Tim Delaney, former Mercury Records Australia MD, named CEO of Funnel Music

Former Australian major label chief Tim Delaney is changing gears with a return to the U.K. independent music arena.

Delaney is named CEO of Funnel Music, an incubator for new and upcoming music talent which pitches an artist-friendly approach at doing business.

Based in London, Delaney joins a board that includes director of artist management and former V2 Records managing director David Steele, Funnel Music COO Joss Yerbury and is supported by Music Glue founder Mark Meharry, and former president of Sony Music International Rick Dobbis and Joe Romulus, both of whom are based in the United States.

“I have always been drawn to companies who strive to apply new ways of thinking to the music business,” comments Delaney in a statement.

“Artists have long faced unnecessary barriers to entry through lack of access to experience and expertise,@ he continues. “By offering industry professionals the opportunity to be part of sustainable artist careers and incentivising them to participate in early stage development, Funnel Music is levelling the playing field for talent and creating real opportunities for long-term success.”

Dave Graney and the Coral Snakes, “Feelin’ Kinda Sporty”

Delaney got his big break in the record business in Australia. He served as managing director for Mercury Records Australia from 1993 until 1997, when he relocated from Sydney to London to join Polygram Continental Europe (now part of Universal) as VP of international marketing.

Prior to that, at Phonogram Records he set up the Id Records imprint, whose acts included Dave Graney and the Coral Snakes, Tiddas and Directions in Groove (D.I.G.).

“D.I.G., The Favourite”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7A2twTxzbMA

His CV includes board level roles with Island, Mercury, RCA , Arista and J Records in the U.S., U.K., and Asia and senior roles at Live Nation and a handful of startups in music and ticketing. Until recently, Delaney worked with Maverick as part of U2’s management team.

Founded by music industry veterans Ric Yerbury and Alex Pilkington, Funnel Music offers artists a “Shared Outcome Agreement” which helps reduce costs and, ultimately, addresses the need for longer-term artist development and sustainable careers.

Its business model integrates elements of rights holding music companies and artist services into a one-stop which is active in live, recording, digital marketing and most other aspects of an artist’s career.

This article originally appeared on The Industry Observer, which is now part of The Music Network.