Proper to expand in-house offering
- Launches new press & promo department
- Hires former Columbia head of press to lead
11th June 2018, London: Proper Music Group, the UK’s largest independent distributor, is to open a dedicated full-service press and promotions department. Based in the company’s Surrey Quays office, the division will be headed up by new hire Jo Donnelly, who brings a wealth of experience to the role.Covering UK media, from print (national and regional) and online publications to radio and television, the department will be available to add muscle to campaigns across all genres, for both Proper’s distributed labels as well as Proper Records’ roster. Donnelly’s first projects include folk singer-songwriter Richard Thompson, R&B and soul star Macy Gray, and producer and multi-instrumentalist Ethan Johns.The department will also absorb Proper’s existing classical and jazz PR division and become the point of contact for external freelancers working on selected Proper Records releases.Donnelly began her career at Columbia Records / Sony Music where she was head of press for over a decade, working with some of the most renowned artists in the world including Bruce Springsteen, Mariah Carey, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson and Leonard Cohen. Moving on to the UK-based independent Grapevine Records, Jo ran global marketing campaigns for the likes of Emmylou Harris, Mary Black and Joan Baez, before taking a position as artist manager with JD Management. In 2012, she established her eponymous PR and artist management company, which included artists such as Ryan Bingham, Seth Lakeman, AWOLNATION, and Langhorne Slim.Alongside her new role at Proper, Jo will continue to manage fast rising US band, KOLARS, who will be performing at The Islington, London on 18th July, after supporting LP at Somerset House last night.Following Proper’s move to an expanded warehouse facility in November 2017, the creation of the department demonstrates further growth for Proper and a commitment to offer clients the best possible service in all areas relating to their business.Commenting on Jo’s arrival to the team, Proper MD Drew Hill said “We’re really excited to be able to further expand our offering to our partners and am pleased to welcome Jo on board. Her wealth of experience will be invaluable for promoting the profile of both our in-house labels and our distributed labels alike.”On joining the company, Jo Donnelly added, “I am delighted to join Drew and his team at Proper and look forward to helping shape and develop this exciting new department while Proper itself continues to grow and develop.”About Proper Music GroupProper Music Group is a full services company providing everything from global physical and digital distribution to artist and label services, publishing, online retail and its own record label. Clients are able to tap into as much or as little of Proper’s offering as fits their needs.Its distribution arm, Proper Music Distribution – the largest totally independent physical distributor in the UK – is renowned for having the knowledge, experience and personal service of an independent specialist coupled with the reach and power of a major. The company represents over five percent of the UK physical recorded music market, handling over 1,000,000 titles at any time.Proper Music Group received The Company Award: Diversity In The Workplace at the Women In Music Awards 2017, and was also awarded best Sales Team at 2017’s Music Week Awards.www.propermusicgroup.com