Warner Music Group (WMG) has promoted Tom Corson to chief operating officer, expanding his leadership from Warner Records to the entire major music company.
Corson will oversee global marketing, merchandise, direct-to-consumer operations and supply chain activities. He will also continue to work alongside Warner Records co-chairman and chief executive Aaron Bay-Schuck during a transitional period, reporting directly to WMG chief executive Robert Kyncl.
The appointment follows the departure of Armin Zerza, who stepped down as WMG’s chief financial officer and chief operating officer for personal reasons.
“Tom is one of the most dynamic, respected, and effective executives in the music business, and a fierce champion of talent,” Kyncl said. “Together with Aaron, he’s helped architect Warner Records’ resurgence, and we’ll leverage his vision, disciplined execution and deep experience across the entire company as we continue to deliver for our artists and songwriters while achieving our top and bottom line goals.”
Corson joined Warner Records in 2018 as co-chairman and COO, responsible for business operations, strategy and commercial development. During his tenure with Bay-Schuck, the label achieved chart success with artists including Madonna, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dua Lipa, Zach Bryan, Benson Boone, Michael Bublé, Teddy Swims, Linkin Park, Cody Johnson and Sombr.
“It’s an honour to step into this role during such a transformative era for both our company and the industry at large,” Corson said. “A huge thanks to Robert for the opportunity, as well as to Aaron and the Warner Records team for the unforgettable run. I’m looking forward to building on our momentum, turbocharging operations, and creating even more impactful opportunities for our incredible artists and songwriters worldwide.”
Before joining WMG, Corson held senior leadership positions across the music industry for more than four decades, including president and chief operating officer of RCA Music Group.
