Italy's Fonit Label Relaunched

MILAN‹Italy's historic Nuova Fonit Cetra (NFC) label has been re-launched as Warner Fonit.
The Jan. 1 change follows its acquisition by Warner Music Italy in August. Italian public broadcaster RAI, the label's former owner, retains a 10% stake.
The new entity will be headed by Massimo Giuliano, managing director of Warner's WEA Italy label, who becomes Warner Fonit's managing director.
Giuliano has also been promoted to VP of Warner Music Italy, in order to take on some of the domestic duties of Warner Music Italy president Gerolamo Caccia Dominioni. The latter was appointed president of Warner Music's new Southern Region last month. Romano Razzini, formerly marketing director at Warner Music Italy's CGD-EastWest imprint, has been appointed GM of Warner Fonit.
In addition to marketing NFC's historic catalog of classical, operatic, and Italian light-pop repertoire (which includes rare recordings from the likes of Maria Callas, Beniamino Gigli, and Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli), Warner Fonit will assume responsibility for Warner Music Italy's entire classical catalog, plus special projects that include compilations and music video releases.
"It will be a big challenge," admits Giuliano, "but given my marketing background and Warner Fonit's enormous catalog, it will be a suitable and rewarding prospect. My objective is to make Warner Fonit as strong an entity within Warner Music Italy as our WEA or CGD-EastWest labels."
He adds, "We will be exploring new retail outlets for special projects, including newsstand sales."
The relaunched label will move from its present base in the RAI's Milan offices to Warner Music Italy's distribution headquarters in Segrate, on the outskirts of Milan. NFC's remaining artist roster has been divided among Warner's main labels, with Mango moving to WEA and Gino Paoli to CGD-EastWest.
The label home of Neapolitan singer/songwriter Edoardo Bennato, whose latest album, "Sbandato," was the last release on the NFC imprint, has yet to be decided.