RCA Records in the US has entered into a joint venture with new label Keep Cool.
Keep Cool was founded by Tunji Balogun, Courtney Stewart, Jon Tanners and Jared Sherman, who will sign and develop new artists under the Keep Cool/RCA Records umbrella.
Normani (Fifth Harmony) is the first artist to sign to the label.
In addition to the JV, Balogun has been promoted to EVP, A&R, RCA Records. He previously held the role of SVP, A&R, RCA Records. He will continue to sign and develop artists for the label and will remain in the company’s West Coast office.
Balogun joined RCA Records in 2015 and signed and developed artists including Brockhampton, Khalid, Bryson Tiller, GoldLink, H.E.R. and Wizkid. He also was part of the team that helped forge the partnership with TDE that brought SZA into RCA.
RCA’s chairman & CEO, Peter Edge, said: “This is a natural progression for Tunji whose passion for music and dedication to his artists has led him to become a force and a leader in the music world. Tunji has an innate ability to identify an artist’s musical genius and understands the potential of their cultural impact. This is a well-deserved promotion and I am excited to see how Keep Cool will further enrich the musical culture at RCA at such an exciting time in the label’s journey.”
RCA’s head of A&R, Keith Naftaly, added: “Tunji has been ablaze since his first day at RCA. His hot streak has been nothing short of phenomenal. Factor in his impeccable taste, humble nature, and low-key finesse, and what you’ve got epitomizes the definition of a modern A&R star. I can’t wait to watch Tunji continue to shift pop culture in unexpected ways up ahead.”
Balogun said: “RCA is a company that prioritises artistry, creativity and long-term vision. I’m honoured to be able to continue that legacy with the launch of Keep Cool. My passion is discovering and working with artists that are slightly left-of-center, and finding meaningful ways to organically build culture around them. Keep Cool will be a safe-haven for artists and creatives who want to do things differently. I couldn’t be more thankful to Peter Edge and Keith Naftaly for their guidance, and to the world-class staff at RCA for their support. I also must acknowledge all of the amazing artists and their teams for constantly inspiring me to work harder and dream bigger. I can’t wait to see what else we can do in the future.”
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