Veteran music industry executive John Allen has been appointed President of notable independent label New West Records, New West Independent Music Publishing and its developing artists imprint, Normaltown Records. Allen joins New West from BMG Chrysalis where he was Vice President. He will open New West's first Nashville office, bolstering its offices in Los Angeles and Athens, Ga.
"I have known John Allen for as long as I have been in this business and there is no one I respect more than him," said owner of New West Records, George Fontaine, Sr. "New West is extremely fortunate to bring John on board to lead the label in our future endeavors."
"I've worked with George Fontaine and New West Records for years and I have always been impressed with their unbridled passion for quality music and the integrity in which they run their business," said Allen.
"I'm thrilled to be part of the New West family."
Allen has more than two decades of industry experience and brings an extensive knowledge of music publishing, rights management, licensing, songwriting and A&R expertise. As Vice President of BMG Chrysalis he led the Nashville office and worked with artists across many genres, helping to make the company the fourth-largest music publisher in the world.
Allen began his career in publishing at Bug Music Publishing as Creative Director in 1995 after being drawn to the company because of its talented, diverse roster and its reputation as an artist friendly place. He rose to the ranks of Vice President and when Bug merged with BMG Chrysalis in 2012 became a leader in the expanded company. Allen got his start in the music industry in the A&R department at Capitol Records Nashville during the country music boom of the '90s. He is a graduate of the prestigious Vanderbilt University, where he studied classical guitar on a full scholarship.
Allen has had a longstanding relationship with New West for more than a decade as publisher to many of the label's artists including Buddy Miller, Rodney Crowell, The Devil Makes Three, The Whigs and Nikki Lane.
A member on the Board of Directors of the Americana Music Association for the last 10 years, Allen has also served on the Board of Directors of Leadership Music and is a founding board member of the Nashville Chapter of the Association Of Independent Music Publishers.
