Promotions granted to Matt Riley, Vic Needs, and Sam Potts, according to AWAL's official announcement.
AWAL's UK Team Experiences a Wave of Promotions and Success
In the latest issue of Music Week, the spotlight shines on AWAL's UK team, with a full cover story on the label. The trio of Matt Riley, Victoria Needs, and Sam Potts have been profiled, following their recent promotions and the label's impressive successes.
Matt Riley, who joined AWAL in 2014, has been promoted from Managing Director to President. Riley has climbed the ranks through various A&R roles, demonstrating his commitment and dedication to the label. Victoria Needs and Sam Potts, who joined in 2020 and 2019 respectively, have been promoted to Co-Managing Directors.
This dynamic trio has overseen landmark campaigns and successes for artists such as CMAT, James Marriott (who topped the UK albums chart), and Little Simz (who achieved her highest charting and sales week with Lotus). Other notable AWAL UK success stories include artists Laufey and Jungle.
AWAL's CEO, Lonny Olinick, commended the selfless work of the trio and their dedication to the artists and the team. He described their leadership as transformative, with AWAL's UK team entering a strong phase of growth and artist breakthrough worldwide.
Paul Hitchman, AWAL COO, praised the trio's leadership, stating that it has been energizing and instrumental in the success of artists like James Marriott and Little Simz. Victoria Needs finds AWAL's approach to empowering artists, artist development, and industry change particularly energizing.
Sam Potts, who joined AWAL in 2019, has evolved into a role that involves leading a team and developing independent artists on a global scale. He finds the entrepreneurial spirit that runs through AWAL's work exhilarating. Sam expressed excitement about AWAL's future and navigating the dynamic music ecosystem.
Victoria Needs, after working at EMI, Warner, and Sony, joined AWAL in 2020. She is currently a co-managing director at AWAL and finds the collective leadership transformative. Victoria expressed gratitude towards Lonny and Paul for their backing.
Little Simz achieved her best week one sales figure and highest chart placing to date with Lotus, a testament to the trio's successful leadership. The trio's work has not gone unnoticed, as AWAL won the Label/Artist Services trophy at the Music Week Awards last year.
AWAL has never been in better shape, with recent success stories including Laufey and Jungle. The latest promotions reflect a sustained period of success and confidence in their ability to drive future growth for AWAL’s artists and business.
- The trio's leadership in AWAL's UK team, comprising Matt Riley, Victoria Needs, and Sam Potts, has not only been instrumental in driving success for artists like Little Simz and James Marriott but also in transforming the finance and business aspects of the label, making a significant impact in the music industry.
- As AWAL continues to thrive with successes such as Little Simz's Lotus and the recent promotions of their team members, the label's dedication to artist development extends beyond entertainment and music, reaching into the realm of business leadership and finance.
