Former YouTube chief business officer Robert Kyncl has been chosen to replace Stephen Cooper as Warner Music Group’s new CEO, the company announced Wednesday. He starts effective Jan. 1, 2023. As previously reported, WMG was drawn to Kyncl’s background in tech, most recently a 12-year tenure overseeing partnerships and operations at YouTube and previous stints at Netflix and HBO.
Kyncl’s name surfaced as a potential successor shortly after Cooper announced his resignation in June, though at the time he was considered a long shot given his then-active role at YouTube. But odds that he was a leading candidate escalated in August when he announced his departure from YouTube after a dozen years at the massive multi-media company.
“Robert is the right CEO to meet this moment,” commented Len Blavatnik, founder and chairman of Access Industries. “His command of technology to serve creativity will unlock new opportunities at scale for artists, songwriters, and their teams. He sees over the horizon to find ways to make world-class entertainment accessible for all.”
Appointed in the summer of 2011 following the company’s purchase by Access Industries, Cooper has steered WMG during an unpredictable time for the music industry — namely the transition to streaming from a tanking model dependent on physical and downloads — and is credited with leading a series of smart tech investments that helped drive the company back to profitability. WMG went public in 2020 and Cooper is now the longest-serving CEO in company history.
In a prepared statement, Cooper called Kyncl a “fantastic choice” as his successor.
“He’ll have world-class partners in WMG’s senior management and global team,” Cooper said. “I’m very proud of all we’ve accomplished together, attracting and nurturing amazing artists and songwriters, while leading the industry in the use of new technologies and the expansion into emerging markets. After a smooth handover with Robert is complete, I’m looking forward to becoming a full-time fan of the best team in the business.”
This is a developing story.
