Martin Kierszenbaum, Chairman Of Pioneering Pop-Alternative Label Cherrytree Records, Renews Relationship With Interscope Records

SANTA MONICA, Calif., March 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading A&R executive and Cherrytree Records chairman Martin Kierszenbaum has renewed his fruitful relationship with Interscope Geffen A&M. In addition Kierszenbaum, a Grammy-nominated producer and songwriter, will remain in the position of Sr. Executive of A&R for Interscope Records.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130313/LA76053)

Kierszenbaum launched the maverick pop-alternative label Cherrytree Records in 2005 as a forward-thinking, artist-friendly haven for creative freedom. Over the years, the label has established itself as a major player with an indie mentality, an irresistible combination that has attracted such ground-breaking artists as Feist, Ellie Goulding, Robyn, La Roux, Jessie Ware, Sting, LMFAO, Keane, and Far East Movement.

Kierszenbaum is building upon these artists' critical and commercial successes with new pop-alternative signings including British symphonic alt-rock band Wolf Gang, Canadian pop-rock band Marianas Trench (whose singer Josh Ramsay co-wrote the blockbuster smash "Call Me Maybe" with Carly Rae Jepsen), sassy Arkansas swamp-rocker Ivy Levan (whose father is a Rockabilly Hall of Famer), producer/DJ RAC (a much blogged-about remixer who has worked with U2, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Lady Gaga, and Tegan and Sara), and wickedly inventive singer/rapper Colette Carr (who is in the midst of releasing a series of extemporaneous EP's as part of her Skitszo album due in July). 

"[Interscope Geffen A&M Chairman and CEO] Jimmy Iovine not only gave me the opportunity to start Cherrytree Records in 2005, but also the support, advice, and encouragement to sign progressive artists with a point of view and stick with them until they break," says Kierszenbaum. "I'm not only deeply grateful to him, but also over the moon about the arrival of John Janick, one of the premiere record executives in the business, to the helm of Interscope Geffen A&M where I'm excited to begin this new chapter for Cherrytree."

"Martin has incredible global expertise when it comes to both signing and marketing artists," commented Interscope Geffen A&M Chairman and CEO Jimmy Iovine. "His musical background gives him a feel for the records they want to make, and his international mindset gives him the advantage in breaking them on a worldwide level."

Added John Janick, President and COO, Interscope Geffen A&M: "Martin has an incredible ability to spot, develop, and nurture talented artists.  His A&R skills, combined with his multi-dimensional background in the music business, makes him a unique and integral part of this company.  I'm thrilled to be working with both Martin as an executive and Cherrytree as a label."

Kierszenbaum started in the PolyGram mailroom in 1988 and became International Publicist at Warner Brothers before serving as Head of International at A&M Records and then joining Interscope Geffen A&M in 1998 in the same capacity. He has been instrumental in developing the global careers of such artists as Eminem, Gwen Stefani, Nelly Furtado, Soundgarden, will.i.am, and the Black Eyed Peas. In 2001, Kierszenbaum joined Interscope's A&R department, bringing artists from around the world to the label's roster. One of his first signings was multi-platinum Russian duo t.A.T.u., for whom he co-wrote and produced the smash single "All the Things She Said," which spent four weeks at No. 1 on the UK singles chart. In 2003, Kierszenbaum signed British band Keane whose debut album, Hopes and Fears, went on to sell five million copies.

With those successes as proof of Kierszenbaum's ear for new talent, Iovine gave him the green light to create his own imprint, Cherrytree Records, with the release of Canadian singer-songwriter Leslie Feist's acclaimed Let It Die. In addition to introducing the world to a host of cutting-edge artists, the label also released Lady Gaga's multi-platinum albums The Fame (for which Kierszenbaum co-wrote and produced four songs under his creative moniker "Cherry Cherry Boom Boom") and The Fame Monster, the former earning Kierszenbaum a Grammy nomination in 2010. Since 1991, Kierszenbaum has worked with Sting, who joined the Cherrytree roster in  2007. Kierszenbaum was awarded an Emmy Award in 2002 for executive producing Sting's documentary All This Time.

Over the last two years, Cherrytree has scored three No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 (Far East Movement's "Like a G6" and LMFAO's "Party Rock Anthem" and "Sexy and I Know It") as well as a No. 2 single with Ellie Goulding's "Lights," which has sold more than three million downloads in the U.S.  Kierszenbaum also created the LMFAO-headlined Cherrytree Pop Alternative Tour, which played to sold-out venues across the U.S., Canada, and Europe in 2012.

ABOUT INTERSCOPE GEFFEN A&M:

Combining the legacies of three of the most influential record labels in modern music history, Interscope Geffen A&M embarked on a new tradition of musical achievement with its unification on January 1, 1999.  Headed by Chairman and CEO Jimmy Iovine, Interscope Geffen A&M is a major force in global music, developing chart-topping artists across a wide range of musical genres including rock, rap, pop and alternative. Interscope Geffen A&M is part of Universal Music Group, the world's largest music company.

SOURCE Interscope Geffen A&M