Warner Music Group (WMG) CEO Robert Kyncl is to be recognized with the Paley Center’s highest honor at the 2026 Paley Honors Spring Gala.
The Paley Center for Media has named Kyncl among its list of honorees for the annual New York celebration, alongside Arnaud de Puyfontaine, CEO and Chairman of the Management Board of former Universal Music Group owner Vivendi, as well as the 50th anniversary of television series Charlie’s Angels with stars Kate Jackson, Jaclyn Smith, and Cheryl Ladd.
The group will each receive The Paley Honors Award at the event, which will take place at the Plaza on Thursday, May 14.
Kyncl, who the nonprofit organization describes as an “innovative executive and creator economy trailblazer,” joined WMG in January 2023 after 12 years at YouTube, where he served as Chief Business Officer. He signed a new deal at the major in late 2025.
Prior to YouTube, Kyncl spent more than seven years at Netflix. He began his career at talent agency, J. Michael Bloom, and then worked for HBO International, before joining kids entertainment start-up, ALFY.
Kyncl is also co-founder of the Kyncl Family Foundation, which provides financial assistance to students from underrepresented communities pursuing STEM degrees.
“It’s a privilege to receive this honor and I’m proud to support the important work this organization does for the media industry.”
ROBERT Kyncl, WARNER MUSIC GROUP
The Paley Honors Spring Gala will take place during Paley’s 50th Anniversary year, which kicked off in November with the reopening of the newly renovated theaters and reimagined public spaces in New York City’s The Paley Museum.
The evening will spotlight the contributions of each honoree with video highlights chronicling landmark achievements in their respective industries as well as tributes from colleagues and other media figures during a seated dinner.
“The Paley Center has spent five decades celebrating the power of human expression, alongside the technology that carries it to every corner of the world,” said Kyncl. “It’s a privilege to receive this honor and I’m proud to support the important work this organization does for the media industry, fostering the dialogue we need to have as leaders to navigate the challenges of the digital age.”
The proceeds from The Paley Honors help support the Museum’s educational programs, and preservation initiatives within the Paley Archive – which the organization says is “the world’s largest publicly accessible collection of television and radio programs featuring more than 160,000 titles.”
“The Paley Honors celebrates the visionaries whose leadership, creativity, and transformative ideas have left an indelible mark on our culture,” said Maureen J. Reidy, President & CEO, The Paley Center for Media.
“We are proud to recognize Arnaud de Puyfontaine, Robert Kyncl, and the 50th anniversary of Charlie’s Angels with Kate Jackson, Jaclyn Smith, and Cheryl Ladd, and we look forward to what promises to be an unforgettable and inspiring evening.”Music Business Worldwide
