Max Hole
Encyclopedia
Max Hole is chief operating officer
of UMGI (International division of Universal Music Group
) since 1 July 2010. As head of central functions at UMGI's headquarters in London
, he is also responsible for operations in territories and regions worldwide. He was referred to in Billboard
as "a serious contender for title of 'most powerful label executive outside America.'"
Hole and English
actress and impressionist
, Jan Ravens
, have been married since 1999 and have a son.
, Mungo Jerry
and Arthur Brown
. In 1982, he was a manager in the artists and repertoire department at WEA
. In 1990, he moved up to managing director for East West Records
where he was closely involved with the career of Simply Red
, among others. After sixteen years with Warners, in 1998, he took the position of senior vice-president for marketing and A&R for Universal Music's international division. He became executive vice-president in 2004, overseeing the promotion and marketing of top artists including Bon Jovi
, Amy Winehouse
, Snow Patrol
, Justin Bieber
, Andrea Bocelli
, Juanes
, U2
, Eminem
, Gwen Stefani
, Shania Twain
, and Bryan Adams
and also assuming responsibility for Universal's Asia/Pacific business. In 2010, he was appointed COO
of UMG International following the appointment of the division’s chairman, Lucian Grainge
, to CEO
of Universal Music Group
.
, who signed to DG and Decca Classics in late 2010 As C.O.O. Max instigated the relocation of Deutsche Grammophon
to Berlin, and the relaunch of Decca Classics in London
As part of the reinvigoration of these two important labels, and reflecting his passion for popularising classical music, particularly among youth demographics, Max oversaw the signing and development of a number of new artists, including classical guitar sensation Milos Karadaglic to DG.
Moreover, Max was a founding father of the landmark license deal between One Stop China, a joint venture with Warner and Sony, and China’s No. 1 search engine Baidu
, for its new music download service in July. The agreement has seen the One Stop China partners license Baidu to offer more than 500,000 songs for download to Chinese music fans. The search engine had previously been a major source of internet piracy.
and Observer
’s ‘Music Power 100’ earlier this year
Max was instrumental in securing UMGI’s deal with John de Mol’s Talpa Media for ‘The Voice Of…’, a reality TV property similar to X Factor. Talpa has agreed to give UMG exclusive rights to record and promote artists emerging from it. The format attracted 3.2m viewers during its run in Holland.
Chief operating officer
A Chief Operating Officer or Director of Operations can be one of the highest-ranking executives in an organization and comprises part of the "C-Suite"...
of UMGI (International division of Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
) since 1 July 2010. As head of central functions at UMGI's headquarters in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, he is also responsible for operations in territories and regions worldwide. He was referred to in Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
as "a serious contender for title of 'most powerful label executive outside America.'"
Hole and English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
actress and impressionist
Impressionist (entertainment)
An impressionist or a mimic is a performer whose act consists of imitating the voice and mannerisms of others. The word usually refers to a professional comedian/entertainer who specializes in such performances and has developed a wide repertoire of impressions, including adding to them, often to...
, Jan Ravens
Jan Ravens
Janet "Jan" Ravens is an English actress and impressionist, famous for her voices on Spitting Image and Dead Ringers.-Early life:...
, have been married since 1999 and have a son.
Career
Max Hole began his career in the music industry in 1972 as founder with Geoff Jukes of Gemini Artists, an agency and management business, representing such musicians as Martin Carthy, CamelCamel (band)
Camel are an English progressive rock band formed in 1971. An important group in the Canterbury scene, they have been releasing studio and live recordings steadily, with considerable success, since their formation.-1970s:...
, Mungo Jerry
Mungo Jerry
Mungo Jerry is an English rock group whose greatest success was in the early 1970s, though they have continued throughout the years with an ever-changing line-up, always fronted by Ray Dorset. They are remembered above all for their hit "In the Summertime". It remains their most successful and most...
and Arthur Brown
Arthur Brown (musician)
Arthur Brown is an English rock and roll musician best known for his flamboyant, theatrical style and significant influence on Alice Cooper, Peter Gabriel, Marilyn Manson, George Clinton, Kiss, King Diamond, and Bruce Dickinson, among others, and for his number one hit in the UK Singles Chart and...
. In 1982, he was a manager in the artists and repertoire department at WEA
Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
. In 1990, he moved up to managing director for East West Records
East West Records
East West Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group, and operates under WMG's Independent Label Group.-History:...
where he was closely involved with the career of Simply Red
Simply Red
Simply Red were a British soul band that sold more than 50 million albums over a 25-year career. Their style drew influences from blue-eyed soul, new romantic, rock, reggae and jazz...
, among others. After sixteen years with Warners, in 1998, he took the position of senior vice-president for marketing and A&R for Universal Music's international division. He became executive vice-president in 2004, overseeing the promotion and marketing of top artists including Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi is an American rock band from Sayreville, New Jersey. Formed in 1983, Bon Jovi consists of lead singer and namesake Jon Bon Jovi , guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, as well as current bassist Hugh McDonald...
, Amy Winehouse
Amy Winehouse
Amy Jade Winehouse was an English singer-songwriter known for her powerful deep contralto vocals and her eclectic mix of musical genres including R&B, soul and jazz. Winehouse's 2003 debut album, Frank, was critically successful in the UK and was nominated for the Mercury Prize...
, Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol are an alternative rock band from Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. Formed at the University of Dundee in 1994 as an indie rock band, the band is now based in Glasgow...
, Justin Bieber
Justin Bieber
Justin Drew Bieber is a Canadian pop/R&B singer, songwriter and actor. Bieber was discovered in 2008 by Scooter Braun, who came across Bieber's videos on YouTube and later became his manager...
, Andrea Bocelli
Andrea Bocelli
Andrea Bocelli, is an Italian tenor, multi-instrumentalist and classical crossover artist. Born with poor eyesight, he became blind at the age of twelve following a soccer accident....
, Juanes
Juanes
Juan Esteban Aristizábal Vásquez , better known as Juanes is a Colombian musician who was a member of heavy metal band Ekhymosis and is now a solo artist. In 2000, his solo debut album Fíjate Bien won three Latin Grammy Awards.Juanes has sold more than 13 million albums...
, U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
, Eminem
Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
, Gwen Stefani
Gwen Stefani
Gwen Renée Stefani is an American singer-songwriter and fashion designer. Stefani is the lead vocalist for the rock and ska band No Doubt. Stefani recorded her first solo album Love. Angel. Music. Baby. in 2004. The album was inspired by music of the 1980s, and was a success with sales of over...
, Shania Twain
Shania Twain
Shania Twain, OC is a Canadian country pop singer-songwriter. Her album The Woman in Me , brought her fame and her 1997 album Come On Over, became the best-selling album of all time by a female musician in any genre, and the best-selling country album of all time. It has sold over 40 million...
, and Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams, is a Canadian rock singer-songwriter, guitarist, bassist, producer, actor and photographer. Adams has won dozens of awards and nominations, including 20 Juno Awards among 56 nominations. He has also received 15 Grammy Award nominations including a win for Best Song Written...
and also assuming responsibility for Universal's Asia/Pacific business. In 2010, he was appointed COO
Chief operating officer
A Chief Operating Officer or Director of Operations can be one of the highest-ranking executives in an organization and comprises part of the "C-Suite"...
of UMG International following the appointment of the division’s chairman, Lucian Grainge
Lucian Grainge
Lucian Grainge, CBE is a British music industry executive who is the current Chairman and CEO of the Universal Music Group.-Career:Lucian Grainge grew up in northern London. In 1982 he became the director of RCA Music Publishing. Two years later he became an A&R director for MCA Records...
, to CEO
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
.
Classical Music
Max also currently oversees Universal's worldwide classical business and therefore has been a major force behind the company's drive to “assert its classical music leadership as never before”. Max has been instrumental in a number of high profile signings, in particular Conductor, Pianist and all round major industry personality Daniel BarenboimDaniel Barenboim
Daniel Barenboim, KBE is an Argentinian-Israeli pianist and conductor. He has served as music director of several major symphonic and operatic orchestras and made numerous recordings....
, who signed to DG and Decca Classics in late 2010 As C.O.O. Max instigated the relocation of Deutsche Grammophon
Deutsche Grammophon
Deutsche Grammophon is a German classical record label which was the foundation of the future corporation to be known as PolyGram. It is now part of Universal Music Group since its acquisition and absorption of PolyGram in 1999, and it is also UMG's oldest active label...
to Berlin, and the relaunch of Decca Classics in London
As part of the reinvigoration of these two important labels, and reflecting his passion for popularising classical music, particularly among youth demographics, Max oversaw the signing and development of a number of new artists, including classical guitar sensation Milos Karadaglic to DG.
Asian Markets
Max spent much of the last decade as head of UMG's Asia Pacific region, and is one of the industry's most experienced executives in this part of the world. He steered Universal Music Japan's transition into a domestic-music powerhouse, and has facilitated significant deals with independent Asian music companies to promote homegrown talent, including Taiwan's Rock Records in 2008 and South Korea's Play Cube Entertainment in 2010. He led Universal’s renewed investment in the latter country after seven years away – a decision validated by the South Korean recorded music sector’s return to growth, as reflected in the 2010 IFPI digital music report.Moreover, Max was a founding father of the landmark license deal between One Stop China, a joint venture with Warner and Sony, and China’s No. 1 search engine Baidu
Baidu
Baidu, Inc. , simply known as Baidu and incorporated on January 18, 2000, is a Chinese web services company headquartered in the Baidu Campus in Haidian District, Beijing, People's Republic of China....
, for its new music download service in July. The agreement has seen the One Stop China partners license Baidu to offer more than 500,000 songs for download to Chinese music fans. The search engine had previously been a major source of internet piracy.
Recent Achievements
Max charted #16 on the GuardianThe Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
and Observer
Observer
Observer may refer to person who is observing. More specialised meanings follow.-Computer science and information theory:*In information theory, any system which receives information from an object....
’s ‘Music Power 100’ earlier this year
Max was instrumental in securing UMGI’s deal with John de Mol’s Talpa Media for ‘The Voice Of…’, a reality TV property similar to X Factor. Talpa has agreed to give UMG exclusive rights to record and promote artists emerging from it. The format attracted 3.2m viewers during its run in Holland.