ONErpm has appointed Mike Easterlin as Managing Director of its Nashville division.
Easterlin will oversee A&R, roster development, and daily operations for the Nashville office. He brings experience from senior roles at Virgin, Def Jam, Atlantic Records and Elektra Records, where he served as Co-President.
Most recently, he co-founded Severance Records as a joint venture with Nashville-based record company Big Loud.
Commenting on his appointment, Easterlin said: “I’ve always believed in the independent spirit of artists—the drive to create, take risks, and build something real. Helping talent find their voice and turn it into a lasting career has always been my passion.
”ONErpm embodies those same values: passion, focus, transparency, and a real commitment to giving artists a global platform to grow on their own terms.”
“I’ve always believed in the independent spirit of artists—the drive to create, take risks, and build something real. Helping talent find their voice and turn it into a lasting career has always been my passion.”
Mike Easterlin, Onerpm
The company announced several other Nashville hires alongside Easterlin’s appointment. Josh Tomlinson joins as Director of A&R from BMI. Lindsey Terry, formerly with MCA Nashville, was named Country Marketing Director. Chad Neville, who previously worked at Warner Music Nashville, will serve as Project Manager.
Tomlinson said: “I’m grateful for the opportunity to bring my love for the song and the creator to ONErpm to help grow our Nashville business while working with some of the most forward-thinking minds in the music industry.”
The Nashville expansion comes as ONErpm continues to build what it describes as “the record label of the future.” The company now employs more than 600 people globally, roughly six times its 2020 headcount. Staff are spread across more than 40 countries.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to bring my love for the song and the creator to ONErpm to help grow our Nashville business while working with some of the most forward-thinking minds in the music industry.”
Josh Tomlinson, Onerpm
Speaking with MBW in July, ONErpm’s founder, Emmanuel Zunz, said: “There are no more ‘distribution’ companies, and there are no more ‘record labels’. There are just companies providing solutions to creators.”
Zunz at the time attributed the company’s growth to “More market penetration and geographic expansion, as well as buying more assets and doing higher margin deals with the artists who want to do them.”
In August, the company signed four notable artists across multiple genres including Grammy-winning pop artist Daya, Philadelphia-based blues-hip-hop fusion act G. Love & Special Sauce, Toronto bedroom pop artist Verzache, and Florida rapper Cochise. T
In July, the company entered into a strategic partnership with Sydney-headquartered BIORDI, which it describes as one of Australia’s “most influential independent labels.”
The Biordi roster includes acts like JKING, ALYSSA, Bally Boy, Pistol Pete & Enzo, Ay Huncho, Masi Rooc and Nasa Nova.
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