Billboard.com reports that Century Media co-onwer Oliver Withöft has died today at the age of 49. He is survived by his wife Judith and his three daughters.
Withöft withdrew from daily management duties at some point last year due to an undisclosed heart condition. Century Media, one of the leading metal independent labels was founded in 1988 by Robert Kampf, with Withöft coming on board about a year and a half later.
Øystein G. Brun of Borknagar, who have been on Century Media for quite a while, released this tribute:
"We have just recieved the very sad news that co-founder and CEO of Century Media Records, Oliver Withöft, passed away at an age of 49.
This is a utterly sad day for everyone assosiated to the Century Family and it is a day of great loss for the music business in general.
But first and foremost we want to express our deepest condolences to his closest family!
A great man has fallen!"
Our deepest condolences to Oliver's family, friends and everybody at Century Media.
