Promotions for Matt Riley, Vic Needs, and Sam Potts have been confirmed by AWAL.
AWAL's UK Team Undergoes Key Leadership Promotions
AWAL, the independent music company, has announced a series of significant leadership promotions within its UK team. Matt Riley, previously the Managing Director, has been promoted to President, while Victoria Needs and Sam Potts have been elevated from Senior Vice Presidents to co-Managing Directors.
Matt Riley, who joined AWAL in 2014, has been instrumental in building a strong UK artist roster that includes Jungle, Little Simz, CMAT, James Marriott, and others. His role in AWAL has evolved from various A&R roles to leading the UK AWAL Recordings business.
Victoria Needs, who previously worked at EMI, Warner, and Sony before joining AWAL in 2020, brings a wealth of experience to her new role. She believes that AWAL stands for doing things differently, empowering artists, and being committed to artist development.
Sam Potts joined AWAL in 2019 and his role in promotions has evolved into leading a team covering creator relationships and global commercial and digital partnerships. He finds it exhilarating to be part of AWAL's growth and developing independent artists on the global stage.
The promotions and leadership changes recognize the "sustained period of success" and the "transformative" impact that Riley, Needs, and Potts have had on AWAL’s UK business. Under their leadership, AWAL has achieved significant artist successes.
James Marriott reached the top of the Official Albums Chart with his album "Don’t Tell the Dog," his first release with AWAL. Little Simz’s album "Lotus" marked her best week one sales and peaked at number 3 on the charts, showcasing career-high performance since signing with AWAL in 2015. CMAT had a breakthrough year with a major Glastonbury main stage performance to approximately 80,000 people, multiple five-star reviews including from Rolling Stone UK, and an upcoming album release "EURO-COUNTRY," featuring a hit single with over 18 million streams. The Icelandic-Chinese Grammy-winning artist Laufey also had three songs simultaneously in the UK Top 40 singles chart last Christmas 2024. Jungle is noted as another successful act under the team's oversight.
Lonny Olinick, AWAL CEO, acknowledged the selfless work of Matt, Vic, and Sam for the success of AWAL's artists. COO Paul Hitchman praised the team for their skills and experience, which are expected to drive continued growth and success for AWAL and its artists. AWAL won the Label/Artist Services trophy at the Music Week Awards last year, and with these new leadership promotions, the company is poised for even greater success in the future.
In the realm of business and finance, Matt Riley's elevation to President of AWAL signifies a significant stride in his career, demonstrating the company's commitment to fostering talent and growth within the music industry. Simultaneously, Victoria Needs and Sam Potts, with their immense experience and passion for the industry, will lead AWAL's UK team as co-Managing Directors, channeling their energy towards the development of entertainment ventures, including music.
