RCA Restructures, Riccitelli’s New Venture
• UPDATED: RCA Records announced a new leadership structure — Mark Pitts, RCA’s President of Urban Music has been promoted to President of RCA Records, and current RCA co-President John Fleckenstein has been elevated to Chief Operating Officer, where, in addition to his current duties, he takes on more of the Company’s day-to-day business oversight. Both executives will continue to report to Peter Edge, Chairman & CEO, RCA Records. Current RCA co-President Joe Riccitelli will depart the company and provide transitional services to continue his work with key projects.
In making the announcement, Peter Edge said, “RCA Records was a different company even just a few years ago. Over the past decade, there has been a genre shift in consumer demand and streaming has revolutionized every aspect of our business so we must constantly adapt and iterate on our successes. Mark has demonstrated tremendous growth as an energetic, unstoppable leader whose unbridled enthusiasm and experience will be invaluable in taking our company to exciting new directions. With his deep relationships and decades of success working with legendary, pioneering artists, he is the ideal partner to help move our creative direction in a renewed, expanded way for the future.”
Of Fleckenstein, Edge said, “John has been a tremendous partner working effectively alongside me and across Sony Music globally these past few years driving our business forward. This new role will give him expanded oversight to reinvigorate all aspects of RCA’s operations.” Commenting on Joe Riccitelli, Edge said, “I want to thank Joe for his years helping build RCA for success. He played a key role in building the careers of many of our biggest artists and I look forward to supporting his next chapter.”
• Riccitelli’s next chapter is already underway, as he recently launched Gold’n Retriever Entertainment and will be working on some exciting new projects from RCA artists Miley Cyrus and Justin Timberlake, to name a few.
RAMP caught up with Riccitelli, who remarked, “I have been blessed over the past 22 years I have been surrounded by some of the most talented artists and a passionate label family. I led promotional efforts on over 100 No. 1 songs including 45 No. 1 songs at Top 40 alone, ranging from the incredibly successful from the gritty independent label that was Jive to the powerhouse company RCA has become over the past 11 years. I’m so thankful the opportunities that were afforded me when Barry Weiss hired me to join Jive Records in 1999. I’m grateful to continue working with RCA artists and beyond as I launch Gold’n Retriever Entertainment. Thank you, Peter for that opportunity.” Going forward, Riccitelli can be reached at Joericcitelli@goldnretrieverent.com.
