U.K. Industry Titans Behind U2 & Ed Sheeran Form Breaking Wave Group

Former executives at Warner Music Group and Island Records and worked with major acts including U2 and Ed Sheeran have come together to launch a new venture Breaking Wave (BWG).

The music company, formed by Jeremy Marsh, Marc Marot, James Radice, Nick Stewart and Beth Claridge, will operate as a “real alternative to the major label model that increasingly frustrates and forgets the needs of artists,” they say in a press release. “In a world where major labels have impossibly large rosters, BWG is the opposite of that. The launch represents a return to hard won expertise and experience from a golden age of British record success, offering artists the time and attention they deserve.”

BWG will operate across four key pillars for their artists, acting as a record label, music publisher, artist manager and on special projects. Its first signees are 10cc, British singer-songwriter Rumer and electronic duo Lemon Jelly.

BWG has already secured distribution deals with PIAS & and Virgin Music Group to help support their artists’ releases.

Marsh will assume the role of chief operating officer for BWG. He previously served as managing director and president at Virgin, RCA, BMG and Warner Music Group. He played a key role in the careers of Dua Lipa, Ed Sheeran, Take That, Soul II Soul and more. Marsh’s most recent role was at Warner as vice chairman, executive vp of international and its global chief marketing officer.

Former Island Records managing director Marot is named BWG’s chief creative officer. Marot oversaw the career of U2 for 18 years including the release of their 1990 LP Achtung Baby and 2000’s All That You Can’t Leave Behind. During his tenure at Island, the label signed Tricky, Pulp, PJ Harvey and Nine Inch Nails. Following his departure, he set up a management company that worked with clients including Paul Oakenfold, Richard Ashcroft and Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens).

Radice joins as chief legal officer, following his previous role of senior vp legal and business affairs at WMG. He has negotiated contracts with recording acts such as Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones and Coldplay.

Stewart, who signed U2 to Island Records in 1980, is named chairman of BWG. He also has worked with Sir Elton John, Blondie, Eagles and more during his career at Island, Polygram, Sony, BMG and Warner Music.

The leadership team is completed by Claridge who assumes the role of general manager. Over the past two decades, she has worked on campaigns for Stevie Wonder, Eagles, 40 Cent and more.

 “We have the experience and we can offer the time, Marsh says in a statement. “Nobody talks about giving an artist that. They tend to talk about the budget they have, they don’t mention how much time they will dedicate to the artist. The emphasis is on artists with existing global reach. That is great if you are one of those, but that is not a system that would have signed a busker from Suffolk like Ed Sheeran.

“By integrating our record label, publishing arm, management division and our special projects — which includes major investments in transmedia and film — we’ve created a self-sustaining business. We marry many years of deep-rooted industry experience with an agile commercial structure.”