Warner Music Group has announced a broad reorganization of its recorded-music leadership, following a shakeup at Warner Chappell that included the departure of co-chair Carianne Marshall.
Val Blavatnik, who joined the company’s board in 2023, becomes managing director of WM North America, UK, and corporate development. Alejandro Duque, president of WM Latin America since 2021, is now president of WM International.
Aaron Bay-Schuck, co-chair and CEO of Warner Records Group, becomes sole chair after Tom Corson was promoted to Warner Music Group chief operating officer in late July.
The leadership team at Atlantic Music Group (AMG) will now also oversee the Alternative Distribution Alliance (ADA), which underwent “a major strategic expansion” in July. AMG chair and CEO Elliot Grainge adds the role of ADA chair, while AMG COO Zach Friedman, a fellow 10K veteran, becomes ADA vice chair.
Guillermo Gonzalez, president of WM Iberia, has been promoted to president of WM EMEA. Andrés Rothschild, previously WM Iberia’s finance vice president, will fill the WM Iberia post. Longtime WMG executive Simon Robson, EMEA president since October 2024, will leave the company in December.
CSDEM Board and Leadership Team
The Chambre Syndicale de l’Édition Musicale (CSDEM) has announced its 2026-28 board and 2026-27 leadership team.
Leadership roles include:
- Juliette Metz of Encore Merci, president
- Vice presidents: Cécile Bernier, Budde Music general manager; Jean-Christophe Bourgeois, Sony Music Publishing France general manager; Bruno Lion, longtime Peermusic France executive; and Philippe Manivet, Musigamy founder
- Julien Banes, Upton Park owner, secretary; Stéphane Berlow, Kobalt France managing director, assistant secretary
- Philippe Daniel, Melmax creative manager, treasurer; Nicolas Voskoboinikoff, French Flair owner, assistant treasurer
Those executives also join the board alongside D6 France director David Bossan, Sony Music Publishing France managing director Antoine Dathanat, Peermusic legal executive Matthieu Chabaud, Wagram head Catherine Cuny, 22D Music CEO Emmanuel Deletang, Editions Raoul Breton’s Pacôme Descamps, Wise Music France managing director Thomas Jamois, and BMG France co-general manager Laurent Pernin.
SOCAN, CMRRA and ASCAP
SOCAN (Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada) and its Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency (CMRRA) have named Veronica Syrtash as CMRRA’s first chief business officer, reproduction rights. Syrtash has been with the organization for more than 27 years. Paul Shaver, CMRRA president since 2019, will step down on October 1.
At ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers), Jackson Wagener, a 12-year veteran currently senior vice president of business and legal affairs, will become senior vice president and head of general licensing on January 1. Jim Selby, BMG’s president of global publishing, has been elected to ASCAP’s board as a publisher member.
Other Executive Moves
About three months after acquiring Blenda Labs, Epidemic Group has appointed the video production company’s founder, Erik Wahlberg, as CEO effective October 1. Interim CEO Sara Börsvik will become COO and CFO.
The Korea Venture Business Association has added six executive members: vice chairs Lee Jae-sang of Hybe, Park Ki-ho of LB Investment, Lee Jun-hyeok of Geumyong Machinery, and Jung Hyun-kyung of Musicow; and directors Lee Jin of AI legal platform LBox and Seo Jae-won of TUgether.
Ticketek Entertainment Group, led by Cameron Hoy, has elevated Mark Dodds to managing director of TEG Live and Handsome Tours. Tim McGregor, most recently global head of touring, is leaving the company and plans on “taking a proper break before stepping into what comes next.” Paul Dainty, CEO of TEG Dainty, becomes TEG’s first president of touring and theatrical.
Partisan Music, now majority owner of OTM, has combined the publisher with its own publishing division, Left Music. OTM founder Alex Sheridan will serve as CEO of the combined operation. A&R (artists and repertoire) head Kate Sweetsur remains with the company, and Left founder Craig Michie is president and head of North America.
Bryan Seaver, Parton’s nephew, who announced the Queen of Country’s passing and served as her head of security for more than two decades, has been abruptly dismissed from that post after allegedly targeting the estate with a “campaign of threats, intimidation, and coercion.”
