The Core Ent, UMC Joint Venture Focusses On Developing New Talent

By FYI Staff

Management firm The Core Entertainment company and Universal Music Canada have announced a joint venture to “designed to offer Canadian artists a collaborative and integrated approach to releasing music worldwide.”

The venture’s first recording artist signing is Grammy-nominated, Nashville-based Canadian singer-songwriter Steven Lee Olsen, who is set to release new music at the end of this month.

Live Nation announced a year ago that it had taken a position in Core Entertainment–a diversified entertainment and investment vehicle launched by veteran artist manager Kevin “Chief” Zaruk and entrepreneur Simon Tikhman.

Zaruk is an established artist manager and a founding partner of Nashville-based Big Loud that has a client base that includes Morgan Wallen, Chris Lane, and Dallas Smith. Zaruk began his career in the industry as a tour manager for Nickelback, has gone on to become a successful portfolio investment entrepreneur.

According to the joint announcement made Wednesday (July 21), The Core will offer management services, creative direction and A&R development to artists, and bring key acts to UMC for signing consideration.

The UMC team, led by Chair/CEO Jeffrey Remedios and Executive VP/GM Kristen Burke, will work with the Core founders Zaruk and Tikhman and the Core Canada President Tracy Martin to select the acts.

“I’ve long admired Chief, Simon and Tracy’s individual strengths, smarts, and passions,” said Remedios. “Steven Lee Olsen is a prolific songwriter with a voice that demands to be heard. With his signing, UMC couldn’t be prouder to double down on our commitment to country music with Steven at the forefront.”

Tikhman, Zaruk, and Martin said in a joint statement, “The Core strives to work with the most innovative and authentic industry leaders, and there’s no doubt Jeffrey, Kristen and the Universal Music Canada team are among the best in the business,” said. “We’re thrilled to welcome country singer-songwriter Steven Lee Olsen to the family as our first joint signing and look forward to a long and successful partnership.”

In addition to music management, The Core Entertainment co. develops joint ventures with athletes, invests in technology, and has plans to develop TV and film projects.

– Full press release here.