Dan Rosen has a new boss at Warner Music

It’s the busiest week of the year for Dan Rosen, who is overseeing his final ARIA Awards on Wednesday as CEO of ARIA, before taking the top job at Warner Music Australia.

As previously reported, Rosen’s boss at Warner Music International, Stu Bergen, is departing.

Overnight, the music industry learned who slots into the big job... Simon Robson.

Robson takes on the central leadership role of President, International, Recorded Music for Warner Music Group, a massive gig with oversight for the major music company’s operations outside the U.S. and U.K.

Warner Music Group

Robson is promoted from within, a reward for his work expanding the company’s activities the Asia region.

He has served with Warner Music for more than two decades, and as President of Warner Music Asia since 2015.

Over the past five years, Robson was responsible for building WMG’s operations in China, Japan, Korea, and Indonesia, and launching a new affiliate in Vietnam.

Also, he is recognised for driving Warner’s shift to a digital-first business model in Asia, while facilitating the rollout of several labels in the region, including Spinnin’ Asia and Japanese urban label +809.

“Our business is more international than ever, with incredible music coming from all parts of the globe,” comments Robson in a statement. “I’m looking forward to helping build our local rosters, foster artistic pollination across territories, and develop long-term, global careers for our artists.”

With streaming platforms exploding, the growth potential for the region is mindboggling, Robson told this reporter last year. 

"The growth in paid streaming services in Asia is extremely promising for the music industry," he explained. "We’re seeing it in Japan, which has been dominated by physical product, and we’re seeing it in China, where a mix of free services and outright piracy dominated the market for years.  If we can get paid streaming to be a truly mass market model then the potential revenue growth is off the Richter scale."

In his new role, Robson is based in London, reporting to Max Lousada, Global CEO of Recorded Music, Warner Music Group.

Dan Rosen

The paths to international success are “multiplying rapidly, and it’ll be fantastic to work with Warner’s talented leadership around the world, many of whom I’ve already had the pleasure of knowing over the years,” adds Robson.

An announcement about his successor at Warner Music Asia will be made in due course, reads a company statement.

Rosen is expected to take the reins as President of Warner Music Australasia in Sydney, with effect from 1st February, 2021.

He will join Warner Music after serving almost a decade as CEO of ARIA and PPCA.