Vanessa Bosåen exits Virgin Music Group, the place she’s led the UK enterprise since 2021

Vanessa Bosåen is leaving Virgin Music Group.

The President of Virgin Music Group UK – the UK arm of Common Music Group‘s international unbiased music division – confirmed her exit in a notice to employees on Thursday (August 20). The notice was shared with MBW and posted publicly by Bosåen on LinkedIn.

“After six unforgettable years, the time has come for me to share that I’ll be leaving Virgin Music Group,” wrote Bosåen.

Her exit follows VMG‘s USD $775 million acquisition of Downtown Music Holdings, which accomplished on February 20.

On June 30, VMG unveiled a worldwide and regional management staff constructed round six areas, uniting senior executives from Virgin and Downtown below Co-CEOs JT Myers and Nat Pastor.

In Europe, Nick Roden was named President, with Liz Northeast appointed SVP and Basic Supervisor.

Bosåen doesn’t title a successor within the notice and doesn’t say the place she goes subsequent.

Common Music Group launched Virgin Music Label & Artist Companies in February 2021, rebranding its Caroline and Caroline Worldwide operations.

Bosåen – then often called Vanessa Higgins – was named MD of the UK division at that launch.

She joined UMG from Regent Road Information, the unbiased label and writer she based in 2014, having spent 15 years as a touring musician.

“Once I joined on the inception of Virgin Music UK, there have been solely a handful of us with an enormous ambition: to construct a really fashionable music firm that put artists, labels and entrepreneurs first,” she wrote.

“We believed there was a chance to do issues in another way. Six years later, seeing that imaginative and prescient develop into the Virgin Music Group we all know right now has been a real privilege.”

“Once I joined on the inception of Virgin Music UK, there have been solely a handful of us with an enormous ambition: to construct a really fashionable music firm that put artists, labels and entrepreneurs first.”

Vanessa Bosåen, Virgin Music Group

“I’m particularly pleased with what we’ve constructed right here within the UK,” added Bosåen. “Collectively, we’ve grown into one of many group’s flagship companies.”

“Extra importantly, we’ve achieved it by staying true to the values we began with; placing artists first, backing entrepreneurs and constructing long-term partnerships based mostly on belief,” stated the Virgin Music Group UK President.

“We’ve celebrated chart-topping albums, international hit singles, breakthrough campaigns and career-defining moments,” wrote Bosåen.

“From Calm Down, Rema‘s collaboration with Selena Gomez, turning into one of many largest information on the earth, to D-Block Europe redefining what unbiased success can appear to be in British rap, Beabadoobee‘s outstanding worldwide rise, Self Esteem‘s extraordinary artistic breakthrough, Melanie C‘s continued success as an iconic British artist, The Lottery Winners‘ UK #1 albums, the breakthrough development of The Royston Membership and Dove Ellis, the worldwide dance successes with Tobiahs and ANOTR, partnering with true legends Underworld, James Blake, Van Morrison and Peter Gabriel, and so many extra, each success has been constructed on belief, partnership and an unwavering perception in nice artists.”

She added: “Alongside our unimaginable UK roster, I’ve additionally been lucky to characterize and champion a few of the world’s largest and most enjoyable worldwide artists. From international icons like BTS, Joan Jett, Kings of Leon and LL COOL J, right now’s defining voices together with Clairo, David Kushner and Unhealthy Omens, by means of to classical breakthroughs like Timothy Ridout. It’s been a privilege to assist join extraordinary music with UK audiences.”

“As our UK enterprise grew, so did the broader firm,” wrote Bosåen. “It has been outstanding to look at Virgin evolve from an formidable new label and artist providers enterprise into a really international group.”

“To have been there on the very starting – and to have performed an element in serving to form that journey – is one thing I’ll all the time be immensely pleased with.”

Chatting with MBW in June 2024, Bosåen stated of the job: “You’re so on the coalface of entrepreneurialism inside the unbiased sector.”

In October 2025, Bosåen led VMG‘s partnership with Melanie C (and the artist’s personal Pink Lady Information) with a brand new album due in 2026.

“The toughest a part of leaving is, with out query, saying goodbye to the individuals,” wrote Bosåen.

“I’ve been lucky to work alongside colleagues who’ve grow to be real pals, and with artists, managers and entrepreneurs who positioned their belief in us, usually at a very powerful moments of their careers,” added the Virgin Music Group UK President.

“Thanks for that belief, your help, your perception and your friendship,” wrote Bosåen.

“Whereas I’m extremely enthusiastic about what lies forward, I’ll all the time look again on my time at Virgin with monumental delight,” she wrote.

“Serving to to construct this enterprise from the bottom up, alongside such a rare staff, has been one of many defining experiences of my profession,” added Bosåen. “Till we meet once more: thanks.”Music Enterprise Worldwide