IENNER, ANTHONY SPLIT SONY MUSIC

Don Ienner and Michele Anthony have decided to resign from the Sony Music Label Group, effective immediately. Sony BMG Music Entertainment CEO Rolf Schmidt-Holtz made the announcement today.

Said Schmidt-Holtz: "Donnie and Michele have been the bedrock upon which Sony Music’s success has been built over the last 18 years and we are very appreciative of their important contributions during this period.”

Rob Stringer, brother of Sony chief Sir Howard Stringer, has been named President of the Sony Music Label Group by Schmidt-Holtz, reporting directly to him, effective September 1. In the interim, the label group will report to Sony BMG Music Entertainment COO Tim Bowen.

"I am delighted that Rob Stringer has agreed to join us as head of the Sony Music Label Group in New York. Rob has been with Sony Music throughout his 20-year career and now is the perfect time for him to take on this senior role," said Schmidt-Holtz.

Springer was appointed Chairman/CO for Sony BMG Music Entertainment in U.K. and Ireland in Sept. 2004. He was Chairman/CEO for Sony Music U.K. and Ireland since 2000. He was also Managing Director for Epic U.K. for eight years and held a number of marketing and A&R positions at Columbia, where he worked with Terence Trent D'Arby, Deacon Blue, Alison Moyet, Prefab Sprout and Paul Young.

Ienner was named Chairman of Sony Music Label Group by Schmidt-Holtz just two months ago after Schmidt-Holtz switched posts with Andrew Lack, assuming the CEO role. As Chairman and CEO, Ienner oversaw all activities of the labels and divisions within the Sony Music Label Group, including Columbia Records Group, Epic Records, Sony Music Nashville and Sony Urban Music.

Ienner was named CEO of Sony Music Label Group, U.S. in 2004, adding this title to that of President of Sony Music Label Group, U.S., which he'd held since April 2003. In December of 2005, he oversaw a successful restructuring of the Group’s labels and divisions, naming Michele Anthony his successor as President, Sony Music Label Group, U.S.

Ienner joined the company in 1989 as President, Columbia Records Group at the age of 36, one of the youngest Presidents in the label's 120-year history. He served in this capacity for more than 13 years as the longest-serving President in the company's history. From 1994-2003 he also served as Chairman, Columbia Records Group, helping the label earn the title of the music industry's #1 record label in overall market share for seven consecutive years.

Prior to being hired by Columbia, Ienner was EVP/GM of Arista Records under Clive Davis. He began his music industry career in 1969, taking a position in the Capitol Records mail room while still in high school. From 1972 to 1977 he was in partnership with his brother Jimmy in C.A.M. U.S.A., a publishing, management and production company which represented such artists as Three Dog Night, Grand Funk Railroad, Blood, Sweat & Tears, the Raspberries and Eric Carmen. In 1977 he co-founded Millennium Records, where he served as Executive VP until joining Arista.

Anthony was named COO of the Sony Music Label Group in 2004, shortly after Ienner was named CEO. She later added the title of President in 2005. Her areas included overseeing government relations and serving as the company's liaison in legislative and legal issues.

Anthony, daughter of rock manager Dee Anthony, was named EVP of Sony Music Entertainment in 1994. While contributing to the management of Sony Music, she also acted as Sony Music's liaison to other Sony divisions and companies, including Sony Pictures Entertainment and Sony Electronics. From 1993-'94, she served as EVP Sony Music, where she helped oversee day-to-day operations of all divisions and was involved in company-wide administration.

She joined Sony Music in 1990 as SVP, establishing and managing the company's regional A&R offices in addition to overseeing special projects and new business. Prior to joining Sony Music, Anthony was a partner in entertainment law firm Manatt, Phelps, Rothenberg & Phillips.