July 15, 2009

By By Mark Sutherland, London

U.S. R&B star Ne-Yo has announced the U.K. arm of his Compound Entertainment management/artist development/production company.

Speaking at a launch party in Fifty nightclub last night (July 14), Ne-Yo said the venture would seek out "U.K. talent in all its forms - artists, songwriters, whatever's out there." The U.K. operation will also feature a publishing arm, according to Ne-Yo.

The first British act to come under the Compound umbrella is London-based, Geffen-signed R&B boy band FDM. Compound is co-managing the group and co-executive producing its forthcoming album.

Ne-Yo said the venture would be looking for talent across all genres, not just urban artists, and that he would be as "hands-on" as possible with the U.K. operation, details of which are still being finalized.

"I want to spend as much time here as possible," he said. "I want to listen to everything and say 'yay' or 'nay.'"

Compound Entertainment was founded by Ne-Yo and his manager/business partner Reynell "Tango" Hay, who run the company as joint-CEOs. Ne-Yo said the U.K. arm was likely to be its only international office for the foreseeable future.

Compound is currently seeking U.K. office space and will announced U.K. staffing details later this year. Ne-Yo's latest album "Year of the Gentleman" (Mercury) peaked at No. 2 in the United Kingdom in September 2008.

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