NEW YORK (CelebrityAccess) — Veteran label exec Max Lousada has been appointed to the lofty post of CEO for Recorded Music for Warner Music Group. In his new role, Lousada will oversee all of WMG’s global Recorded Music operations, including Atlantic, Warner Bros., Parlophone, Warner Music Nashville, Global Catalog/Rhino and Warner Classics, as well as WMG's international Recorded Music affiliates and WMG’s Artist & Label Services divisions, WEA and ADA.
Lousada currently serves as Chairman & CEO of Warner Music UK, which features a roster that includes artists such as Ed Sheeran, Coldplay, Muse, Blur, Gorillaz, Liam Gallagher, Rita Ora, Tinie Tempah, Jess Glynne, Clean Bandit, Iron Maiden, Pink Floyd, Kate Bush and Paul Weller.
Lousada began his music industry career straight out of college, founding his own distribution company, In A Silent Way. In 2000, he became the European Managing Director for the influential New York-based hip-hop label Rawkus Records, where he worked with artists such as Mos Def, Black Star, Talib Kweli and Pharoahe Monch. In 2002, he joined Mushroom Records as Head of A&R, signing ambient dance act Zero 7 and overseeing releases from acts such as Muse, Ash, Garbage and DJ Paul Oakenfold.
Following Warner Music UK's acquisition of Mushroom Records in 2003, Lousada became Head of A&R at Atlantic UK, rising to President, before being named Chairman in 2009. From 2014 to 2016, Lousada served as Chairman of the BRITs Committee, responsible for the creative direction of the UK-based awards event.
Len Blavatnik, Founder & Chairman of Access Industries, said: “Max has developed Warner Music UK into the premier home for British artists and a center of music innovation. WMG’s artists and our global Recorded Music operations will greatly benefit from his creative thinking and artist development expertise.” – Staff Writers
