WMG Appoints Exec to ‘Champion Catalogs’ Across Recorded Music, Publishing

Warner Music Group is doubling down on catalog.

Announced early Wednesday, July 16th, Universal Music Group veteran Orla Lee-Fisher is appointed Head of Dual Catalog Strategy at WMG, a new role.

Based in London, Lee-Fisher is tasked with crafting and leading campaigns for the music major’s off-roster catalog where the company has both recorded music and publishing rights.

She’ll work with the business’s recorded music and music publishing teams to drive prioritisation, strategy, and alignment on key artists and songwriters, with a focus on creative storytelling and IP development.

Lee-Fisher “will create impactful campaigns that drive cultural conversations, promoting some of the world’s greatest catalogs to both new and longstanding fans,” reads a statement, “while identifying and growing new revenue sources for artists, songwriters, and their estates.”

WMG’s new recruit boasts more than 20 years’ service with UMG in a variety of roles, including General Manager of Polydor Records and Managing Director of A&M Records. Most recently, she was EVP, Global Marketing and worked across innovative campaigns for a-list artists including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Elton John.

This new post is a "unique" one, explains Kevin Gore, President, Global Catalog, Recorded Music, Warner Music, through which Lee-Fisher will "deliver meaningful opportunities" for its artists and songwriters and "unlock new value for the world-class catalogs in our care.”

Thanks to the unlimited supply of golden oldies on streaming platforms, the expansion of licensing for sync and performance royalties, and the growth of vinyl, catalog is a big business.

To play in this space, Universal Music Australia recently announced its own “reimagined” catalogue division, Universal Music Connect, led by Liam Dennis (General Manager of Catalogue) and Garret Haakma (General Manager – Marketing).

At WMG, Lee-Fisher reports jointly to Gore on the recorded music side, and Carianne Marshall & Guy Moot, Co-Chairs of Warner Chappell Music, the music publishing arm of WMG.

“Where recorded music and publishing rights overlap," Orla Lee-Fisher comments, "Warner Music Group has made the strategic decision to manage its artists and songwriters’ catalogs more holistically. This has the potential to be a game changer for the way we drive engagement in their music and convert new audiences into fans. I can’t wait to get started."