POMO PROMO ACTION: THREE GET THEIR STRIPES

The Elektra Entertainment Group made it official this week, tapping ex-Vagrant Records VP Promotion Bill “A Christmas” Carroll as its new Vice President of Modern Rock Promotion—which means he goes from emo to Metallica.

The announcement was made by label Sr. VP Promotion Dennis “Pee-wee” Reese, to whom he’ll report.

While at Vagrant, Carroll promoted acts including Dashboard Confessional and Alkaline Trio, learned the words to every Saves the Day song and loaded the entire Paul Westerberg catalog onto his iPod.

Said Reese: “Bill has tremendous experience in national capacities at both London-Sire and Island Records. His passion, knowledge and dedication will be a welcome addition to the rock promotion staff. And now I have someone to foist Buddy Deal on.”

Carroll joined London as VP Promotion in ’91; while at the label, he once played cricket for money with Roger Ames. He began his career in the music business in 1989 at PolyGram Group Distribution selling cleans out the back door.

Meanwhile, a couple of promo vets are Island-hopping.

Howie Miura “Mirror on the Wall” has been upped to Vice President of Promotion for Island Records by Island Def Jam Music Group Sr. VP Promotion Ken “Penny” Lane, while Christine Chiappetta “Miraculously Grows Hair When You Water It” is promoted to Miura’s former post of Vice President of Modern Rock Promotion.

Miura will plan and implement the overall promotion campaigns for Island artists at the Rock and Modern Rock formats, and continue to keep a complete scrapbook of his “Post Toasted” column mentions. The 15-year label vet has worked with the likes of Thrice, Sum 41, PJ Harvey, U2, Hoobastank, Andrew W.K. and Tom Waits but bemoans the fact he missed out on Frankie Goes to Hollywood.

Commented Miura: “It’s amazing to be able to work with Lyor, Julie and Ken on such in intimate level, as well as having great partners like Christine, David [McGilvray], Patrick [O’Connor] and our regional staff to help break new artists. By the way, where did Lou Maglia go?”

Chiappetta, formerly Sr. Director of Alternative Promotion, will now develop label artists at Modern Rock Radio and guard Andrew W.K.’s cache of Coors six-packs.

Said Chiappetta: “I am extremely delighted by the promotion and look forward to working with our incredible roster of artists, in addition to some of the most forward-thinking executives in the business. My sincerest thanks to Ken Lane and Julie Greenwald for all their support and this amazing opportunity—along with the chance to use the word ‘Hoobastank’ in everyday conversation.”