
(Kierszenbaum declined to confirm whether the decision to part ways was his or Interscope's, saying only, “It was the end of the term.”) Last month, Cherrytree cleared out of Universal's hulking headquarters in Santa Monica, and Kierszenbaum has launched a search for a new partner. But that came to an end when Cherrytree's contract with Interscope expired on Dec.

But as a senior A&R executive at Interscope, he's also been able to strike deals and forge partnerships with other Universal-affiliated executives and artists - like when he teamed up with Will.i.am from the Black Eyed Peas to jointly release LMFAO's hit “Party Rock Anthem.”Īll of this seems like a plum position for a label boss to be in. Kierszenbaum has enjoyed a measure of independence, working with a small team to groom young artists without worrying about larger commercial demands. Since founding Cherrytree in 2005, owner Martin Kierszenbaum has been able to use this position to his advantage. But until recently it also had a foot in the major-label system through a joint partnership with Interscope, the label co-founded by industry juggernaut Jimmy Iovine and owned by Universal Music Group.

It's a boutique operation - a recording, publishing and management company boasting an “artist-friendly” business philosophy and a roster of forward-thinking stars such as Robyn and Feist. The Cherrytree Music Company has long occupied a privileged position in the music business.
