[UPDATED] Concord Music exec Tom ‘Grover’ Biery has jumped to BMG where he will serve as EVP Recorded Music, based in Los Angeles. He’ll lead BMG’s recorded music teams, working alongside BBR Music Group, S-Curve and Rise Records.
Biery was Concord Music Group’s SVP, Streaming Marketing, overseeing the global digital and streaming strategy for all Concord labels. His appointment comes on the heels of BMG recently scoring four simultaneous Top 10 chart hits in the US, its highest tally in a single week since entering the record business four years ago.
BMG’s newest chart entry, today, Kid Rock Sweet Southern Sugar debuts at Number One Independent Albums, Number One Rock Albums, number four Country Albums, number five Album Sales, number five Digital Albums, and number eight Billboard 200.
Recorded music currently accounts for around 25% of BMG’s US revenues and the company has declared publicly its intention to be as strong in recordings as it is in music publishing.
Biery spent 20 years at Warner Bros. Records, scaling the company from entry-level local promotion to General Manager/EVP. During his tenure, he helped usher in an early adoption of digital marketing and social media, re-launched the vinyl format, and was instrumental in Warner’s commitment to Record Store Day. Biery directly oversaw the marketing and career development of hundreds of recording artists signed to Warner Bros. Records including The Black Keys, Madonna, Linkin Park, Muse, R.E.M., Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jason Derulo and Goo Goo Dolls.
Prior to joining Concord, Grover was a founding partner of Collective Sounds, a visionary music label where artists were complete partners in all revenue streams and controlled their rights. As a manager he reinvigorated the career of reggae icon Jimmy Cliff, with a Volkswagen Super Bowl ad campaign, a main stage performance at Coachella, and a Grammy for Reggae Album of the Year.