BMG PROMOTES LOBA, SCHERER IN U.S. PUSH

BMG is "doubling down" on American operations with the promotion of BMG Nashville President Jon Loba (pictured) to president of Frontline Recordings, North America, and Head of Publishing and Recordings Thomas Scherer to head of Global Recorded Catalog.

The moves, directed by new CEO Thomas Coesfeld, bring Loba and Scherer into BMG's North American leadership team alongside CFO Joe Gillen.

"We are making good on our promise to double down on our U.S. operation with a distinctive new approach: an integrated frontline operation spanning the whole of North America, plus a global catalog business steered from Los Angeles," said Coesfeld. "BMG is stepping up. This is an integral part of our new strategy to deliver for artists and songwriters and go for growth."

BMG's U.S. business comprises more than 50% of its revenue, with recent successes including Kylie Minogue's Grammy-nominated Tension. The company will also release Jennifer Lopez's new album, This Is Me... Now, on 2/14. Loba's Nashville division has been responsible for hits from the likes of Lainey Wilson, Jelly Roll and Jason Aldean, whose controversial single "Try That in a Small Town" topped charts last year.

"Under Jon Loba, BMG Nashville has exceeded our expectations year after year," Coesfeld continued. "Jon is not only one of the most accomplished record executives in Nashville, but the multi-genre success he's achieved with Jelly Roll makes him the ideal person to take additional responsibility for our Los Angeles, New York and Canada recordings business as we pursue our objective of making BMG the most effective and artist-friendly destination for artists, both established and new."

Scherer, who's been with BMG since 2008, has helped bring the works of Paul Simon, Mötley Crüe, George Harrison, Diane Warren and Bebe Rexha to the company. "With Thomas at the helm of our Global Recorded Catalog organization, BMG will step up its investments in catalog," Coesfeld said. "Together with our value-added approach to managing artists' lifetime achievements, BMG will be uniquely positioned."

Loba celebrated by letting a call from Todd Hensley go to voice mail.