Lucie Caswell and Kurt Burnette. Credit: Vinyl Group
Vinyl Group has appointed Lucie Caswell chief business strategy officer and Kurt Burnette interim chief commercial officer as it expands its media, music, technology, commerce and creator platforms.
Caswell will lead global publisher and partner relationships, business development and merger and acquisition opportunities.
She joins from senior roles across music rights, digital entertainment, licensing and content partnerships, including at ERA, Songtradr, Bandcamp, 7digital, the Music Publishers Association and the Featured Artists Coalition.
Burnette will lead Vinyl Group’s commercial strategy across advertising, branded content, partnerships and platform revenue.
He joins after more than 30 years in media, sales, digital, sport and major events, including as chief revenue officer at Seven West Media where he led a national sales team of more than 450 people.
The appointments follow Vinyl Group’s expansion of its media partnerships and digital publishing portfolio, including a franchise agreement with Time Out Australia and the acquisition of audiences and brands through the Val Morgan Digital transaction, including LADbible Group, BuzzFeed, Fandom and Vox Media.
Vinyl Group CEO Josh Simons said the appointments would support the integration of the company’s expanded portfolio.
“Vinyl has scaled its reach quickly, and the next phase is about turning that expanded platform into a more integrated, efficient and commercially powerful business.
“Lucie brings exactly the kind of global rights, licensing, policy and partnership experience Vinyl needs as our network of international publishing and commercial partners grows,” Simons said.
“Kurt brings deep senior commercial leadership across media, digital, major events and agency relationships. He has operated at a level very few commercial leaders in this market have and his experience is directly relevant to the opportunity in front of Vinyl Media.”
Caswell said she would focus on building strategic value with Vinyl Group’s partners.
“Vinyl Group has built a genuinely exciting portfolio across media, music, technology, commerce and creator platforms. I’m delighted to be joining the team at such an important stage of growth and look forward to working with Vinyl’s global partners to build long-term strategic value.” she said.
Burnette said the company’s portfolio provided an opportunity to create a more connected commercial offering.
“Vinyl Group has assembled a unique, strategically aligned, portfolio of media brands, platforms and audiences at a time when advertisers are looking for more connected, culturally relevant and effective ways to reach consumers and hard to reach audiences,” he said.
“The opportunity now is to bring that portfolio to market with a clear commercial strategy, strong agency and client engagement, and disciplined execution that delivers results for customers and partners.”
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