Warner/Chappell has named Kurt Deutsch Senior Vice President, Theatrical & Catalog Development.
Alongside his new post, Deutsch will continue as President of the Grammy Award-winning theatrical music company he founded in 2000, Sh-K-Boom/Ghostlight Records.
As part of the deal the company’s releases will be distributed by Warner’s distribution arm ADA from August 1.
Based in New York, Deutsch will oversee the signing and nurturing of theatrical composers, while identifying and developing new theatrical projects and properties.
He will also manage Warner/Chappell’s theatre and standards repertoire and work closely with the publisher’s relevant departments to secure performance and recording opportunities for its songwriting roster.
Deutsch reports to Warner/Chappell Chairman & CEO Jon Platt, who said: “Kurt is one of the most prominent figures in the Broadway world, having built Sh-K-Boom/Ghostlight into a major force in musical theatre.
“Kurt’s exceptional creative instincts, deep relationships in the theatrical community, and extensive experience in encouraging and cultivating composers will be invaluable as we continue to expand our service to songwriters.”
jon platt, warner/chappell
“His exceptional creative instincts, deep relationships in the theatrical community, and extensive experience in encouraging and cultivating composers will be invaluable as we continue to expand our service to songwriters.
“Today, the theatrical world is in the midst of a renaissance, and Kurt is a leader of this new generation of incredibly gifted songwriters, who are creating brilliant music that transcends genres and cultures.”
Deutsch added: “I am thrilled to be joining Warner/Chappell at this exciting time in the company’s evolution.
“Jon and his fantastic team have created the ideal environment to nurture songwriters at every stage of their careers, and I’m looking forward to helping our artists create and develop their work across the spectrum.”
kurt deutsch
“Jon and his fantastic team have created the ideal environment to nurture songwriters at every stage of their careers, and I’m looking forward to helping our artists create and develop their work across the spectrum – from nascent song ideas to full-fledged theatrical works.
“The depth of talent in the theatre world today is extraordinary, and it is our goal to open up every opportunity for our writers to refine their craft and bring their music to the widest possible audience.
“At the same time, the Warner/Chappell catalog is a mother lode of brilliant theatrical writers whose work is ripe with potential in the modern era. I want to thank Jon for this tremendous opportunity.”
Following a 15-year career as an actor on and off Broadway in TV and film, Deutsch co-founded Sh-K-Boom Records with actress Sherie Rene Scott in New York City.
In 2004, he launched the imprint Ghostlight Records, which has built a library of over 150 releases featuring Broadway musicals, as well as albums by Broadway stars.
Sh-K-Boom/Ghostlight has won three Grammy Awards to date – for the Original Broadway Cast Recordings of Book of Mormon, In The Heights, and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.
Other notable releases include the OBCR’s of Tony-nominated shows such as the revival of Falsettos, War Paint, Something Rotten!, Next to Normal, Legally Blonde, Newsies, and the revivals of She Loves Me, Hair, Pippin, and Anything Goes.
Solo albums from Broadway names include Patti LuPone, Christine Ebersole, Kelli O’Hara, Sutton Foster, Sherie Rene Scott, Alice Ripley, Melissa Errico and Adam Pascal.
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