Broadcaster Steve Lamacq has joined Chrysalis Records and Blue Raincoat Music as Curator, New Music & Talent Development.
The newly created consultancy role was announced on Tuesday (September 29).
Chrysalis Records is part of the Reservoir group of companies, alongside associated artist management and music publishing company Blue Raincoat Music.
Lamacq will work alongside both companies’ A&R, management, and creative teams to identify and develop emerging talent.
The companies say the role will complement their existing artist discovery and development activities.
“Steve has an extraordinary ability to spot great artists early,” said Jeremy Lascelles, CEO of Chrysalis Records and Blue Raincoat Music. “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.
“Steve has an extraordinary ability to spot great artists early. Time and again he’s identified talent long before the wider industry catches on.”
Jeremy Lascelles, Chrysalis Records / Blue Raincoat Music
“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.”
“I’ve spent my entire career seeking out and supporting great new music, whether through journalism, radio, live events or other projects,” said Lamacq. “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.”
Lamacq spent more than five years at NME, joining as a sub-editor in 1987 and rising to news editor and, later, live editor.
He co-presented The Evening Session on BBC Radio 1 with Jo Whiley from 1993 to 1997, going on to present the show solo. He also fronted Lamacq Live on the station from 1998 until 2006.
He had begun broadcasting on BBC Radio 6 Music while still at Radio 1, taking on the station’s weekday drivetime slot in 2005. He presented that show for 18 years, stepping back in 2023, and continues to present a weekly show on 6 Music.
“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.”
Steve Lamacq, Curator, New Music & Talent Development
He was named in the UK’s 2025 New Year Honours list, receiving an MBE for services to broadcasting and to music venues.
Lamacq has also served as the first Chair of UK live music trade body LIVE, a federation of live industry associations, since 2023. The organization reported in September 2025 that UK consumer spend on live music grew 9.5% YoY in 2024, to GBP £6.68 billion (USD $7.23 billion).
The companies say Lamacq was an early supporter of acts including Blur, Oasis, Pulp, Elastica, Radiohead, Arctic Monkeys, IDLES, and Fontaines D.C.
Chrysalis Records was founded in 1968 by Chris Wright and Terry Ellis, and was acquired by Blue Raincoat Music from Warner Music Group in 2016, in a deal led by Lascelles and Robin Millar that reunited the label with Wright, a Blue Raincoat partner and backer, as its non-executive chairman.
The Chrysalis catalog covers over 20,000 recordings, including Sinéad O’Connor‘s Nothing Compares 2 U and Generation X‘s Dancing With Myself.
In 2019, MBW revealed that New York-based Reservoir had struck a deal to bring Blue Raincoat Music and Chrysalis into its portfolio.
In February 2020, Blue Raincoat relaunched Chrysalis as a frontline label, releasing new music for the first time in over two decades.
Its first frontline signing was Laura Marling, and the label’s roster now includes Ben Harper, Marika Hackman, Bodega, The Wandering Hearts, Emeli Sandé, Nadia Reid, and Gia Ford.
Blue Raincoat Music was founded in 2014 by Jeremy Lascelles and Robin Millar, and its publishing arm, Blue Raincoat Music Publishing, operates as a joint venture with Reservoir.
Chrysalis Records promoted Marianne Frederick to SVP, Manufacturing and Distribution in June 2026.Music Business Worldwide
