Verve Music Group Promotes Mike Rittberg to General Manager

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Mar 04, 2015, 02:41 ET

SANTA MONICA, Calif., March 4, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Verve Music Group, the label behind upcoming releases from Mark Knopfler, Andrea Bocelli and The Fairground Saints, today announced Mike Rittberg has been promoted to general manager.

Rittberg is based in Santa Monica and oversees Verve's operations, artist development and release schedule. Rittberg will also work closely with Interscope Geffen A&M, which is now responsible for Verve's sales, marketing and film and TV licensing. Rittberg reports to Verve Chairman David Foster.

"I congratulate Mike on his well-deserved promotion," Foster said. "Mike has been a wonderful partner, and together I look forward to bringing new talent to Verve and building on our iconic label's vast accomplishments."

"I'm honored to carry on the tradition of great music coming from Verve as we redevelop its brand during the coming year," Rittberg said. "I'm especially grateful to David Foster, Michele Anthony, John Janick, Steve Berman and David Cohen for this incredible opportunity and for their support."

Prior to his promotion, Rittberg served as Senior Vice President of Branding and Marketing at Verve. He joined Universal Music Group in April 2012 as Verve's Vice President of Artist Development and Promotion. Before Verve, Rittberg was Senior Vice President of Promotion at Warner Music Group's Warner Bros./Reprise.

Verve has an exciting line-up of both jazz and adult contemporary releases in store for 2015, building on the strong Feb. 3 debut of Diana Krall's new album "Wallflower." Verve plans to release new music this year from Andrea Bocelli, Brenna Whitaker, The Falls, The Fairground Saints and Charles Perry. The label is also developing a "We Love Disney" project, with more details to be provided soon.

About Verve Music Group

Verve is Universal Music Group's jazz and American contemporary label, with an active artist roster that includes Andrea Bocelli, Smokey Robinson, Natalie Cole, Aaron Neville, Barry Manilow and Dr. John. Founded in 1956, Verve quickly made a name for itself as the home of jazz legends including Ella Fitzgerald, Bill Evans, Stan Getz and Billie Holiday. Since 2012 renowned producer David Foster has served as Verve's Chairman.

About Universal Music Group

Universal Music Group is the global music leader, with wholly owned operations in 60 territories. Its businesses also include Universal Music Publishing Group, one of the industry's premier music publishing operations worldwide.

Universal Music Group's labels include A&M Records, Angel, Astralwerks, Blue Note Records, Capitol Christian Music Group, Capitol Records, Capitol Records Nashville, Caroline, Decca, Def Jam Recordings, Deutsche Grammophon, Disa, Emarcy, EMI Records Nashville, Fonovisa, Geffen Records, Harvest, Interscope Records, Island Records, Machete Music, Manhattan, MCA Nashville, Mercury Nashville, Mercury Records, Motown Records, Polydor Records, Republic Records, Universal Music Latino, Verve Music Group, Virgin Records, Virgin EMI Records, as well as a multitude of record labels owned or distributed by its record company subsidiaries around the world. Universal Music Group owns the most extensive catalogue of music in the industry, which includes the last 100 years of the world's most popular artists and their recordings. UMG's catalogue is marketed through two distinct divisions, Universal Music Enterprises (in the U.S.) and Universal Strategic Marketing (outside the U.S.). Universal Music Group also includes Global Digital Business, its new media and technologies division and Bravado, its merchandising company.

Universal Music Group is a fully owned subsidiary of Vivendi.

SOURCE Universal Music Group