Warner Music Nashville (WMN), the Nashville-based recorded music operation of Warner Music Group, today announced the promotion of Peter Strickland to Executive Vice President & General Manager, WMN. In his new position, Strickland will help oversee day-to-day operations of WMN’s country division. Peter previously served as Senior Vice President, Brand Management & Sales, and will continue to report to John Esposito, President and CEO, WMN.
“Throughout two decades of loyal and outstanding service to Warner Music’s country division, Peter has demonstrated his amazing skills at creative marketing and sales. He also has shown the ever so important ability to have outstanding and trusting relationships with our artists,” said Esposito. “I couldn’t be more thrilled to have him as a partner in helping to take WMN to the next level.”
“When I started with Warner Music Group nearly 25 years ago, I could have never imagined it would lead me to this exciting path,” said Strickland. “I am truly honored to have my contributions recognized by my Nashville family, and cannot wait to lead my label cohorts into WMN’s next era of success and innovation.”
Strickland’s multi-faceted expertise in sales and marketing comes from having spent nearly 25 years with Warner Music Group. He first joined the company as a Field Representative for Warner/Elektra/Atlantic (WEA) Distribution based in Boston, MA, and quickly rose through the ranks. He moved to Nashville in 1995, with his wife, Linda and children, to accept a position as Regional Sales Manager for Warner Bros. Records, and went on to serve as both National Sales Director and Vice President of Sales/Marketing for Warner/Reprise Nashville, prior to being named SVP, Brand Management & Sales. Strickland also serves as the de facto general manager of comedy imprint LoudMouth Entertainment, and executive produced Jimmy Fallon’s 2013 GRAMMY Award-winning Comedy Album of the Year, Blow Your Pants Off, a compilation of Fallon’s most hilarious musical skits featuring guest artists like Paul McCartney, Eddie Vedder, and Bruce Springsteen.
Peter has worked alongside such artists as Faith Hill, Blake Shelton, Sheryl Crow, Big & Rich, Jeff Foxworthy, Larry The Cable Guy, Bill Engvall, Hunter Hayes and Jana Kramer, and his marketing strategies have helped generate gold, platinum and multi-platinum album sales. Under Strickland’s brand management oversight, Hayes and Kramer both scored Top 10 gold-certified debut singles, Kramer became the highest charting female debut in Country Aircheck history, Hayes was named CMA New Artist of the Year, and Shelton scored his first multi-platinum single and his third consecutive CMA Male Vocalist of the Year title, all in 2012 alone.
About Warner Music Nashville
Warner Music Nashville was created in 2009 with the goal of expanding the presence WMG and its family of labels has had in the Nashville music community for more than 60 years. The division is home to Warner Bros. Nashville, Word Label Group, Atlantic Nashville, Elektra Nashville and the LoudMouth comedy label.
Source: Warner Music Group
