Paris-headquartered music company Believe has officially launched its Label & Artist Solutions business in the United States.
Music industry veteran Thomas Maxwell will lead the division in the market, as Vice President, US, Label & Artist Solutions (LAS), Believe.
The company’s ‘Label & Artist Solutions‘ business line provides independent labels and established artists with services including distribution, marketing, and digital promotion.
Maxwell’s appointment was announced this week by Romain Vivien, Believe’s Global Head of Music, to whom Maxwell will report.
The move arrives just over a year after the company redesigned its global music strategy under Vivien’s leadership.
In this new role, Maxwell is responsible for leading Believe’s Label & Artist Solutions business in the United States, signing and developing partnerships with independent labels, and expanding the company’s presence in the world’s largest recorded music market.
According to a press release, Maxwell will split time between New York City, Nashville, and Los Angeles while “scaling the company’s US operations and cementing Believe as a premier partner for growth-minded independent music companies in the region”.
Prior to joining Believe, Maxwell held multiple roles at IDOL, where he opened and established the first US office for the Paris-based independent distributor, and led signings including Mexican Summer, Young Art, The Ray Charles Foundation, HighNote Records, Old Soul Music, Roundhill, and Acrophase Records.
During his tenure with IDOL, he worked on key releases from artists such as Erick the Architect, Ginger Root, TOKiMONSTA, Cate Le Bon, Channel Tres, Yaeji, George Clanton, and Drugdealer.
Believe noted that the exec is a “recognized voice in the independent music industry,” who has spoken at multiple conferences and events, including SXSW, Indie Week, and Music Biz, and “maintains strong relationships across the streaming and label ecosystem”.
“Thomas’ expertise and connections make him the ideal candidate to lead Believe’s expansion into the largest music market in the world, the United States.”
Romain Vivien, Believe
Vivien said: “For twenty years, Believe has succeeded by supporting local music ecosystems and developing labels and artists in nearly every major music market around the world.
“Thomas’ expertise and connections make him the ideal candidate to lead Believe’s expansion into the largest music market in the world, the United States, and to scale our business to support local artists and labels throughout the region.”
“Believe’s global scale, technology, and artist-first approach uniquely position the company to support the next generation of independent success, and I’m thrilled to help expand those opportunities in the US.”
Thomas Maxwell, Believe
Maxwell added: “I’m incredibly excited to be joining Believe at such a dynamic moment for the company and the independent sector.
“Throughout my career, I’ve focused on helping independent labels and artists navigate an increasingly complex digital ecosystem and build sustainable businesses.
“Believe’s global scale, technology, and artist-first approach uniquely position the company to support the next generation of independent success, and I’m thrilled to help expand those opportunities in the US.”Music Business Worldwide
