WEA TAPS FROIO, SPAULDING MOVES TO INCUBATOR

Froio has been named WEA Corp.'s Senior Vice President Sales, with Spaulding moving to WMG's new Incubator system. Froio returns to WEA after serving as head of sales at Atlantic Records for the past five years. Based in New York, he fills the position left by former WEA SVP Sales Spaulding, who will now join Fred Feldman and Todd Moscowitz in running WMG's newly formed incubator initiative.

WEA Corp. President John Esposito could barely contain his excitement in between trying out new retail kiosks: "We are thrilled to welcome Rick back to WEA. He has been a great label partner to WEA. His wealth of experience on the distribution and label side of the business are an incredible asset to our organization. He understands how to best serve the needs of our artists and labels in the retail environment and effectively manage the execution of our sales programs. And he knows the words to every song on The Darkness album."

Continued Esposito, "Ron Spaulding is an entrepreneur at heart which is why the incubator initiative is such a good fit for an executive of his caliber and background. Ron has done a fantastic job as our SVP Sales and I am sure he'll bring the same level of energy and commitment to the Incubator system. Including responding to all Tony Brummel's critical e-mails."

Froio, who will report to WEA EVP John Madison, will oversee the Catalog, Video, Latino, Urban and Lifestyle sales departments at WEA. He joined Atlantic in 1995 as VP Sales and was promoted to SVP Sales in 1999 after having spent 19 years with WEA Corp. Froio began his career in 1976, working in the warehouse of WEA's Philadelphia regional office. He advanced through a variety of positions until 1991 when he became branch manager of the WEA regional office in Cleveland, holding that post until 1995.

Spaulding joined WMG in 2000 as SVP Sales for Elektra Entertainment Group, overseeing the label's sales and retail marketing programs. Previously, Spaulding was VP Sales at Priority Records, where he helped the company achieve landmark sales and growth results.