OLSON ARRIVES, GONZALES EXPANDS AT BMG FRONTLINE PUBLISHING

BMG has tapped Monti Olson as co-head of A&R with Shani Gonzales for the company’s Frontline Publishing division in the U.S. The pair, who will lead BMG’s L.A. and New York creative teams, report to Thomas Scherer, EVP Frontline Publishing U.S.

Concurrently, Gonzales (bottom right in photo) is getting an additional role as Co-Head Writer Services in the U.K., working alongside A&R Director Hugo Turquet to build opportunities for U.K.-based writers in the U.S. The co-head of A&R in the U.S. since 2016, Gonzales has played a key role in BMG’s success in U.S. publishing, most recently exemplified by having pieces of the chart-topping radio records for 10 consecutive weeks.

Olson (left in photo), who has more than two decades of experience under his belt, was most recently SVP A&R at Warner Bros. Records. Before that, he held executive positions at Global Entertainment, UMPG, BMG Music Publishing, peermusic, Windswept Pacific and MCA Records.

In his quote, Scherer (top right) calls Olson “the perfect complement to Shani and BMG,” adding that “He brings an incredible track record and experience to the team, which will also give Shani the space for her additional role.” Gonzales, he further enthuses, “will be at the center of our plan to bring together writers from the world’s two most globally influential music markets.”

Olson expressed his appreciation to BMG’s U.S. chief Zach Katz and Scherer for believing in him and looks forward to “a successful and rewarding partnership with Shani.”

Gonzales covered a lot of ground in her statement: “I am very excited to welcome Monti and begin working with our U.K. team and writers to develop opportunities in the U.S. market, as well as increasing opportunities for U.S. writers in the U.K.”

Photo: Pilar Valtierra