Mike Taylor, former CEO of Universal Music Australia, has died aged 54

Mike Taylorthe US-born music man who built an outstanding major-label career in his adopted homeland of Australia, where he A&R'd Delta Goodrem's album Innocent Eyes, died after a battle with cancer. He was 54.

“After a long illness, Michael Taylor passed away peacefully on January 11, 2024, in Brewster, New York, surrounded by family and loved ones,” read a message released by family members.

Taylor moved to Sydney, Australia in 2001 when he joined Sony Music as Head of A&R for Sony Music. There, Taylor worked at Goodrem's Innocent Eyesan album that made history and swept the charts – and later, the award ceremonies.

Innocent Eyes recorded an unprecedented 29 weeks at No.1 on the ARIA Albums Chart following its release in March 2003 and was named the best-selling album at the ARIA Awards for two years running. Delta won seven ARIA Awards in 2003 and was the first artist to have five No.1 singles in the Australian chart from a debut album.

Taylor was rewarded by Sony Music with a stint in the US, where he served as a senior manager at the major label's Epic Records division. Less than two years later, he returned to Sydney, beginning a 15-year tenure with Universal Music Australia, which included stints as Executive VP, A&R and founding general manager and head of UMA imprint, Island Records Australia.

At UMA, he was instrumental in developing the company's domestic roster, signing a host of stars including Hilltop Hoods, Havana Brown, Baker Boy, Briggs, Clare Bowditch, Shane Nicholson, The McClymonts and Dean Lewis.

In September 2022, Taylor announced his plans leave his place as CEO of UMA, citing personal reasons and to devote more time to ongoing treatments.

Earlier in his career, Taylor held US A&R stints with Columbia Records and Madonna's Maverick Recording Company.

For much of Down Under, Taylor's was the only American accent heard at showcases and award parties.

“I liked it then, and I like it now. Living in Sydney is such an enjoyable lifestyle,” she told this reporter in 2013 when she moved to Australia. “I grew up in New York and lived in the city for years, so I wanted a change. In terms of the music scene and the industry in Australia, I think it's really vibrant and punches well above its weight class for its population size.”

In addition to his day-to-day duties, Taylor and Peter Coquillard, now senior manager and head of international label Milk and Honey, founded the Bali Songwriting Invitational, a camp where music creators could collaborate in paradise.

“Great songs are the key to success for an artist,” Taylor explained. “Writing in an environment that takes you out of your everyday life can be a catalyst for special songs.”

As news of his death spread across the Australian industry, friends and colleagues remembered Taylor as one of the good guys, passionate about music, loyal to his people.

“Professionally respected and personally admired by everyone in the business,” is how his friend and former colleague Darren Aboud, COO at Select Music Agency, remembers him. “It was a pleasure working with him. he gave so much back and his knowledge of cocktails was only surpassed by his knowledge of music.” Taylor and Aboud were appointed joint managing directors of Universal Music Labels Australia as part of a restructure unveiled in 2014. “His five-year battle with cancer has been extraordinary,” Aboud recounts. “He was determined to live the best life no matter what he faced.”

Adrian Wauchope, senior vice president of advertising at Warner Music Australasia, hails Taylor as “a legend and a true music man”, while Don Elford, director of global partnerships at ASM Global, remembers Taylor as “the real deal”.

Taylor is survived by his wife Jenny and son Charlie.

His life and career will be celebrated This Saturday, January 20 during a service at St Lawrence O'Toole Church, Brewster, New York. A party will follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Charlie Taylor's college fund.