emusu.com

Digital service provider DA Recordings is expanding with the appointment of former Rough Trade and Chapter 22 employee Rod Thomson to head its newly created licensing department.

Thompson will head DA Licensing, a division formed with the aim to exploit physical and digital catalogue opportunities around the world for the Birmingham company’s label base.

Thomson has been in the music industry for 20 years and has even worked as an artist manager, looking after Bentley Rhythm Ace.

DA Recordings is the developer of the emusu.com content distribution platform, which offers labels, artists and managers the chance to distribute and monitor the consumption of their music online.

Capsule and Gas Street Works were the big winners after scooping two prizes each at the Creative City Awards.

Capsule, which organises an annual live music and arts festival in Birmingham, won in the International Development and Best Brand categories while Gas Street Works won for best Management Action Programme and Outstanding Business Development.

Now in their second year, the awards celebrate the growing talent on the Creative City programme delivered by Business Link Birmingham and Solihull and Birmingham City Council.

Animation and digital effects company CharacterShop won the Creative Industries Award; Seeing The Light won for Outstanding Innovation after encouraging new artists; design firm 3form received the Small Business of the Year accolade and DA Recordings was named as Most Promising New Business Start-up.

Lara Ratnaraja, Creative Industries Project Manager at Business Link Birmingham and Solihull, said: “This is a real boom time for the creative sector in the city. Birmingham based creative companies are competing at national and international levels and are setting the standard for creative excellence and quality ahead of many other UK cities.

“These businesses have national and international clients that have been attracted by the innovation and fresh ideas that are coming from Birmingham.

“What makes it more exciting for us is that all of the nominees have received support and assistance from Birmingham Chamber, Business Link and UK Trade and Investment.”

Cabinet Member for Regeneration Councillor Ken Hardeman said: “The Creative City Awards have given us the opportunity to applaud some of the wonderful work accomplished by businesses in the creative sector.

“I would like to congratulate the winning companies who have received these eight prestigious awards this evening. The Business Support for the Creative Industries Programme has been an undeniable success, assisting both new and existing small-to-medium sized enterprises with creative space, feasibility, business development and programmes.

“It’s been possible due to the strong partnership that Birmingham City Council has with Business Link Birmingham and Solihull, Screen West Midlands, Birmingham Asian Business Association and the Afro -Caribbean Millennium Centre. But above all, it’s because of the sheer strength and quality of creativity evident in Birmingham”