LUCAS, LEVINE LIVIN’ LARGE AT SONY BMG SALES

In his new role, Lucas will oversee all aspects of Sony BMG’s sales operations, including management of the branch operations, sales, field marketing and support services.

Commented Frohlich, “Jim has made tremendous contributions to our sales operations and brings to his new role impressive experience and expert knowledge of the retail landscape. His appointment is richly deserved, and I look forward to spending countless hours of enjoyment watching the Star Wars Collection with him.”

Said Katz, “Jim’s style, passion and leadership make him the obvious choice to pick up the baton and lead Sony BMG Music Entertainment Sales to the next level. Plus, I’m a huge Knicks fan, and he’s gonna introduce me to his brother Jerry.”

Lucas most recently served as SVP National Sales/Marketing. Prior to that he was VP Sales for Sony Music Distribution. A nearly 30-year veteran of the company, Lucas began his career at CBS Records.

In his first move as EVP/GM, Lucas promotes Barry LeVine to Senior Vice President, National Sales/Marketing. LeVine will oversee the marketing departments for alternative, urban, mainstream and college, as well as for music DVD and DualDisc.

Said Lucas in making the announcement, “Barry is a consummate marketing professional whose passion for our artists and their music, along with his innovative approach to reaching consumers, have earned him the respect of his colleagues and our customer base. I am confident he will continue to make tremendous contributions to our sales operations and look forward to working closely with him. Besides, this dude was PoMo before they had a name for it.”

LeVine was upped from VP National Sales and Marketing. He previously served as VP Marketing for BMG Distribution, where for more than a decade he was responsible for all retail marketing initiatives for alternative, independent and mainstream chain accounts. He joined BMG in 1987 as Director Creative Marketing for Arista. Like his boss, Levine got his start at CBS Records.