Max Hole

Max Hole began his career in the music industry in 1972 as founder with Geoff Jukes of Gemini Artists, an agency and management business, representing such musicians as Martin Carthy, Camel, Mungo Jerry and Arthur Brown.{{cite web |url=http://www.debretts.co.uk/people/biographies/browse/h/17222/Max+HOLE.aspx |title=Max Hole, Esq's Biography |website=Debrett's |accessdate=24 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718183632/http://www.debretts.co.uk/people/biographies/browse/h/17222/Max+HOLE.aspx |archive-date=18 July 2011}} In 1982, he was a manager in the artists and repertoire department at WEA. In 1990, he moved up to managing director for East West Records where he was closely involved with the career of Simply Red, among others. After sixteen years with Warners, in 1998, he took the position of senior vice-president for marketing and A&R for Universal Music's international division. He became executive vice-president in 2004, overseeing the promotion and marketing of artists including Bon Jovi, Amy Winehouse, Snow Patrol, Justin Bieber, Andrea Bocelli, Juanes, U2, Eminem, Gwen Stefani, Shania Twain, and Bryan Adams and also assuming responsibility for Universal's Asia/Pacific business.{{cite web |url=http://www.allbusiness.com/retail-trade/miscellaneous-retail-retail-stores-not/4371212-1.html |website=Allbusiness.com |title=Max Hole Promoted at UMI |last=Legrand |first=Emmanuel |date=1 October 2004 |accessdate=25 May 2011}}{{dead link|date=August 2019}}{{Cite news |url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/movers_and_shakers/article7061719.ece |title=Business big shot: Max Hole, Universal Music |last=Foster |first=Patrick |date=15 March 2010 |newspaper=The Times |accessdate=24 May 2011 |location=London}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} In 2010, he was appointed COO of UMG International following the appointment of the division's chairman, Lucian Grainge, to CEO of Universal Music Group. In January 2013, he was promoted to chairman & CEO of UMGI.

Hole also currently oversees Universal's worldwide classical business and therefore has been a major force behind the company's drive to "assert its classical music leadership as never before". He has been instrumental in a number of high-profile signings, in particular the conductor and pianist Daniel Barenboim, who signed to DG and Decca Classics in late 2010{{cite web |url=http://www.gramophone.co.uk/classical-music-news/barenboim-joins-dg-and-decca-classics |title=Barenboim joins DG and Decca Classics |first=Charlotte |last=Smith |date=2 November 2010 |website=Gramophone |accessdate=30 June 2014}} As C.O.O. Hole instigated the relocation of Deutsche Grammophon to Berlin, and the relaunch of Decca Classics in London.

As part of the reinvigoration of these two labels, and reflecting his passion for popularising classical music, particularly among younger recorded music buyers, he oversaw the signing and development of a number of new artists, including classical guitarist Milos Karadaglic to DG.{{cite web |url=http://www.universalmusic.com/corporate/artist-signings-executive-appointments-herald-new-era-for-deutsche-grammophon-and-decca-cl |title=Artist Signings, Executive Appointments Herald New Era for Deutsche Grammophon and Decca Classics |date=19 October 2010 |website=Universal Music |accessdate=30 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101204080123/http://www.universalmusic.com/corporate/artist-signings-executive-appointments-herald-new-era-for-deutsche-grammophon-and-decca-cl |archivedate=4 December 2010 }}

Hole worked in collaboration with Bristol Old Vic artistic director Tom Morris on the Bristol Proms, a programme of live classical performances and collaborations featuring Nicola Benedetti, Clare Reddington and others.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2013/aug/01/bristol-old-vic-proms-john-lewis |title=Bristol Proms: Sounding a new note for classical music? |last=Lewis |first=John |newspaper=The Guardian |date=1 August 2013 |accessdate=30 June 2014}}

As C.O.O., Hole pioneered digital distribution in classical markets with the launch of Sinfini Music, an information resource and e-commerce portal for classical music.{{cite web |url=http://sinfinimusic.com/uk/ |title=Cutting Through Classical |website=Sinfini Music |date= |accessdate=30 June 2014}}

Hole spent much of the last decade as head of UMG's Asia Pacific region, and is one of the industry's most experienced executives in this part of the world. He steered Universal Music Japan's transition into a domestic-music powerhouse, and has facilitated significant deals with independent Asian music companies to promote homegrown talent, including Taiwan's Rock Records in 2008{{cite web |url=http://www.universalmusic.com/corporate/news35616 |title=News |website=Universal Music Group}}{{dead link|date=June 2014}} and South Korea's Play Cube Entertainment in 2010. He led Universal's renewed investment in the latter country after seven years away – a decision validated by the South Korean recorded music sector's return to growth, as reflected in the 2010 IFPI digital music report.{{cite web |url=http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?storyCode=1043991§ioncode=1 |title=2011 IFPI Digital Report in depth |work=Music Week |date=24 January 2011 |accessdate=30 June 2014}}{{Cite web |url=http://mccluremusic.com/article/Universal_inks_deal_with_South_Korea_s_Play_Cube |title=Universal inks deal with South Korea's Play Cube |website=McClure Music}}{{dead link|date=June 2014}}

Moreover, Hole was a founding father of the license deal between One Stop China, a joint venture with Warner and Sony, and China's No. 1 search engine Baidu, for its new music download service in July. The agreement has seen the One Stop China partners license Baidu to offer more than 500,000 songs for download to Chinese music fans. The search engine had previously been a major source of internet piracy.{{cite news |url=http://theasiacareertimes.com/2011/07/baidu-makes-a-giant-move-into-the-distribution-of-digital-music/ |title=Baidu makes a giant move into the distribution of digital music |author= |date=20 July 2011 |newspaper=The Asia Career Times |access-date=21 August 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331115120/http://theasiacareertimes.com/2011/07/baidu-makes-a-giant-move-into-the-distribution-of-digital-music/ |archive-date=31 March 2012}}

Hole was placed No. 16 on The Guardian and Observer{{'}}s 'Music Power 100' in 2011.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/may/26/max-hole-label-exec-universal |title=Max Hole – The Music Power 100 – No 16 |date=26 May 2011 |work=The Guardian |location=London |access-date=21 August 2019}}

Hole was instrumental in securing UMGI's deal with John de Mol's Talpa Media for The Voice Of…, a reality TV property similar to X Factor. Talpa has agreed to give UMG exclusive rights to record and promote artists emerging from it. The format attracted 3.2m viewers during its run in the Netherlands.{{cite web |url=http://www.universalmusic.com/corporate/universal-music-group-signs-global-recording-artist-services-agreement-for-new-tv-music-se |title=Universal Music Group Signs Global Recording, Artist Services Agreement For New Tv Music Sensation, 'the Voice Of… |date=19 January 2011 |website=Universal Music |accessdate=30 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111113160253/http://www.universalmusic.com/corporate/universal-music-group-signs-global-recording-artist-services-agreement-for-new-tv-music-se |archivedate=13 November 2011}}

He was appointed CBE in the 2015 Birthday Honours.

Hole and English actress and impressionist, Jan Ravens, have been married since 1999 and have a son.{{Cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/celebrity/article/fame-fortune-jan-ravens-xzg9br6gntp |title=Fame & Fortune: Jan Ravens |newspaper=The Times |location=London |last=Hussain |first=Ali |date=7 December 2008 |access-date=26 May 2011}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/jan-ravens-making-a-lasting-impression-dzsnxftr6wk |title=Jan Ravens: making a lasting impression |newspaper=The Times |location=London |last=Rees |first=Jasper |date=11 May 2009 |access-date=26 May 2011}}

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• {{cite web |url=http://www.ifpi.org/content/section_news/20070607.html |title=The future for record companies |last=Hole |first=Max |date=June 2007 |website=IFPI |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070616031630/http://www.ifpi.org/content/section_news/20070607.html |archive-date=16 June 2007}}

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Category:1951 births

Category:Living people

Category:British music industry executives

Category:British record producers

Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire

Category:People from Melbourne

Category:Alumni of the University of Kent