Mann out

MANN OVERBOARD: EMI Group chief Roger Faxon has just sent out this interoffice email: “As you will have seen in my earlier message today, Billy Mann will be leaving EMI. I had wanted Billy to stay on in a new leadership role for which he was uniquely qualified. However on reflection, he felt his future led in a different direction.It is very sad to lose someone of Billy’s talent, enthusiasm and commitment. He has deeply touched the people in the business and the artists we represent. As an award winning songwriter and producer Billy brought us a rare understanding of the creative process. He taught us that A&R is at its best when it is collaborative, but that collaboration can only succeed in an environment of trust.Through a period of great change and upheaval for EMI Music, Billy has been a singular light of optimism and confidence in our future. Never did he waver in his belief that we could overcome the obstacles ahead and build a great new business. As he travelled the world, and boy did he travel, he helped bring us together.So it is with much sadness that we say goodbye to our friend and supporter. I know I join everyone of you in wishing him the very best as he starts a new, wonderful and creative chapter in his life.” (9/7a)