MERCURY RECORDS APPOINTS STEVE YEGELWEL SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF A&R

Mercury Records, a division of Island Def Jam Music Group, strengthens it’s A&R initiative with the appointment of Steve Yegelwel as Senior Vice President of A&R, it was announced today by David Massey, President, Mercury Records.

Mr. Yegelwel will oversee current and new artist projects, while actively seeking out, discovering and signing new talent to Mercury. Mr. Yegelwel, who is based in New York, will report directly to Mr. Massey.

“Steve is one of New York City’s A&R secret weapons,” said Mr. Massey, “with an amazing track record of developing smart new artist signings and chart hits for more than ten years, from Fountains Of Wayne to We The Kings. Steve is that rare invaluable A&R individual whose tastes consistently define the state-of-the-art of rock & pop today.”

“I am very excited for this opportunity to work with David Massey and his team,” said Mr. Yegelwel. “I greatly admire David, and have tremendous respect for how he has skillfully guided Mercury Records and developed the label. I look forward to working with Mercury’s incredible artists, as well as helping to further grow its roster. I also very much look forward to working alongside Steve Bartels and his incredible staff.”

Mr. Yegelwel comes to Mercury after five years as President, S-Curve Records, since 2007. He first joined S-Curve at its inception in 2000, serving as Executive Vice President, Artists & Repertoire, until the company went on hiatus in 2005. During that initial period, and upon his return (from 2007 to 2012), he was involved in the A&R process for all of the label’s artists, and was directly responsible for signing Fountains of Wayne, We The Kings, and Andy Grammer. Fountains of Wayne’s RIAA gold album Welcome Interstate Managers (2003) was nominated for two Grammy Awards®, and spawned the RIAA platinum hit single “Stacy’s Mom.”

At the re-launched S-Curve, Mr. Yegelwel continued to stay closely involved in his artists’ careers. He was behind the signing of Florida band We The Kings, whose five Top 40 Pop singles include “Say You Like Me,” which won Most Innovative Music Video at last June’s traveling O Music Awards. And Mr. Yegelwel also worked with Andy Grammer, whose debut album contained two RIAA gold hits, “Keep Your Head Up” and “Fine By Me.”

During S-Curve’s two year hiatus (2005-2007), Mr. Yegelwel went to Columbia Records, as Senior Vice President, Artists & Repertoire. There he signed critically acclaimed UK act The Go! Team; and also signed Boys Like Girls, whose RIAA gold debut album included hit singles “The Great Escape” (RIAA platinum) and “Hero/Heroine” (RIAA gold).

Prior to S-Curve, Mr. Yegelwel’s early career in music began at Island Records, followed by Atlantic Records, where he was involved in the label’s initiatives in the alternative music market in the 1990s. He left Atlantic in 1999, when he became General Manager at Scratchie Records, which post he held until joining S-Curve.

Mr. Yegelwel graduated from The American University in Washington, D.C., where he earned the Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications.