Warner Music Group (WMG) today announced that Andy Ma has been promoted to the newly created role of Chief Commercial Officer for Greater China. He will also continue to serve as SVP, Commercial & Business Development, Greater China and South East Asia.
In both roles, he will report into Simon Robson, WMG’s Asia President. He will be responsible for spearheading the music company’s commercial expansion in one of the world’s fastest-growing markets. He will also be working in the China senior leadership team alongside Sam Chen, CEO, Warner Music Greater China, who oversees A&R activity in the market. In addition, he will work alongside Calvin Wong, Warner Music Group’s President for South East Asia, Hong Kong and Korea, on business development projects in South East Asia.
In his new role, he will look at a full range of commercial opportunities in China, from tie-ups with independent labels to brand partnership deals, as well as joint ventures with other companies and maximising the potential of 360 degree agreements with artists.
China’s importance to the international music industry is growing. IFPI figures show that it was the 14th largest recorded music market in 2015, up from the 19th largest in 2014. Experts predict that China will become a top five recorded music market within the next few years.
Simon Robson says: “China is a country with huge potential and significant music related opportunities. Andy is a proven corporate entrepreneur with extensive experience of China and is well placed to help us unlock its music market, delivering for our local and international artists. I congratulate him on his new role and look forward to working closely with him.”
Andy Ma adds: “It is a great privilege to be named WMG’s first Chief Commercial Officer for Greater China. China has the potential to be a top five global music market for WMG and I’m looking forward to playing my part in making that happen. I want to work with new and existing business partners to help take the Chinese music market to the next level.”
Andy Ma joined WMG in 2011 as VP for New Media for Warner Music Hong Kong, before becoming SVP, Commercial & Business Development, Greater China and South East Asia in 2015.
In this role, he was instrumental in developing WMG’s partnership with Chinese internet giant Tencent, which is licensed to distribute the company’s repertoire in mainland China, as well as making it available on its own platforms, such as QQ Music. He also developed partnerships with China Mobile and other China telcos, in addition to video and IPTV content suppliers.
He has also been at the heart of WMG’s licensing partnerships with other major Asian digital music services, including Taiwanese-based KKBOX and South Korea’s MelOn.
He started his career as a business development officer at fashion giant Esprit Asia, before working in various management roles across the fashion, consumer electronics and software industries. He holds a BA (Hons) in Marketing from Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
