Warner Bros. Records chairman and CEO Cameron Strang is in New York City this week meeting with Warner Music's top brass amid rampant speculation of an impending change in leadership at Warner Bros label. WMG has been in discussions for months with RCA president and COO Tom Corson about a potential label-head job, sources tell Billboard, but Corson could not immediately be reached for comment.
Both WMG and Sony Music declined to comment.
In addition to running Warner Bros. since 2012, Strang also sits on the board of WMG, making an immediate exit from the company's orbit unlikely. Sources tell Billboard that Strang won particular favor with Len Blavatnik -- whose Access Industries owns WMG -- by suggesting he invest in the musical Hamilton, now one of the biggest successes on Broadway.
If Corson lands at Warner Bros., the Seattle native would move to Los Angeles and report to Max Lousada, the soon-to-be CEO of recorded music for Warner Music Group, who officially takes over Oct. 1. The role of president of WBR has been empty since Dan McCarroll departed in July. WMG has also approached Interscope’s A&R Aaron Bay-Schuck about another potential role, sources tell Billboard.
The current Warner Bros. roster includes Green Day, Lukas Graham, Adam Lambert, The Black Keys, Disturbed, Jason Derulo, Josh Groban, Kid Rock, PartyNextDoor and Andra Day, among others.
Corson and RCA chairman and CEO Peter Edge took over management at the Sony Music imprint in 2011, and have scored global hits with Sia, Zayn Malik, Justin Timberlake, Pentatonix, Bryson Tiller, Khalid, Miguel, Miley Cyrus and Pitbull, among others. The duo landed at No. 22 in this year's Billboard Power 100 list, saying their goal was to "to break acts and establish new superstars." As for established acts, the label lost Kelly Clarkson (to Atlantic) but this week scored a number one on the Billboard 200 with the Foo Fighters' latest, Concrete and Gold.
