Denis Handlin secures LA-based A&R executive for key role at Sony Music Australia

The chairman and chief executive officer of Sony Music Entertainment Australia Denis Handlin has secured the services of Markell Casey for a key role at the Australian business.

Casey will join Sony Music Australia in the role of senior director of A&R, commencing with the company on 8 June.

Based in the Sydney office and reporting to Pat Handlin (VP, A&R, ANZ), Casey will be responsible for signing and developing his own artists as well as helping advance the existing roster of Australian Sony Music artists.

Sony Music noted Casey is an experienced A&R executive who has worked in both the United Kingdom and the United States. For the last five years, he held the role of senior creative director at Pulse Music Group in Los Angeles. Prior to working in the United States, he held A&R roles with Virgin Records and Warner Music Group in the United Kingdom for close to five years.

During his time at Pulse Music Group, Casey signed to the company, YEBBA, James Blake, Whethan, Jai Wolf, Lido and Kah-Lo.

At Virgin Records in the UK, he signed MNEK, CHVRCHES, Kali Uchis and Circa Waves.

While working with these artists, their accolades included YEBBA winning the Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B performance in 2019, MNEK selling over 4 million combined US and UK singles of Never Forget You with Zara Larsson, and CHVRCHES achieving two UK Gold-certified albums for The Bones Of What You Believe and Every Open Eye.

Markell Casey commented: “I am excited to join the Sony Music Australia team as this is an exciting new chapter in my life both professionally and personally, and I am looking forward to working with the team. I have always followed Australian artists and music closely, and it is now an honour to work with some of the best artists in the industry with the goal of growing their careers at home and overseas.”

Denis Handlin added: “Markell comes to Australia with a wealth of experience and international relationships, and we look forward to the contribution that Markell will make to our local artists.”