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Jon Platt Named President, North America, Warner/Chappell Music

December 10, 2013

Influential Publishing Executive Takes On Expanded Role
 
 
Jon Platt has been promoted to President, North America, Warner/Chappell Music (WCM), it was announced today by WCM Chairman and CEO Cameron Strang. Reporting to Strang, Platt will take on a newly expanded leadership role, overseeing teams across WCM’s offices in New York, Nashville, Miami, Toronto and the company’s headquarters in Los Angeles. Platt most recently served as Warner/Chappell’s President, Creative – North America.
 
“Jon is a once-in-a-generation executive, and a terrific leader, with a deep understanding of the artistic process. Over the past year, the incredible talents Jon has signed, along with his own strength of character and the superb team he has fostered, have contributed much to our reputation for creative excellence and our culture of dedicated service. There’s no doubt he will be an outstanding leader for our North American organization,” said Cameron Strang. “Together, we are very excited about our plans for taking Warner/Chappell and our songwriters to new heights. Our team has the vision, expertise and global resources needed to shape the future of the music business.”
 
Platt added, “It is thrilling to be partnered with Cameron in leading a company that is supporting and nurturing so many amazing songwriters. What makes Warner/Chappell the best home for songwriters of every genre, at all stages of their careers, is our tireless focus on their long-term success and our determination to bring them fresh opportunities. Our entire team has one collective mission: serving songwriters in the pursuit of their artistic goals.”
 
Platt joined a newly revitalized Warner/Chappell in September 2012, and has since worked closely with Strang to drive the ongoing growth of the company, its diverse roster of songwriters and its range of creative services. Platt has overseen the strengthening of Warner/Chappell’s A&R activities in North America, including the appointment of Ben Vaughn as EVP, Warner/Chappell Nashville and Jake Ottman, as SVP, A&R, based in New York. Over the course of the last year, the company has attracted a wide range of new and established talent including JAY Z, Beyoncé, Roc Nation’s publishing roster, Slash, Dave Mustaine, Mike WiLL Made It, Liz Rose, Lee Miller and the recently signed Aloe Blacc, among others, while continuing to build its relationships with songwriters such as Katy Perry, Nate Ruess, Michael Bublé, Led Zeppelin, Barry Gibb and George Michael. At the same time, WCM has continued to identify and develop powerful new opportunities for songwriters, including extending its digital business development capabilities, expanding its synchronization team and building its footprint in emerging markets.
 
The success of WCM and its songwriters has been widely recognized in recent months. On Friday, Warner/Chappell songwriters garnered numerous GRAMMY nominations, including three of the five Song of the Year nominations (Katy Perry for “Roar,” Philip Lawrence and Bruno Mars for “Locked Out Of Heaven,” and Nate Ruess for his collaboration with Pink, “Just Give Me a Reason”). Other highlights included JAY Z receiving nine nominations, more recognition than any other artist; Kendrick Lamar being nominated seven times including for Album of the Year, Best New Artist and Best Rap Song; and Kacey Musgraves being nominated four times, including for Best New Artist and Best Country Song. Other nominated WCM songwriters included Jerome “J-Roc” Harmon, Terius “The-Dream” Nash, Tommy Torres, Matthew Bellamy and Michael Bublé, among others.

In November, WCM was named 2013 Music Publisher of the Year at the 51st Annual ASCAP Country Music Awards. Earlier this year, WCM songwriter Kacey Musgraves won New Artist of the Year at the 2013 Country Music Awards, while Kendrick Lamar received the ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards’ top honor, the Vanguard Award. WCM was also named Music Publisher of the Year at the 32nd Canadian Music & Broadcast Industry Awards. In February, Warner/Chappell songwriters won a host of awards at the 2013 Grammys, including Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best New Artist.
 
Widely considered to be one of the industry’s most influential music publishing executives, Platt previously spent 17 years at EMI, where artists/songwriters he signed at the outset of their careers included JAY Z, Kanye West, Usher, Drake, Ludacris, Mary Mary, Young Jeezy, Fabolous and Snoop Dogg. He also signed Beyoncé and negotiated deals for Pharrell Williams and Sean “Puffy” Combs. Under his creative leadership, EMI was named Billboard’s Publisher of the Year 12 times and claimed the ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Award for Publisher of the Year 17 years running.
 
Platt has also served as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors for the MusiCares Foundation, and sits on the Board of the Living Legends Foundation. He was the first music publisher to be featured in Source magazine’s annual Power 30 issue, was named 2011 Music Visionary of the Year by the UJA-Federation of New York and in 2012 was featured in Billboard’s Power 100 and celebrated as one of Pop’s Top 35 Hit-Makers by The Hollywood Reporter. He has also consulted for EMI Records, LaFace Records, Island Records, and Atlantic Records. He began his career in the music business as a DJ in his native Denver, before moving to Los Angeles to manage producers.
 
About Warner/Chappell
Warner/Chappell Music, the global music publishing company of Warner Music Group, is home to a wide array of legendary songwriters and a rich catalog of contemporary hits and influential standards. With offices in more than 40 countries, Warner/Chappell provides deep expertise across a range of creative services and the most innovative opportunities for songwriters and copyright holders. With a history dating back more than 200 years, Warner/Chappell currently publishes and administers music from Barry Gibb, Beyoncé, Bruno Mars, Eric Clapton, fun., Gamble & Huff, Green Day, Jay-Z, Katy Perry, Led Zeppelin, Madonna, Miramax Films, Muse, Radiohead, Red Hot Chili Peppers, R.E.M, Roc Nation, Stephen Sondheim, T.I., Timbaland and Wayne Hector, among many others.

Source: Warner/Chappell Music