Nine months after leaving Spotify, longtime music executive Jeremy Erlich has announced his next move, launching independent music company Alta Music Group on Thursday.
Alta, based in Los Angeles, will operate as a full-service company with recorded music, music publishing and management arms. Blackpink’s Jennie, who released her debut solo album Ruby through Columbia Records back in March, is Alta’s first management client.
Alta is partnering with Sony’s music distribution arm The Orchard for distribution, and the company has also established a partnership with TheBlackLabel, the company founded by producer Teddy Park.
“Throughout my career I’ve focused on the best way to service artists around the world that would create an environment that sets them up for long-term, global success,” Erlich said in a statement of his new company. “With ALTA we have the opportunity to do just that — a best in class team focused solely on supporting our artists and the music they create. Everything else does not matter. I’m grateful to the artists and executives who have already put their trust in me and our company.”
Before launching Alta, Erlich served as Spotify’s global head of music, one of the top music executives at the world’s biggest streaming service. He joined the company in 2019 as VP and head of music strategy before being appointed global head of music in 2021. Before Spotify, Erlich was an executive at Universal Music Group and its Interscope Geffen A&M subsidiary.
“Jeremy’s decision to launch ALTA Music Group is a testament to his entrepreneurial spirit, deep understanding of the global music landscape, and commitment to artist development,” Brad Navin, CEO of The Orchard, said in a statement. “His artist-first philosophy aligns with The Orchard’s mission to empower creators. We are proud to partner with ALTA, leveraging our global distribution network and comprehensive suite of services to help their roster reach worldwide audiences and open new avenues for success.”
Erlich is starting Alta with a team of seasoned executives (several of whom come from the Interscope system) that includes Nima Khalilian, Parker Ulry, Drake Hofer, Elise Eriksen, Gillian Taugher and Michael Seltzer. Khalilan, whose linkedin account lists him as the GM at Alta, is the former head of international marketing and strategy at Stem, and before that spent six years at Interscope.
Ulry most spent six years as a digital product management executive at Interscope, while Seltzer comes to Alta after spending much of his career at UMG, where he most recently was EVP of business and legal affairs and head of commercial transactions.
“ALTA is about putting artists first and helping them navigate an ever-evolving industry with a clear strategy,” Khalilian said in a statement. “I’m honored to work alongside Jeremy to build a company that prioritizes our artist’s creativity and global impact. We want to be the best possible partners for artists in order for them to build a lasting legacy.”
