UMG Reassesses Its Digital Strategy, Republic Records Teams With IM Global, and More in This Week's Labels Digest

TOP STORIES With the Exit of Senior Execs, UMG Reassesses Its Digital Strategy  On the heels of two exits by senior executives, music's biggest company reconsiders and decentralizes. Wade Jessen, Billboard Senior Chart Manager, Dies at Age 53  The 53-year-old media veteran and country music champion had just observed his 20th anniversary as the head of Billboard’s country, bluegrass, Christian and gospel charts in December. Taylor Swift Back Atop Billboard Artist 100, Big Sean Blasts to No. 2  Swift returns for a record-extending 17th week at No. 1, while Big Sean surges 32-2 thanks to the start of his album "Dark Sky Paradise." Warner Music Group Promotes Stu Bergen, Mike Jbara  “Stu and Matt's partnership will help us concentrate our global firepower and make fast, ambitious moves to break new artists and build worldwide careers.” Republic Records Teams With IM Global to Produce Music-Driven Films  Republic Records and independent film and television studio IM Global have announced a multi-picture co-financing and co-production relationship for a series of music-driven titles. Metallica to Reissue Early Cassette on Record Store Day  Metallica will begin re-releasing its catalog in summer 2015, with expanded CD and LP editions in the queue. It all begin Record Store Day -- April 18 -- when the band re-releases its early cassette demo "No Life ’Til Leather." Physical-Reliant German Music Business Sees a Streaming Turnaround in the Future  A booming digital market helped lift the German music business in 2014 after 15 years in general decline. Jesse Edwards & Rahim Wright Launch 740 Project; Announce Wiz Khalifa & Future SXSW Show  How two Atlantic Records employees became so successful on their own time, working with Migos, YMCMB, Wiz Khalifa and more, that they quit -- but not before being re-hired by chairman Julie Greenwald. Sony/ATV Appoints Rick Krim to Run West Coast A&R  Sony/ATV Music Publishing has tapped entertainment industry veteran Rick Krim to lead the company's A&R operations in Los Angeles. WMG Promotes James Steven to Executive VP of Communications & Marketing  James Steven has been promoted to executive vice president of communications and marketing at Warner Music Group.