After spending three years in Apple Music‘s Artist Relations team, Gang of Four bassist Dave Allen has joined Portland creative agency North Inc. as Director of Artist and Music Industry Advocacy.
Allen was one of the artists involved in Apple Music’s launch in 2015 alongside Dr. Dre and Trent Reznor.
While there, he spearheaded partnerships with artists and managers and previously worked in a similar role at Beats when it was being acquired by Apple in 2014.
In his new role, Allen will pioneer a forthcoming music venture and collaborate with artists and managers to help them seek new revenue streams in the constantly shifting music business.
“It made perfect sense to collaborate with Dave on our vision of bringing bands and brands together in a new context.”
mark ray, north inc.
CCO Mark Ray said: “It made perfect sense to collaborate with Dave on our vision of bringing bands and brands together in a new context.
“Our ambition is to develop, with integrity and soul, new revenue models between artists and brands. Dave, like North, has music in his DNA.”
“I want to use what I’ve learned to level the playing field for musicians by creating revenue streams that go directly to the artist.”
dave allen
Allen added: “I’ve spent more than two decades working in both the music and tech industry, and I want to use what I’ve learned to level the playing field for musicians by creating revenue streams that go directly to the artist.
“I want brands to license music directly from artists that are as authentic as their brand.”
Allen began his career as a bassist for the post-punk band Gang of Four and has since worked in digital music for eMusic.com and Intel.
The recent move is a return to North, where he was a Digital Strategy Director in 2010.
Music Business Worldwide