MUSIC Group has expanded the marketing department for its recently-formed Professional Products Division with the addition of industry veterans Paul O’Farrell-Stevens and Graeme Taylor.
Joining Yamaha’s Pro-Music Division in the late 1980s as marketing manager, Taylor excelled at the development and promotion of the company’s professional-grade audio equipment and instruments in the UK. He later joined Bang & Olufsen as a key member of the team that turned the business around and grew both sales and operating profits.
In 2007 Taylor was appointed CMO of Meridian Audio, a UK manufacturer of DSP-based high-end audio and video products. While there he redefined the brand, improved distribution and introduced new product development and marketing processes to ensure a customer-centric organization. Together with a highly specialised R&D team, he successfully launched innovative products and worked with McLaren Automotive and Jaguar Land Rover, which now offer Meridian systems as options in its vehicles.
I am thrilled to join MUSIC Group and support the new Professional Division,” states Taylor. “Since I began my pro audio career in the ‘80s, I’ve had great respect for the Midas, Klark Teknik and Turbosound brands. Now, with the resources and commitment of MUSIC Group, I’m confident that the experience I gained building prestigious brands such as Bang & Olufsen and Meridian Audio can be applied to these great pro audio brands, creating the next chapter in their long and illustrious histories.”
O’Farrell-Stevens’ career in the music business stretches from audio engineer at London’s CBS Recording Studios to marketing communications, public relations and management for several pro audio brands, including Beats, Monster Cable, IXOS and QED. Along the way he had the pleasure of working with a veritable “Who’s Who” of international artists, such as Michael Jackson, George Michael, Bjork, The Cure, Oasis and Paul Weller, as well as legendary Beatles producer Sir George Martin.
O’Farrell-Stevens also served as head engineer at Comforts Place and free-lanced at the world-famous Abbey Road, Real World, Hit Factory and Air Recording Studios. Immediately prior to joining the MUSIC Group, he was marketing manager for Solid State Logic (SSL) and provided marketing, media and artist relations management for the company’s Music division — and played a key role in the developement of their new live mixing console.
“I’m extremely proud to join the MUSIC Group and eager to combine my years of recording experience with my marketing skills,“ says O’Farrell-Stevens. “The years I spent as a sound engineer give me the unique perspective when it comes to the needs of MUSIC Group customers. I look forward to combining those skills to further bolster MUSIC Group’s market-leading position.”
“With the addition of Graeme and Paul, we have achieved a major milestone in the rebirth of our professional brands,” states MUSIC Group Marketing SVP Costa Lakoumentas. “These two visionaries will prove essential as we continue to grow our world-renowned Midas and Klark Teknik brands — and especially so as we introduce Turbosound to the global marketplace.”
