Steve Lamacq joins Chrysalis Records & Blue Raincoat Music as Curator, New Music & Talent Development. Veteran broadcaster, journalist and champion of alternative music to support the discovery and development of emerging artists in new consultancy role Chrysalis Records, part of the Reservoir group of companies, and associated artist management & music publishing company Blue Raincoat Music announced that renowned broadcaster, journalist, author and alternative music champion Steve Lamacq has joined the company as Curator, New Music & Talent Development. This is a newly created consultancy role focused on helping both companies identify, champion and nurture the next generation of breakthrough artists. Working alongside Chrysalis' and Blue Raincoat's existing A&R, management and creative teams in a consultancy capacity, Lamacq will help discover, champion and develop emerging talent, drawing on more than four decades of experience at the forefront of alternative and independent music culture. His role will complement the company's established artist discovery and development activities, bringing an additional layer of insight, perspective and connectivity from across the wider music community. The position has been created to harness Lamacq's unrivalled knowledge of new music, his extensive network across the live and recorded music sectors, and the credibility he has built with artists, audiences and industry professionals throughout his career. Working across Chrysalis' and Blue Raincoat's talent development efforts, he will help identify emerging trends, connect with new creative communities and support the label's ongoing commitment to discovering distinctive new voices. Before becoming one of Britain's most influential music broadcasters, Lamacq, who was appointed an MBE in 2025 for services to broadcasting and to music venues, spent more than five years at the legendary music weekly NME, where he rose through the ranks to become News Editor. He has built a reputation for spotting and championing emerging artists and scenes and throughout his journalism and broadcasting career has been an early supporter of some of the most significant alternative acts of the past four decades, including Blur, Oasis, Pulp, Elastica, Radiohead, Arctic Monkeys, Idles and Fontaines DC. He later became a defining voice on BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 6 Music, helping introduce generations of listeners to groundbreaking artists and shaping the trajectory of alternative music in the UK. Through his broadcasting, writing, live events and ongoing engagement with grassroots music communities, he remains one of the country's most respected and trusted voices in music discovery. Jeremy Lascelles, CEO of Chrysalis Records & Blue Raincoat Music said: "Steve has an extraordinary ability to spot great artists early. Time and again he's identified talent long before the wider industry catches on. When I asked him if he fancied working alongside us in this capacity, I was over the proverbial moon when he agreed. It's pretty much a dream scenario for us. Alongside his deep knowledge of music, he has built a level of trust with artists and audiences alike, that makes him uniquely qualified for this curating role. I'm thrilled with the association and think we're going to have a lot of fun." Steve Lamacq said, "I've spent my entire career seeking out and supporting great new music, whether through journalism, radio, live events or other projects. Chrysalis has a long and distinguished history of backing original artists and helping them build lasting careers, and Blue Raincoat Music is growing a successful presence in the artist management and music publishing sectors, so the opportunity to work with their teams in this capacity was hugely appealing. I'm looking forward to helping discover and develop exciting new talent and contributing to their next chapters." The appointment reflects both companies' continued commitment to talent development and their longstanding reputation for championing distinctive and culturally significant music. By bringing Lamacq's expertise into the business, they aim to further strengthen their ability to identify and support exceptional new artists from across the alternative and independent music landscape.

Chrysalis Records promotes Marianne Frederick to Senior Vice President, Manufacturing and Distribution. Long-serving executive steps into expanded leadership role overseeing the company's growing physical manufacturing and distribution Chrysalis Records, which is part of the Reservoir group of companies, has promoted Marianne Frederick to Senior Vice President, Manufacturing and Distribution, expanding her remit across the label and the company's associated division, Blue Raincoat Management. Frederick, who has been with the business for a decade this year, will be based in London and will report jointly to Dermot James, SVP Catalogue Development and Marketing, and Alison Wenham, COO of Chrysalis Records/Blue Raincoat. In her new role, she will oversee manufacturing and distribution strategy and operations across the wider group, working closely with artists, managers, labels, operational teams and external partners to support an increasingly active global release schedule. Over recent years, Frederick has played a central role in developing and scaling the company's physical manufacturing and distribution capabilities, introducing new stock management policies, streamlining release operations and strengthening communication with manufacturing and distribution partners to ensure products are delivered efficiently, cost-effectively and on schedule. Her work spans collaboration across curation, marketing, operations and artist management teams, helping to deliver a joined-up and commercially focused approach to physical releases across the wider business. Frederick brings more than 25 years of music industry experience to the position, with a career spanning both the UK and US independent sectors. Prior to joining Chrysalis Music, she held senior label and project management roles at Buzzin' Fly Records, Phantasy Sound, Koch Records and Oyster Records. Her expertise covers manufacturing, distribution, product management, royalties, international marketing, touring and artist operations. Commenting on the promotion, Alison Wenham said, "Marianne has become an integral part of Chrysalis Records and the wider Blue Raincoat group over the past decade. She has played a hugely important role in developing and strengthening our manufacturing and distribution operations during a period of significant growth in physical music. Marianne brings experience, calmness and professionalism to everything she does and is trusted across every part of the business. This promotion is richly deserved. She also makes the best New York cheesecake ever." Dermot James added, "Marianne and has shown extensive skills over the years in various areas of the business, but primarily her exhaustive knowledge of manufacturing and distribution excels, and I am pleased to entrust her with this for Chrysalis Records." Jeremy Lascelles, CEO of Chrysalis Records/Blue Raincoat added, "Every company needs a Marianne. She is a priceless member of our team. Her can-do, but no-nonsense approach is such an important part of making sure the wheels go round. We love her and, as they say, you can take the girl out of Brooklyn, but..." Marianne Frederick said, "I'm incredibly proud to take on this new role and continue working across Chrysalis Records and Blue Raincoat Management. Over the last 10 years I've had the opportunity to collaborate with brilliant teams across so many areas of the business, supporting artists and releases at every stage of the process. Physical music remains a hugely important part of artist campaigns and fan culture, and I'm excited to continue building and evolving our manufacturing and distribution operations as the company grows."