On December 10, 2023, Warner Music announced significant leadership changes in its Australian and Southeast Asian divisions, aimed at enhancing its global outreach for artists. The restructuring reflects the company’s ambition to elevate local talent while integrating international artists into the Australian and Southeast Asian markets.
New Leadership Appointments
This strategic overhaul includes the promotion of Alex Young to Vice President of Domestic Artists for Warner Music Australasia. In this pivotal role, Young will oversee all domestic operations, including A&R, creative, and marketing efforts, focusing on nurturing local talent.
Meanwhile, Dan Ellis has been appointed Vice President of International Artist Strategy for both Warner Music Australasia and Southeast Asia. Ellis will play a crucial role in leading Warner Music Group’s global initiatives for international artists across these regions. Both Young and Ellis will report directly to Dan Rosen, the President of Warner Music Australasia and Southeast Asia.
In a statement regarding these changes, Warner Music emphasized that they aim to “strengthen its domestic artist pipeline and accelerate the global export of music from the region.” This restructuring follows Rosen’s recent promotion, which expanded his responsibilities to encompass Warner Music’s recorded music activities across Southeast Asia, including key markets such as Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Strategic Vision for Southeast Asia
Rosen expressed enthusiasm for the opportunities that lie ahead, noting the dynamic nature of the Southeast Asian market, which boasts over 500 million residents. “Each country is different, has its own unique culture, its own unique music industry, but the one common thread across all of it is that it’s dynamic and growing,” he stated. “There’s wonderful entrepreneurialism in the region and a real desire to grow.”
Supporting Young in his new role will be Charlotte Kindred, who has been promoted to Head of Domestic Artist Strategy. Kindred will be responsible for executing domestic and export strategies daily. Additionally, Sarah Thomas has been elevated to Artist Relations and Promotions Manager for Australasia Export, relocating from Sydney to New York to forge new global networks for Australasian artists.
Ellis will be supported by Lucy Baker, newly appointed as Head of PR, Artist Relations, and Wellbeing, while Jordon Dionatos and Lisan Yee will serve as International Artist Strategy Leads for Australasia and Southeast Asia, respectively. The restructuring also sees Manny Kupelian taking on the role of Head of Creator Strategy, focusing on digital and fan engagement.
Rosen believes this new framework allows Warner Music to be agile and specialized, positioning the company to capitalize on opportunities in rapidly growing markets, such as the Philippines and Indonesia. He highlighted the potential for Australian and New Zealand artists to gain international traction while also benefiting from the presence of major global artists.
“There’s an enormous opportunity for both our Australian and New Zealand artists, as well as regional artists from other parts of APAC,” Rosen explained. He noted that Southeast Asia could serve as a significant catalyst for Warner Music’s mission, given the current surge in talent emerging from Australia.
Notable Australian artists, such as Amyl and The Sniffers, Dom Dolla, Ninajirachi, and Confidence Man, have recently achieved global recognition. Warner Music’s domestic roster also includes Boy Soda, who recently won his first ARIA Award, and Kita Alexander, who performed at the industry’s flagship ceremony.
“It’s exciting that there is so much talent coming out of Australia and New Zealand again,” Rosen remarked. “There’s a new generation of artists that are ‘born global.’ From day one, they understand the global platform world we live in, but still recognize the importance of being great live acts, building fan bases, and telling authentic stories.”
With this new executive structure, Warner Music aims to enhance its influence and foster a thriving music ecosystem that benefits local artists while reaching a global audience.