BEGIN THE BIGGANE

It's official: As previously rumored, erstwhile Spotify mucky-muck Mike Biggane is joining Sir Lucian Grainge's UMG in the newly minted post of EVP Music Strategies and Tactics, effective 9/13. He'll be based in Santa Monica and will report to Grainge.

Biggane, who joined the Spot in 2014, most recently served as Global Head of Curation, aka the Most High Lord and Master of the Playlist. He helped catapult New Music Fridays and other curatorial creations to almighty status. Before arriving at the streamery, he spent eight years at HitPredictor, studying audience reactions to music.

In his new role, according to a release, Biggane "will work closely with UMG’s industry leading data analytics, marketing, creative and insights teams to advance the success of the company’s global artist releases." We suspect there will also be incense and chanting.

"Mike brings the skills and vision that will help accelerate our artists’ careers," Grainge proclaimed. "I’m so pleased to welcome him to UMG, where he is joining a future-focused team that is providing artists around the world with new opportunities for enduring global success. And I'm told he'll be getting fresh sleeve tats reflecting corporate branding assets."

"I'm so excited to work with the incredible amount of talent that resides within Universal Music," Biggane said. "I've been watching as a fan from afar as many of my favorite artists and songs have come from the UMG family and become international success stories. I can't wait to do my part and contribute to the world-class legacy that has made UMG the most desired destination for artists, while continuing to set the tone as the biggest music company in the world. To express my gratitude, I'm going to make them a mix cassette."