Gary Kelly Photo by Gloria Plascencia. Jason Kawejsza courtesy of ICLGGary Kelly and Jason Kawejsza
Gary Kelly and Jason Kawejsza have been elevated to primary positions at the newly unveiled Interscope Capitol Labels Group (ICLG).
Kelly has been appointed Chief Revenue Officer and General Manager, and Kawejsza has been named Executive Vice President, Head of Business & Legal Affairs for the company.
The news arrives a day after the announcement that Universal Music Group‘s frontline label groups in the US, Interscope Geffen A&M and Capitol Music Group, are now officially consolidated under the new name of Interscope Capitol Labels Group (ICLG).
ICLG is comprised of all artists, labels, and personnel within the companies formerly named Interscope Geffen A&M and Capitol Music Group.
Interscope Capitol Labels Group is headed up by Chairman & CEO, John Janick.
According to the latest announcement on Friday (March 8), in his new position, Kelly oversees numerous company departments, and is charged with “attracting and engaging fans across myriad markets, while building diverse revenue streams”.
Kawejsza is responsible for overseeing the ICLG business and legal affairs department which structures, negotiates, and drafts all deals for ICLG and its labels.
Prior to his promotion, Kelly was General Manager of Interscope Records having been elevated from his role as Global Head of Streaming & Strategy to that position in 2023, and adding to his responsibilities as Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer of Interscope Geffen A&M that he had held since 2017.
Kelly began his career as a college rep at Sony Music Distribution and Epic Records, subsequently working in various marketing and sales positions at those companies’ New York, mid-Atlantic and Los Angeles regions.
He left Sony in 2007 for a position at Universal Music Group, and joined Interscope in 2010 as Head of Sales.
Kawejsza was most recently Executive Vice President, Head of Business & Legal Affairs at Interscope Geffen A&M, a position he held since 2016.
He joined Universal Music Group’s corporate legal department in 2003, transitioning to Interscope Geffen A&M in 2010 and holding a number of positions of increasing responsibility there.
Kawejsza graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Virginia Tech and earned his Juris Doctor degree from the American University Washington College of Law and also holds a Masters of Business Administration from The Kogod School of Business at American University.
“I know that everyone in the company joins me in congratulating Gary and Jason on these well-earned promotions.”
Commenting on Gary Kelly and Jason Kawejsza’s promotions, Janick said: “Gary and Jason have each been making invaluable contributions to our company for nearly 15 years, and both combine strong business acumen with an entrepreneurial mindset that will continue to be crucial to my leadership team and to ICLG’s success in the years to come.
“I know that everyone in the company joins me in congratulating Gary and Jason on these well-earned promotions.”
”The creation of ICLG is a milestone moment for our company. I’m thrilled to be part of John’s leadership team that will oversee our growth and evolution as we set the standard for what a modern-day music company should be.”
Gary Kelly
Kelly added: ”The creation of ICLG is a milestone moment for our company. I’m thrilled to be part of John’s leadership team that will oversee our growth and evolution as we set the standard for what a modern-day music company should be.
“I look forward to working with everyone in the company who will utilize their best-in-class skill sets, relationships and expertise to deliver on our mission of providing artists with a home to create great music and build their global brands to reach the widest possible audience.”
“I am so excited to work with John and our entire leadership team at Interscope Capitol Labels Group as we move forward and redesign the company to most effectively support our amazing artists and label partners.”
Jason Kawejsza
Kawejsza added: “I am so excited to work with John and our entire leadership team at Interscope Capitol Labels Group as we move forward and redesign the company to most effectively support our amazing artists and label partners.”
Initial details of the restructuring of Universal’s labels in the US were announced by UMG Chairman and CEO Sir Lucian Grainge last month.
As reported then, under the new model, John Janick and Republic Records‘ Monte Lipman are increasing the number of labels under their command on the West Coast and East Coast, respectively.
In Los Angeles, Janick will provide support and leadership to Blue Note, Capitol, Geffen, Interscope, Motown, Priority and Verve as Chairman & CEO of what we now know is the consolidated ‘Interscope Capitol Labels Group‘ company.
Meanwhile, in New York, Lipman will take responsibility for Def Jam, Island, Mercury and Republic.
Since that announcement, UMG has confirmed that a “re-designing” of its global organizational structure is underway, which it said will generate EUR €250 million (USD $270 million) in annual cost savings.Music Business Worldwide
