A shake-up in Kyncl’s cast: (l-r) Max Lousada, Julie Greenwald, Elliot Grainge (Credits, also l-to-r: Billal Taright, Matthew Furman, Logan Mock)
Warner Music Group confirmed a significant restructuring of its Recorded Music division on Thursday (August 1st), with an expressed aim to to better enhance artist services, streamline global operations, and position the company for sustained growth. The shakeup involves major leadership changes — including the departure of longtime Recorded Music CEO Max Lousada — and a flatter organizational structure going forward. Here’s the full breakdown.
Warner Music Group CEO Robert Kyncl has now pulled the trigger on a serious restructuring, specifically involving the all-important (and far more profitable) recorded music division. The biggest bombshell is that after two decades with WMG, Max Lousada, CEO of Recorded Music, will step down at the end of the fiscal year on September 30th.
Lousada will continue as an advisor until January 31st, according to details confirmed by the major.
Staying in the building is Julie Greenwald, who will transition into the lofty role of Chairman of Atlantic Music Group, directly reporting to Kyncl. Also elevating ranks is Elliot Grainge, founder & CEO of 10K Projects, who will now become CEO of Atlantic Music Group, effective October 1st.
Grainge first joined WMG’s senior management team last year following the company’s acquisition of a majority stake in 10K Projects. The hip-hop-savvy executive, whose father is Universal Music Group chairman and CEO Lucian Grainge, reportedly blasted an email to the 10K troops to reassure that business at the label would continue as normal.
Lousada is saying goodbye, though there won’t be a direct replacement.
According to WMG, the new structure, effective October 1st, will eliminate the roles of CEO, Recorded Music and President, International, Recorded Music. Regional and divisional leaders will report directly to Kyncl, fostering direct channels between local expertise and global opportunities.
That shifts the structure towards a more ‘flat’ organizational layout, which theoretically cuts bureaucracy and confusion with cleaner reporting lines.
Key regional leadership appointments include Simon Robson overseeing Europe, the Middle East, and Africa; Alejandro Duque continuing to lead Latin America; and a yet-to-be-appointed leader for the newly created Asia Pacific region.
In the US, the Atlantic Music Group, under the leadership of Grainge and Greenwald, will encompass Atlantic Records, 300 Elektra Entertainment, and 10K Projects. Warner Records, led by Tom Corson and Aaron Bay-Schuck, will now include Warner Music Nashville, Nonesuch, and Reprise.
Warner Music Group is also bolstering its global operations in distribution, Global Catalog, Marketing, and WMX. The heads of these divisions will report to Kyncl from October 1st.
“On behalf of everyone at WMG, I’d like to thank Max for his extraordinary achievements over the last twenty years,” Robert Kyncl relayed. “Max is a true artists’ champion, who created a culture that puts artistry first, growing our global reach and building a roster of incredible talent and an outstanding team. I’m grateful that he’ll be helping to ensure a smooth transition.”
