Kobalt Label Services (KLS) announces today that Vincent Clery-Melin has joined the company as global MD of AWAL, the digital distribution and marketing services company that Kobalt acquired at the end of 2011.

Since 2004 AWAL has been a pioneering digital distribution company, and Clery-Melin’s role will be to lead the evolution and expansion of AWAL to become the digitally-focused services company of choice for independent artists and labels worldwide.

Clery-Melin joins Kobalt from Cooperative Music (Co-op), a business he founded and managed for 8 years. At Co-op he worked with many of the most influential and successful independent labels such as Glassnote, Bella Union, Kitsune and Downtown Music, and artists including Mumford & Sons, Fleet Foxes, Phoenix, Two Door Cinema Club and Bloc Party. Prior to founding Co-op Clery-Melin was VP, Marketing for EMI Music Continental Europe.

Clery-Melin will be based in Kobalt’s London office and will report to Paul Hitchman, Managing Director of Kobalt Label Services.  In his new role Clery-Melin will also work with Hitchman and the KLS team to sign clients for Kobalt Label Services .

Said Clery-Melin of his new role “I’m incredibly excited to be joining Kobalt and AWAL. For the last 8 years I have been working with indie labels and independent-minded artists, and I believe Kobalt has the vision, the ambition, and the means to become THE true 21stcentury music services company. I’m looking forward to working with the teams at AWAL, and also at Kobalt Label Services, and to being a part of helping AWAL become the services company of the future for independent labels and artists.”

Added Hitchman “I am thrilled to be able to welcome Vincent to Kobalt Label Services. AWAL represents a massive global opportunity and Vincent’s appointment shows the scale of our ambition for developing and growing the AWAL business. His experience, all round music knowledge and entrepreneurial flair will be a huge asset both to AWAL’s clients and to the Kobalt Label Services team as a whole.”