ARTISTdirect names industry vet Ted Field as chairman/chief executive, and jointly forms Radar Records.
Los Angeles-based ARTISTdirect has entered into a five-year employment agreement with veteran entertainment executive Ted Field to become chairman and chief executive officer of the company. Additionally, Field and ARTISTdirect will form Radar Records, which will be a 50/50 co-venture between ARTISTdirect and Field, with ARTISTdirect providing a significant financial commitment. Also, the agreement indicates that Field and two of his designees would join the ARTISTdirect Board of Directors. As currently contemplated, Field would also serve as the CEO of the new record label.
“Operating a record label has been part of the ARTISTdirect strategy from the beginning,” commented Marc Geiger, current chairman & CEO of ARTISTdirect. Geiger will become vice chairman and president of artist services and will be responsible for building the talent agency business with co-founder Don Muller. “Attracting an executive of TedÃs stature and experience is a real coup. I look forward to a great, long-term relationship that will give us the opportunity to build an important label business and leverage our online platform in exciting new ways.” Geiger went on.
“I am excited to create this new music platform with the talented team at ARTISTdirect,” added Field. “A new record label integrated with ARTISTdirect’s online distribution and artist services represents a potent combination that will allow us to exploit the full range of opportunities in the music industry.”