WMG promises ‘more firepower’ for British artists as Atlantic and Warner Records UK labels align with US leadership

There are big changes happening between Warner Music Group‘s UK and US operations.

WMG has announced today (September 3) that its flagship Atlantic Records and Warner Records labels in the UK and US will “collaborate more closely” across A&R and marketing, “to give artists from both countries greater global impact”.

In this new framework, Ed Howard and Briony Turner, the Co-Presidents of Atlantic UK, will join the global leadership team of Atlantic Music Group (AMG) and report to AMG CEO Elliot Grainge.

Joe Kentish, President of Warner Records and Parlophone Label Group in the UK, will join Warner Records’ global leadership team and report to Warner Records Group Chairman & CEO Aaron Bay-Schuck and Chairman & COO Tom Corson.

Warner Music UK’s other teams, including the shared services that support both labels, will be overseen directly by Simon Robson, President, EMEA, Recorded Music, WMG’s most senior recorded music leader in the UK, in partnership with Isabel Garvey, COO of Warner Music UK.

Today’s news follows yesterday’s news that Tony Harlow, CEO of Warner Music UK, will step down in October after almost six years in the role.

We noted yesterday that Harlow’s departure from Warner Music UK would raise inevitable questions over whether his exit may herald a new structure for the UK team and how it interacts with (and reports to) the company’s US and international label network.

According to today’s official announcement from WMG, the decision for the Atlantic Records and Warner Records UK label heads to join the leadership teams run by their US counterparts “builds on a long track record of partnership between the US and UK labels”.

That partnership, the company noted,  “has seen British artists become some of WMG’s biggest global acts, while their American counterparts crack the UK as they build international careers”.

WMG added that the move “amplifies the organic connection [between the US and UK] and turbocharges the process of breaking acts across both markets, accelerating global careers with greater speed and scale”.

Commenting on the move, Robert Kyncl, CEO of WMG, said: “The UK is home to some of our biggest artists and most exciting emerging talents, who are helping shape culture around the world.”

“The UK is home to some of our biggest artists and most exciting emerging talents, who are helping shape culture around the world.”

Robert Kyncl

Added Kyncl: “It’s also a hugely influential ignition point for global stars who are growing their fanbases.

“This strategic move will put more firepower behind British artists, while strengthening the UK’s place in our ecosystem, as one of our highest priority markets.

“Above all, both our UK and US teams will be able to better mirror the way music moves in the world, further strengthening WMG’s collective impact and competitive edge.”

“The UK market is more competitive than ever, and success requires the strongest possible connection with our US partners.”

Joe Kentish

Joe Kentish said: “At Warner Records UK we are completely focused on taking British artists to the world. The UK market is more competitive than ever, and success requires the strongest possible connection with our US partners.

“By aligning Warner Records UK and US into one global force, we’re combining British creativity with American firepower, building on the incredible partnership we have with Tom and Aaron, and setting our artists up for worldwide success.”

“For the last two decades, Atlantic UK and US have together developed many of the most popular stars in the world, so this move is a very natural next step.”

Ed Howard and Briony Turner

Ed Howard and Briony Turner added: “Atlantic Records was named after the ocean which lies between the UK and the US to symbolize the cultural links between these two countries.

“For the last two decades, Atlantic UK and US have together developed many of the most popular stars in the world, so this move is a very natural next step.

“We see eye-to-eye with Elliot and the Atlantic US team on the importance of building inventive campaigns that match the vision and ambition of our extraordinary artists, so we’re looking forward to embarking on this adventure together.”

“This is an incredible opportunity for British artists to more directly access greater resources and reach.”

Simon Robson

Simon Robson said: “Today, artists have global aspirations for their careers from day one. In a streaming environment, where weight of population is an influential factor, this is an incredible opportunity for British artists to more directly access greater resources and reach.

“I’m looking forward to working more closely with our UK artists and leaders, as we continue to introduce the most distinctive British voices to the world stage.”Music Business Worldwide