MOTOWN RECORDS APPOINTS ALISON FINLEY AS EVP, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Los Angeles, CA, March 25th – Motown Records announced today the appointment of veteran music executive Alison Finley as Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, effective immediately. In this newly created role, Finley will oversee the day-to-day operations of the label and shared services with various teams across Motown’s parent company, Universal Music Group (UMG).
Photo credit: Rose Pierce
Finley will remain based in Los Angeles and report to Ethiopia Habtemariam, Chairman and CEO of Motown Records.
In making the announcement, Habtemariam said, “Alison has been a strong advocate for artists throughout her career. I’ve worked with her for years and have always admired her forward-thinking and innovative approach to designing deals that set up artists and labels for success. I’m excited to welcome her as a key member of our leadership team and I look forward to working with her to continue to redefine Motown and find new ways to support our artists, partners and ever-growing catalogue on a global level.”
Finley said, “I want to thank Sir Lucian and Ethiopia for this tremendous opportunity. I am deeply honored to join the Motown leadership team in overseeing one of the most iconic record labels in the world. Motown represents much of the world’s greatest music and continues to give an authentic and dynamic platform for our artists, partners and creatives to be heard across the globe. I’ve been very fortunate to work with and to be mentored by some of the greatest executives in the music business and I am especially thankful to Jeff Harleston and Michael Seltzer for their constant support of my career.”
Prior to Motown, Finley served as Senior Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs at UMG, where she oversaw strategy and negotiations for the company, including for label ventures, recording agreement, label distribution, merchandise, vendors and brand partners, among other areas.
An artist advocate, Finley spent much of her career representing artists and began her legal career in private practice in 1998. She joined Davis Shapiro Lewit & Grabel LLP in 2000, rising to senior equity partner at the firm. Finley has represented some of the world’s most prominent recording artists, music producers, songwriters and Fortune 500 companies, including Kanye West, Raekwon, Twista, No ID, 88 Keys and Red Bull Media House. She has also served in several in-house counsel roles, including as legal counsel for Loud Records and as General Counsel of Ultra Records/Ultra Music Publishing. Finley serves on the Board of Trustees of the TJ Martell Foundation.
About Motown Records:
Motown Records continues to be home to the most culturally impactful artists and partners in the world including Asiahn, City Girls, Erykah Badu, Kem, Lil Baby, Lil Yachty, Migos, Ne-Yo, The Hxliday, Tiana Major9 and Vince Staples along with Quality Control Music, Blacksmith Records and Since the 80’s. Founded in 1959 by Mr. Berry Gordy, Motown Records created a worldwide platform, crafting relationships and a path for creative Black entrepreneurship. For more than sixty years, Motown Records has been the ideal for Black entrepreneurs around the world – a beacon of transformative, inter-generational success led by forward-thinking leaders who introduced the world to artists including Another Bad Creation, Ashanti, Boyz II Men, Brian McKnight, DeBarge, India Arie, Queen Latifah, Michael McDonald, Marvin Gaye, The Commodores, The Jackson Five, The Supremes, The Temptations and Zhané.
