Kazuyuki Kobayashi appointed Chief Executive Officer, Warner Music Japan
Shuji Utsumi named Chief Operating Officer, Warner Music Japan
Warner Music Group (WMG) today announced the appointment of Kazuyuki (Kaz) Kobayashi as Chief Executive Officer and Shuji Utsumi as Chief Operating Officer, Warner Music Japan. Kobayashi, a highly experienced and respected media executive, joins from Sony Music Entertainment Japan where he most recently worked as Corporate Executive, overseeing Sony’s music TV assets, live venues, ticketing and magazine publishing. In his new role he will manage the development of all aspects of WMG’s Japanese recorded music business, reporting to Lachie Rutherford, President, Warner Music Asia Pacific. He will be responsible for discovering and nurturing local acts and devising high-impact opportunities for global repertoire as well as overseeing the expansion of the company’s digital footprint and its range of artist services.
As COO, reporting to Kobayashi, Utsumi will be responsible for identifying new business models, developing operational plans and helping to drive strategy and the growth of the organisation. A successful entrepreneur in the gaming industry, Utsumi joins Warner Music Japan from Q Entertainment, a gaming development company that he founded.
“I am thrilled to welcome Kaz and Shuji to Warner Music. They are both pioneering executives with exemplary track records and a wealth of entertainment experience,” commented Lachie Rutherford. “Kaz is one of Japan’s leading music professionals whose unrivalled A&R and marketing expertise has guided the careers of huge Japanese artists and global superstars. Shuji’s many business successes can be attributed to his sharp entrepreneurial instincts, strong operational knowledge and deep understanding of the wider opportunities to monetize music. I am confident that their combined skills, vision and commitment to innovation will ensure that we continue to offer the best home for extraordinary talent in Japan.”
Stu Bergen, President, International, Warner Recorded Music, said, “Our new Japanese leadership team has the transformative skill-set needed to navigate the challenges and to capitalize on the myriad opportunities that lie ahead in Japan. Kaz’s creative vision and Shuji’s consumer-focused expertise will add new levels of dynamism and innovation as we break extraordinary talent, forge new commercial models for the industry and deliver unique opportunities for our artists.”
“I look forward to working with Lachie, Stu and Shuji. It is a privilege to represent such strong repertoire and to lead an immensely talented team of people who are focused on the future of Warner’s artists,” said Kaz Kobayashi. “I am passionate about signing and developing the very best local acts and excited to have the opportunity to create an environment that will enable their careers to flourish.”
Shuji Usumi added, “There are an increasing number of ways for fans to connect and engage with music which provide scope to expand the tools and expertise offered to artists. I look forward to working with Kaz to explore new business models to ensure Warner Music remains an industry leader across all areas of the organisation.”
Kobayashi and Utsumi join Warner Music Japan on 1st April and will work alongside Honorary Chairman Kei Ishizaka until October to ensure a smooth transition of the business.
Kobayashi joins from Sony Music Entertainment Japan where he most recently worked as Corporate Executive. In 2013 he took over the media group, which includes Sony’s music TV assets, live venues, ticketing business and magazine publishing. He started his music career as a musician, before joining the A&R team at Epic Records, he then moved up through the company to become CEO. He served as the CEO of Epic Records longer than any other CEO in the history of the company and then took on responsibility for Ariola Records for several years, as head of a label group that included Epic and Ariola.
Utsumi started his career at Sony Corporation and was a founding member at Sony Computer before moving to Sega America where he became an Executive Director. He was then named Managing Director of Disney Interactive Asia Pacific, before co-founding Q Entertainment, a very exciting game developer based in Tokyo. The company explores new genres of gaming, mobile gaming, and SNS, and engages the music industry to develop games that leverage fan bases and help monetize through gaming.
