Warner Music Group has created a new Arts Music division that will focus on signing and developing artists across a spectrum of genres, including classical, musical theatre, jazz, children’s music, film scores, and other fields outside the pop mainstream.
Industry executive Kevin Gore, whose background includes serving as President/CEO of WMG’s Rhino Entertainment/Global Catalog Division as well as President/Universal Classics U.S., has been appointed President of the Arts Music division. In his new post, Gore will be based in New York and report to Eliah Seton, President of ADA Worldwide, WMG’s independent distribution and services arm.
As part of the new Arts Music division, WMG has entered into a joint venture with Sh-K-Boom/Ghostlight Records, the theatrical music company founded by Kurt Deutsch in 2000. Deutsch, who will continue to serve as President of Sh-K-Boom/Ghostlight, is based in New York and will report to Kevin Gore. Deutsch was also recently appointed Senior Vice President, Theatrical & Catalog Development for Warner/Chappell Music, the publishing arm of WMG. In the latter capacity, he reports to WCM Chairman & CEO Jon Platt.
The Warner Classics label, which includes the Erato label along with artists that came to WMG as part of the company’s acquisition of Parlophone Records, including the EMI Classics catalog, will now come under the Arts Music division umbrella. Under the new structure, Warner Classics & Erato President Alain Lanceron will report to Gore and continue to be based in Paris.
About the Author
Hollabaugh, a staff writer at MusicRow magazine, has over 20 years of music business experience and has written for publications including American Profile, CMA Close Up, Nashville Arts And Entertainment, The Boot and Country Weekly. She has a Broadcast Journalism and Speech Communication degree from Texas Christian University, (go Horned Frogs), and welcomes your feedback or story ideas at lhollabaugh@musicrow.com.View Author Profile
