Dangerbird Records founder Jeff Castelaz has been named president of Elektra Records.
Castelaz has played a key role in the careers of artists including Silversun Pickups, Fitz and The Tantrums, Sea Wolf, Dropkick Murphys, Eagles of Death Metal and Phoenix.
Elektra Records operates as a freestanding label within the Atlantic Records Group, and Castelaz will report to Craig Kallman, Chairman & CEO, Atlantic Records and Julie Greenwald, Chairman & COO, Atlantic Records. He will oversee all areas of Elektra's activities, growing the success of existing signings and developing new talent.
Kallman and Greenwald said in a statement: "Now into its seventh decade, Elektra Records has a unique spirit, cultivated by the elite group of creative mavericks who've run the label and the eclectic artists they've signed. Building on the remarkable success since the label's re-launch in 2009, Jeff is the perfect choice to forge the next extraordinary chapter of Elektra's story. With Jeff at the helm, Elektra will continue to grow its distinct personality and evolve as one of the industry's most consistent and powerful forces in artist development."
"I'm honored to step into the pilot's seat of this incredible label,” said Castelaz. “I couldn't be more excited to uphold Elektra's legacy of long term development of vital artists—a principle that has been the touchstone of my entire career. I look forward to suiting up as the newest member of the crack Artist Development squad known as Atlantic Records Group. Craig and Julie have given a kid from Milwaukee the opportunity of a lifetime—to shine the Elektra spotlight forward to another generation of music fans."
Elektra founder, Jac Holzman said “Jeff's broad experience with indie recording and indie management has given him the perfect combination of energy, taste and a commitment to scout the edges and find those seminal artists, a bit ahead of their time, who are capable of making a significant contribution to those who embrace the best of new music. I look forward to our association."
Castelaz co-founded Dangerbird Records and Music Publishing in 2003, building it into one of the leading independent labels on the West Coast. He signed and guided the careers of a wide range of artists including Silversun Pickups, Fitz and The Tantrums, Sea Wolf, Beady Eye and Richie Sambora, among others.
In addition, in 1992 he founded Cast Management, where he manages Dropkick Murphys and prolific hit-makers, record producers and songwriters such as Justin Meldal-Johnsen, Tony Hoffer and Jacquire King.
Furthermore, Castelaz sits on three boards: the President's Circle of The Lance Armstrong Foundation/LIVESTRONG; Radio Milwaukee, a non-commercial AAA station to which he was recruited by the philanthropist Peter Buffett; and The Pablove Foundation, a pediatric cancer charity Castelaz and his wife Jo Ann Thrailkill founded, which funds innovative pediatric cancer research and programs that improve the lives of kids and families living with childhood cancer.
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