, whose legal practice included recording legends such as Drake, Nelly Furtado and Avril Lavigne, brings more than 25 years of wide-ranging music industry experience to eOne. In his new role, he will oversee music operations globally and will lead strategic growth initiatives across music licensing, publishing, label and distribution. Last Gang will continue to operate under Taylor as a label of eOne. He will lead teams in Los Angeles, New York, Nashville and Toronto.
“I’ve known Chris for many years and I am delighted that he has come on board to steer our music business into the future. In addition to being a musician and songwriter himself, Chris’ business-acumen, strategic management expertise and far-reaching relationships will support the diversification of eOne Music,” said Throop. “There has been a seismic shift in the music industry over the last decade and it is important that we continue to find innovative ways to build and bolster the business. With Chris and the Last Gang family of artists, we are well-positioned to do just that.”
Established in 2003, Last Gang is credited with launching the careers of Canadian alternative rock royalty including Metric, Crystal Castles, Death From Above 1979 and MSTRKRFT among others. Last Gang has sold over 2,000,000 albums worldwide.
“This is an exciting opportunity to join one of the world’s leading entertainment companies, and combine my team and clients with a strong world-class brand that has global reach and proximity to world-class television and film producers,” said Taylor. “I’m looking forward to working with Darren and the whole eOne team as we welcome new artists, broaden the opportunities for our current roster and reinforce eOne as the leading indie.”
eOne, whose music leadership team remains otherwise unchanged, is a leading independent music brand and is home to a variety of sub-labels across many genres including gospel label Light Records, Americana/Folk music leader Dualtone Music Group and Broadway leader DRG Records. The label roster includes top-selling rapper The Game, Americana/Alternative act The Lumineers, and former Destiny’s Child member and gospel artist Michelle Williams.
