Dan Davis spent last year overseeing Gold Circle Label Group’s move from Omaha, Neb. to spacious new offices in Santa Monica. With his promotion to president, Davis’ next task is to fill that space by expanding the group’s fledgling record labels.

Rather than compete directly with industry giants, Davis will focus on niche markets and artist development. “Being a little smaller and more flexible, we can pull the trigger more quickly,” he said.

Size notwithstanding, Gold Circle Label has big-money backing. Parent Gold Circle Entertainment was founded by Norm Wiatt, the billionaire co-founder of Gateway Computers.

Its stable of labels includes Chapter III Records, a soundtrack label that scored a marketing coup this July with the release of a companion album to the sleeper hit “The Blair Witch Project.” Also on board is Triloka, a world music label previously affiliated with Mercury/Polygram. A new alternative label is in the works, and a potpourri label will handle compilation albums and other special markets.

The company moved to Los Angeles to recruit experienced management and new talent. Gold Circle has purchased both the building on 20th Street where it’s now based and “all the adjoining property down to the corner,” Davis said. It is working with an architect to develop more office space.

The new offices will house recording and editing facilities as well as an Internet division devoted solely to site development and online sales.

“You can add business types ’til the cows come home, but if you don’t have successful artists, it’s not happening,” Davis said. David Crosby’s latest band, CPR, and Celtic singer Emer Kenny are among the artists signed to the group’s five labels.

Davis was most recently vice president of marketing and distribution at JVC Music. He began his career writing liner notes for Capitol Records, eventually becoming vice president of creative services.

Jennifer Smith