Universal Music UK is bringing back legendary label Fontana.
The major has announced the return of the label as its new home for jazz, folk, blues, alternative and soul in the UK.
It will be helmed by Tom Lewis as president, who moves from his role as co-president of Decca Records.
Fontana’s artist roster will include Decca artists such as Jacob Collier, Aurora, Jeff Goldblum, Jordan Rakei, Melody Gardot, Victor Ray, The Teskey Brothers and Dodie. It will also become home to international acts on the Blue Note, Verve and Impulse labels.
With Lewis’ move to Fontana, Laura Monks becomes sole president of Decca. Monks was this month added to the Music Week Women In Music Roll Of Honour.
In its announcement, Universal said that Decca – which launched way back in 1929 – will embark on a “new era celebrating artistic excellence and innovation across unique musical worlds – from classical, instrumental, ambient and electronic, to film and TV soundtracks, gaming and original composition”.
Decca will continue to be the UK home for affiliate labels Deutsche Grammophon and Decca US.
Monks will be responsible for overseeing the artist rosters of Decca Records, Decca Classics, Mercury KX and Hyperion, including Ludovico Einaudi, Andrea Bocelli, Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Lise Davidsen, Yunchan Lim and Max Richter.
The changes for Decca’s roster and management arrive after the wider shake-up last summer at Universal Music UK, including the merging of Island and EMI.
It also follows the appointment – almost exactly a year ago to the day – of Dickon Stainer as chairman and CEO of Universal Music UK. Stainer was previously president & CEO of Universal Music Group’s Global Classics and Jazz division for a decade, including oversight of Decca.
One of his significant acquisitions in the latter period of that role was the acquisition of Hyperion – a deal he spoke about with Music Week in a wide-ranging interview about the major’s success in classical and jazz.
These changes reflect our commitment to supporting artistic excellence in these great genres of music
Dickon Stainer
Following today’s Fontana announcement, Dickon Stainer said: “These changes reflect our commitment to supporting artistic excellence in these great genres of music. I’m delighted to see Tom and Laura shaping the future of both labels, and opening new avenues of discovery for artists and fans across the world.”
Tom Lewis, president of Fontana, said: “Some of the most important jazz records ever made arrived on these shores carrying the Fontana logo. We begin this new chapter of the label with an ambitious and experienced team, a sense of adventure, and a formidably talented roster of artists.”
Laura Monks, president of Decca Records, added: “It is an honour to lead this prestigious label into a new era. Decca has navigated and evolved over an astounding 96 years but remains a source of musical excellence, cultural connection and discovery. I look forward to building on these values and reaching even wider global audiences with a growing team of passionate experts.”
We begin this new chapter of the label with an ambitious and experienced team, a sense of adventure, and a formidably talented roster of artists
Tom Lewis
Founded over 70 years ago as part of Phillips, Fontana played a pivotal role in recorded jazz history. Legendary musicians who released under the logo include Frank Sinatra, Miles Davis, Chet Baker, Dave Brubeck, Art Blakey, Clifford Brown and Eric Dolphy, as well as icons of British jazz such as Tubby Hayes, Cleo Laine and Ronnie Scott.
The label also enjoyed a number of pop, folk and jazz hits over the years including The Troggs’ Wild Thing, The Game Of Love by Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders, and Je T’Aime, Moi Non Plus by Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg. Keep On Running by the Spencer Davis Group and Manfred Mann’s Mighty Quinn were among its five UK No.1 hits.
Fontana was a hub of talent development in the 1960s, with early releases from Jimmy Page, Elton John’s first band Bluesology and The High Numbers, who would go on to become The Who. In the late ’80s and ’90s, the label enjoyed success with acts including The Fall, James, The House of Love, Tears For Fears, Swing Out Sister and Oleta Adams.
It is an honour to lead this prestigious label into a new era
Laura Monks
“As Fontana returns to the UK, a new wave of global talent joins the label – continuing its ethos of experimentation and discovery,” said a statement. “Fontana also becomes the UK home for the world’s leading jazz, folk, blues and soul artists from across Universal Music’s affiliate labels Blue Note, Verve and Impulse!.”
Decca Records continues to showcase British and international classical talent across its roster of labels. Its roster of artist-composers includes the likes of Ólafur Arnalds, while its vocal and operatic legacy includes the historic recordings of Luciano Pavarotti. “The revitalised label will focus on exceptional artistry, musical innovation and creative entrepreneurship,” added the statement.
Monks has been at Decca for 14 years, most recently as co-president with Tom Lewis (since 2021). Under her leadership, the label is set to evolve, while maintaining its position as a leader for classical, instrumental and score music.
Upcoming soundtracks set to be released on Decca include Max Richter’s Hamnet and Paddington The Musical.
“With the launch of Fontana, and a new era for Decca, both labels are set to bring a renewed focus on jazz and classical music in the UK and beyond,” concluded the statement. “These changes also underline Universal Music Group’s commitment to developing new talent in these areas and supporting its extraordinary artists around the world.”
PHOTOS: Carsten Windhorst
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