Danny Cohen, the former Director of BBC Television, is joining Len Blavatnik‘s Access Industries – where he’s been given a budget of hundreds of millions of dollars to work on projects for Warner Music Group and others.
Access, which owns WMG as well as a significant stake in Deezer, is forming new division, Access Entertainment, to ‘focus on investments across the entertainment sector with a concentration in high-quality television, films, and theatrical productions’.
Cohen has been named President of Access Entertainment, a role in which he will seek out creative investment opportunities worldwide.
He will specifically work with Warner Music Group, as well as additional Access companies, to ‘drive creative and commercial opportunities’ across audio-visual.
Don’t be surprised, then, to see WMG start sniffing around expert TV and film production houses in the near future.
Warner and Blavatnik, meanwhile, have both enjoyed success with their respective investments in Broadway production Hamilton – the hip-hop musical which recently picked up a record 16 Tony nominations.
“I look forward to working closely with Danny,” said Blavatnik, founder and chairman of Access Industries.
“Danny’s extensive experience and network will be invaluable as we identify and develop new media and entertainment investment opportunities.”
“Danny’s extensive experience and network will be invaluable as we identify new entertainment investment opportunities.”
Len Blavatnik, Access
Cohen said: “I am absolutely thrilled to be joining Len Blavatnik and the Access team.
“Len has proven to be a visionary business leader across a wide range of industries and we have plans to grow Access as an entertainment company.
“Our ambition is to work with the world’s most talented creatives in environments that allow them to do their best work.
“Our investments will be wide-ranging: companies, people, television series, movies, theatrical productions and innovative digital opportunities. We will earn a reputation for quality, innovation and commitment to great talent.”
Danny Cohen announced he was leaving his role as Director of BBC Television in October last year.
He spent more than eight years at the Beeb in total, starting off as controller of BBC Three in May 2007.
In 2010, he became Controller of flagship station BBC One, and in 2012 led the channel to its most successful year in modern history, audience share-wise.
In 2013, he was named Director of BBC Television, where he oversaw all of the BBC’s Drama, Comedy, Entertainment and Unscripted programmes.
During his tenure at the BBC, he commissioned or oversaw shows like Happy Valley, Poldark, Wolf Hall, Peaky Blinders, Doctor Who and War and Peace.
He also oversaw major BBC unscripted brands including Strictly Come Dancing (Dancing with the Stars) and The Graham Norton Show – as well as leading BBC One’s coverage of the 2012 London Olympics.
Before he joined the BBC, Cohen was Head of E4 and Head of Documentaries for Channel 4.
Commissions across his career have also included Skins, The Inbetweeners, Call The Midwife, Dickensian, Russell Howard’s Good News, Supernanny, The Voice, Car Share and many others.
An interesting bit of trivia: Cohen’s wife, revered English academic and author Noreena Hertz, is on the board of Warner Music Group.Music Business Worldwide
