INDUSTRY CHATTER: Where does last week’s resignation...

INDUSTRY CHATTER: Where does last week’s resignation by Geffen Records A&R; executive Gary Gersh leave the label’s A&R; department, long considered the crown jewel of the company?

The Capitol-bound Gersh was responsible for such Geffen acts as Nirvana, Sonic Youth, Peter Gabriel, Stone Roses, Posies, Maria McKee, Arc Angels, Teenage Fanclub, Robbie Robertson and newcomers Counting Crows.

He leaves a powerful roster of Geffen A&R; execs headed by John David Kalodner and Tom Zutaut. Conventional wisdom has it that Tony Berg, whom Gersh brought to the label recently, will assume most of Gersh’s artists, but industry chatter says Geffen may initiate a hunt for a new A&R; heavy.

Meanwhile, Zutaut, who was reportedly scheduled to relocate to London to run Geffen’s British office, will now remain based in Los Angeles for the time being. Kalodner, currently riding the sales success of Aerosmith and Coverdale/Page, still has two years to go on his contract.

Incidentally, don’t look for Geffen President Ed Rosenblatt’s name in the rumor mill. He just signed a new seven-year deal with the company.