Wealthy Castillo, the broadly revered A&R Director at Atlantic Data UK, is exiting his function on the frontline Warner Music Group label.
MBW has confirmed that Castillo can be taking up a brand new senior A&R function in London at EMI Data, Common Music UK’s largest label by market share.
Information of Castillo’s transfer to EMI follows a current shake-up on the label: Common Music UK introduced in March that its EMI and Capitol labels have been uniting underneath the joint management of Rebecca Allen and Jo Charrington.
MBW understands that Castillo can be beginning his new place at EMI initially of 2023.
Wealthy Castillo joined Atlantic Data UK as A&R Director in Could 2020, reporting into label Co-Presidents, Briony Turner and Ed Howard.
At Atlantic, he signed the likes of UK rapper Tion Wayne, who at present has over 11.5 million month-to-month listeners on Spotify, following hit singles reminiscent of Physique (with Russ Thousands and thousands) and IFTK. The latter observe peaked at No.6 on the Official UK Singles Chart and is at present at No.8.
Castillo joined Atlantic from Sony/ATV Music Publishing, the place he held the place of Senior Director of A&R.
Throughout his time there, he signed the likes of Neave Applebaum, Pa Salieu, TMS, and Wayne Hector.
In an interview with Castillo printed by MBW earlier this yr (carried out by Adrian Sykes) the A&R govt shared tales about his experiences, ambitions, passions and gripes throughout the UK music trade.
Commenting on what he seems to be for when he indicators an act, Castillo mentioned: “Clearly expertise is vital. However I’m on the lookout for ambition. I’m on the lookout for some extent of distinction, and I’m additionally looking for the place the ache is gonna come from. What would be the drawback? It’s about work ethic and ambition.
He added: “The expertise needs to be there, however expertise with out the work ethic is simply pointless; we’ve all been there. I’ve been tremendous excited, after which the artist simply wouldn’t wish to see it by means of, as a result of they haven’t acquired the work ethic.”
“The expertise needs to be there, however expertise with out the work ethic is simply pointless.”
Wealthy Castillo, talking to MBW earlier this yr
Castillo began his profession on the administration firm Shalit World, the place he helped launch and develop the multi-platinum, award-winning group N-Dubz.
In 2012, he joined UMTV and All Across the World in an A&R function, signing N-Dubz stars Dappy and Tulisa to solo offers – yielding No.1 information with Dappy’s No Regrets and Tulisa’s Younger.
He additionally signed HRVY and Younger Adz, when the latter was simply 14 years previous, and loved a high 10 single with Charlie Brown’s On My Manner.
Castillo then moved to Common Music Canada in 2014, the place he served as an A&R Director for 2 years, touchdown a Juno Award for Greatest Dance Music with Bit Funk’s Off the Floor.
In 2016, he returned to the UK to hitch Polydor Data and tackle the function of Senior A&R Supervisor. Whereas there, he signed Stefflon Don and had plenty of hits, together with the worldwide smash Hurtin’ Me.
He additionally signed Huge Heath, Blanco, and Mic Lowry, and A&R’d the newest album from Wretch 32.Music Enterprise Worldwide
