Billy Zarro Promoted to Vice President, Marketing, Universal Motown Records

NEW YORK, Nov. 4, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Billy Zarro has been promoted to Vice President of Marketing for Universal Motown Records, it was announced today by Jill Capone, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Universal Motown Records, and Sylvia Rhone, President of Universal Motown Records.

In this new role, Mr. Zarro will be responsible for creating integrated online, branding, and marketing campaigns on behalf of his roster of Universal Motown Records artists, which includes Kid Cudi, Akon, Rico Love's Division 1 label, Crystal Castles, Christian TV, SafetySuit, and Hal Linton.

"Billy has proven to be a tremendous asset for our company," said Ms. Capone. "He always has a pulse on what's new in the online and traditional marketplace. Among his many accomplishments, Billy singlehandedly built a new artist's online fan base from zero to more than 3 million in less than a year. His skills and talent are what every music marketing company needs to build the future."

"Billy stood out as a valued leader in the company following the merger of our digital and analog marketing teams into a single department," added Ms. Rhone. "He is incredibly talented at harnessing the full marketing power of the Internet, and he has a gift for branding innovative and strategic marketing plans both online and offline, allowing us to become much more targeted and efficient in our ability to focus on the consumer."

"I'd like to thank Sylvia Rhone, Pat Monaco, Cameo Carlson, and Jill Capone for their continued guidance and support over the years," stated Mr. Zarro. "I am sincerely grateful for the opportunities they have given me. It is an honor to be a part of this team and I look forward to the new challenges that are ahead."

Previously, Mr. Zarro was Senior Marketing Director for Universal Motown Records. During his tenure at the company, he has coordinated and implemented marketing strategies for the label's diverse roster of artists, including Shiny Toy Guns, Michael McDonald, DJ Shadow, the Noisettes, Razorlight, and Ryan Leslie. Prior to Universal Motown, Mr. Zarro held marketing and artist development posts at Virgin Records America, Universal Music Distribution, and EMD Music.

About Universal Music Group

Universal Music Group is the world's leading music company with wholly owned record operations or licensees in 77 countries. Its businesses also include Universal Music Publishing Group, the industry's leading global music publishing operation.

Universal Music Group's record labels include A&M/Octone, Decca, Deutsche Grammophon, Disa, Emarcy, Fonovisa, Interscope Geffen A&M Records, Island Def Jam Music Group, Lost Highway Records, Machete Music, MCA Nashville, Mercury Nashville, Mercury Records, Polydor Records, Show Dog–Universal Music, Universal Motown Republic Group, Universal Music Latino and Verve Music Group as well as a multitude of record labels owned or distributed by its record company subsidiaries around the world. The Universal Music Group owns the most extensive catalog of music in the industry, which includes the last 100 years of the world's most popular artists and their recordings. UMG's catalog is marketed through two distinct divisions, Universal Music Enterprises (in the U.S.) and Universal Strategic Marketing (outside the U.S.). Universal Music Group also includes eLabs, its new media and technologies division; Bravado, its merchandising company; Twenty-First Artists, its full service management division; and Helter Skelter, its live music agency.

Universal Music Group is a unit of Vivendi, a global media and communications company.

SOURCE Universal Music Group