Acclaimed executive strengthens Warner/Chappell’s senior management team
Warner/Chappell Music’s Chairman and CEO, Cameron Strang, today announced the appointment of Jon Platt to the newly created position of President, Creative – North America, Warner/Chappell Music. Platt will oversee Warner/Chappell’s A&R activities in North America, including in Los Angeles, New York and Nashville, as well as playing a key role in shaping the company strategy. Platt, who previously served as President of North America, Creative, for EMI Music Publishing, will report to Strang and will be based in Los Angeles.
Platt is widely considered to be one of the industry’s most influential music publishers, especially in the pop and R&B/hip-hop genres. During Platt’s 17 years at EMI, the hit-makers that he personally signed at the onset of their careers included Jay-Z, Kanye West, Usher, Drake, Ludacris, Mary Mary, Young Jeezy and Snoop Dogg. He also had a hand in renegotiating deals for Pharrell Williams and Sean “Puffy” Combs, as well as signing Beyoncé. Under his creative guidance, EMI was named Billboard’s Publisher of the Year for the past 12 years, and claimed ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Award for Publisher of the Year for 17 years running.
In making the announcement, Cameron Strang said “Jon’s character, his leadership skills and his ability to identify, sign and nurture talent combine to make him one of the top executives in the music business. His unwavering commitment to songwriters and their music has led to his continued and long term success. His approach makes him a perfect fit with Warner/Chappell and an outstanding addition to our senior team. I look forward to working with him as we continue to grow Warner/Chappell and strengthen the services we provide to our songwriters and publishing partners.”
Jon Platt commented “Warner/Chappell is a creative force with an incredible heritage, a world-class roster of writers and a renewed sense of energy and purpose. Cameron and the team have already achieved great things and I am excited to begin a new chapter with them, helping drive that momentum. We share a common goal: to make Warner/Chappell the best home for today’s extraordinary talent and the songwriting stars of tomorrow.”
Platt also serves as Vice Chairman on 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 and last year he was named Music Visionary of the Year by the UJA Foundation. 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.
Last month, for the first time since Billboard began tracking the top music publishers, Warner/Chappell claimed the No.1 spot on the quarterly airplay chart. The company was also No. 1 on the Country airplay chart for the first time since 2010. This success followed Warner/Chappell and its songwriters being recognized with some of the industry’s most prestigious awards, including tying for the title of ASCAP’s 2012 Pop Music Publisher of the Year and picking up 19 “Most Performed Song of the Year” awards, as well as “Song of the Year” for “Just the Way You Are,” written by Bruno Mars and Khalil “Cassius D. Kalb” Walton. Also, musicals created by Warner/Chappell songwriters were honored with a total of 15 wins at the 66th Annual Tony Awards. Once—composed by Warner/Chappell songwriters Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová of The Swell Season—won more awards than any other show this year including Best Musical, while Newsies, composed by Warner/Chappell songwriter, Alan Menken, won Best Original Score. Warner/Chappell songwriters also took home 13 titles at Billboard’s Latin Music Awards, with rock band Maná claiming five awards and Prince Royce winning eight. Just this Friday, Warner/Chappell songwriters won a spate of awards at the BMI Urban Awards, including Lil Wayne sharing the title of “Urban Songwriter of the Year” as well as Lex Luger and T-Minus both taking home awards for “Top Urban Producer.”
About Warner/Chappell Music:
Warner/Chappell Music is WMG’s award-winning global music publishing company. The Warner/Chappell Music catalog includes standards such as “Happy Birthday To You,” “Rhapsody in Blue,” “Winter Wonderland,” the songs of Cole Porter and George and Ira Gershwin, as well as the music of Eric Clapton, Green Day, Katy Perry, Led Zeppelin, Lil Wayne, Madonna, Nickelback, Paramore, Red Hot Chili Peppers, T.I., Timbaland, fun. and others. Warner/Chappell Music is a leader in creating innovative strategies for marketing and promoting its songwriters and their music. The company’s extensive catalog makes it a natural first stop for A&R executives and record producers, feature film and television production companies, advertising agencies and brands, video game and new media companies, and others looking to record or license some of the world’s greatest music.
Source: Warner/Chappell Music
