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  • Sony Music Entertainment UK Relaunches Epic Records
  • Apr 27, 2023

Sarah Lockhart Named President

London, 27th April 2023 – Sony Music Entertainment UK has today announced the relaunch of legendary record label Epic Records UK and the appointment of Sarah Lockhart, who has been named President of the label effective from 1st May 2023. Lockhart will report to Jason Iley, Chairman and CEO, Sony Music UK & Ireland. 

Epic Records UK will relaunch as a frontline label, operating alongside other iconic Sony Music labels including RCA, Columbia, and Ministry of Sound, with the ambition to champion global music and British culture. The announcement coincides with the anniversary of Epic Records, who will celebrate 70 years of recorded music in 2023. 

Lockhart joins Epic from Sony Music Publishing, where she served as Head of A&R for three years and signed artists including BRIT Award-winning Aitch, PinkPantheress and D Block Europe.

Lockhart has been at the forefront of youth culture and London’s grassroots music communities for the past two decades. She co-founded East London community radio station Rinse FM, championing emerging artists in the early stages of their careers, and launching artists including Magnetic Man and Katy B. Lockhart successfully campaigned for its radio licence, building it from a pirate station into the recognised brand it is today. She also oversaw its community outreach, empowering and educating diverse and disadvantaged communities with skills and opportunities.

Lockhart spent four years at EMI Music Publishing in the early noughties where she had discovered seminal UK artist Ms Dynamite, Skepta and Benga & Skream. 

Spearheading various brands that have a track record of supporting alternative audiences, Lockhart has consistently stayed at the forefront of music trends. In her early career, her label Tempa Recordings coined the genre name ‘Dubstep’ and her East London dubstep and grime club night FWD>> created a space for new underground music to thrive, inspiring countless artists and creatives of today. Lockhart was also instrumental in the development of UK garage through her work in distribution, where she was one of the key influencers on the evolution of the scene. 

Jason Iley, MBE, Chairman and CEO, Sony Music UK & Ireland says: “I’m confident that Sarah is the right person to relaunch Epic UK and enrich its legacy while protecting its artist-first ethos. Throughout her career Sarah has challenged the norm, pre-empted trends, and supported artists from the very beginning of their careers.”

Sarah Lockhart, President, Epic Records UK says: “The pioneering global artists signed to Epic have inspired me and countless fans for decades. The relaunch of the label in the UK provides a once-in-a-lifetime chance to celebrate Epic’s legacy and build a culture that encourages us to think differently, honouring and supporting artists to create connection through the power of music.”

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