Big news out of the Virgin Music Australia and New Zealand camp, as Future Classic CEO Nathan McLay has been appointed the company’s Managing Director.
With over 18 years of experience running Future Classic, the independent music company that has worked with the likes of Flume, G Flip, Chet Faker, Flight Facilities, SOPHIE, Hayden James, and more, his artist-oriented focus makes for an ideal candidacy for Virgin.
In August, McLay was named a vital member of the Music Australia Council – the initiative established to support and promote Australian contemporary artists, increase discoverability and develop the market for the local music industry.
Music Australia was launched in January 2023 by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, an Australian Government National Cultural Policy called Revive, a place for every story, a story for every place.
Now, McLay’s career has taken another turn.
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“I am excited to deepen Future Classic’s partnership with Nat Pastor, JT Myers and the team at Virgin Music and, now personally, to join Virgin’s global leadership team as Managing Director for Australia and New Zealand,” McLay wrote on LinkedIn on Friday (20 October).
McLay assures that Future Classic will remain a “wholly independent owned and operated company” which will utilise the global infrastructure offered by Virgin. Future Classic will expand its footprint “while remaining true to its uncompromising creative point of view”.
The Future Classic team will continue operating out of its offices in Sydney and Los Angeles, also making moves to expand its international team. McLay’s teammate Harry White has been promoted to Managing Director.
McLay continued, “At Virgin I will work alongside Tim Janes who will focus on marketing Virgin repertoire in the region, while my remit will be on export and building effective partnerships with Virgin’s artists, managers and labels.
“As a manager and independent label owner myself I recognise the need for innovation in the business that caters to ambitious artists and entrepreneurs. Now as both a client and leader at Virgin I hope to provide a perspective that will inspire innovation and help us collectively to get more done for artists and their teams.”
The Australian division of Virgin Music Australia launched in 2021 following a comeback via Universal Music Group rebranding Caroline International.
Virgin Music Australia’s roster boasts the likes of Catfish & The Bottlemen, Mac DeMarco, SG Lewis, Iggy Pop, Denzel Curry, St Vincent, The Offspring, Rise Against and stacks more.
In 2021, the label helped launch new music from local acts like Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, You Am I, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Alex Lahey, CW Stoneking and more.
