Annie Christensen has been promoted to A&R director at Island Records, in a move head of A&R Louis Bloom has described as “thoroughly deserved”.
Christensen’s Island career began with a work experience placement in 2003. Within a year, she assumed the role of A&R assistant and later secured a promotion to a scouting position.
Together with Bloom, Christensen helped secure a deal with Mumford & Sons, after which she was made A&R manager. Subsequently, Christensen signed Spring King and co-signed Ben Howard and Hozier with Bloom.
In 2016, Christensen signed Sigrid after hearing a batch of demos and organising a trip to Norway to meet the singer in Bergen.
The deal represented a coup for Island, as the major triumphed amidst stiff competition to secure the deal. Last month, Sigrid starred on the cover of Music Week as we told the story of the 21-year-old singer’s rapid rise.
Sigrid now has 185 million streams, 2m global sales and a Top 10 UK hit in Strangers, the single that now has 338,382 sales to its name.
As part of an extensive interview with Music Week, Christensen revealed all about her uniquely close relationship with BBC Sound Of 2018 winner Sigrid.
“Sigrid is often the person that dictates what our moves are,” Christensen said. “She’s got a very good gut, very good intuition. Generally speaking, she’s right on the money and I think that’s why she’s such a good writer and such a good performer.”
Commenting on Christensen’s promotion, Louis Bloom said: “Annie has all the attributes that make a great A&R, amazing taste, a genuine passion for music and artists love her. Not only is Annie a colleague she’s also a great friend. This promotion and her success with Sigrid couldn’t be more thoroughly deserved."
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