Music Business Worldwide recently sat down to interview David Gray, Managing Director UK and Head of Global A&R, about UK music, global ambitions and why breaking artists still matters. Read a few highlights from the interview below and click here to read the full interview on Music Business Worldwide. 

“Our aim is to do early songwriter development before anybody else. You can already see that in the [new artist/writers] we’ve signed like Skye Newman, Kerr Mercer and Pozer. And we have a brilliant head of A&R in Pete Simmons who has a fantastic ear, is great with artists and writers and is a wonderful leader.”

“You might feel like being more American is going to sell you to America; the opposite is actually true. There is still an appetite globally for British artists who don’t compromise. Look at Fred again..”

“This office has a great track record of signing writers/artists at their earliest stages, and helping to develop them to become iconic globally – Adele, Coldplay, Mumford & Sons, to name a few – and we want to build on that legacy. But it’s not all just about early development. We will invest in established or rising talent if two things are true – and this comes straight from the ethos Jody has long established: One, if we believe, wholeheartedly, that it’s a real career artist or writer; two, just as important, if we believe we can make a true positive difference in their career. We’re here, open for business, and – when we really believe in something – we’re being aggressive. We’re not a bank. We’re not just ‘collectors’. We’re a music company, and we want to find, sign and develop amazing talent.”

Read more on Music Business Worldwide.