Max Lousada, the longtime CEO of Recorded Music at Warner Music Group, has written a observe to WMG’s workers as he prepares to exit his function on September 30.
As reported final month, Lousada is stepping down after eight profitable years within the function, and 20 years at WMG.
He will stay as an advisor to WMG via January 31, 2025.
Within the observe despatched to WMG staffers at this time (September 27), obtained by MBW, Lousada wrote that “though I’ll be working in an advisory capability until the top of January, it appears like that is the second to thanks all for what has been essentially the most extraordinary expertise and essentially the most unimaginable honour”.
“Individuals who could make music that strikes individuals are particular. The world wants them. It’s a privilege to assist these artists be seen, heard, appreciated and, in the end, to succeed.”
Max Lousada
He added: “My complete profession, from my indie roots via my 21 years right here at Warner, has been guided by one easy fact: Individuals who could make music that strikes individuals are particular.
“The world wants them. It’s a privilege to assist these artists be seen, heard, appreciated and, in the end, to succeed.”
Lousada is Warner Music Group’s first devoted CEO of Recorded Music since Lyor Cohen, who left the main in 2012.
The British govt started his music trade profession straight out of school, founding his personal distribution firm, In A Silent Manner.
In 2000, he turned the European Managing Director for the influential New York-based hip-hop label Rawkus Data, the place he labored with artists reminiscent of Mos Def, Black Star, Talib Kwali and Pharoahe Monch.
In 2002, he joined Mushroom Data as Head of A&R, signing ambient dance act Zero 7 and overseeing releases from acts reminiscent of Muse, Ash, Rubbish and DJ Paul Oakenfold. .
Following Warner Music UK’s acquisition of Mushroom Data in 2003, Lousada turned Head of A&R at Atlantic UK, rising to President, earlier than being named Chairman in 2009.
Lousada was named Warner Music UK CEO in 2013, stepping up from his function as Chairman of Atlantic UK – the place his roster included Ed Sheeran, Paolo Nutini, James Blunt, Plan B, Damien Rice, Birdy and Rudimental.
His tenure as CEO of Recorded Music began in October 2017.
Elsewhere in his observe to WMG workers, Lousada wrote of his “enormous respect to everybody who champions artists day by day by supporting their creativity, telling their tales, fuelling their fandom, and taking them international, in addition to the unsung heroes defending artists’ rights, getting them paid, and ensuring all of us are geared up to do our greatest work”.
He added: “Everybody right here performs their half and, no matter your function, know that I see you and I admire you. It has been my privilege to work with you and to guide you.”
“Do not forget that, at its absolute best, music is the sound of change. What essentially the most iconic artists and essentially the most enduring companies have in frequent is evolution.”
Max Lousada
He additionally delivered the next message to these “taking Warner into its subsequent period”:
“Do not forget that, at its absolute best, music is the sound of change. What essentially the most iconic artists and essentially the most enduring companies have in frequent is evolution. Typically that’s exhilarating, generally it’s messy and tough,” wrote Lousada.
“I encourage you to embrace ALL of it as a result of it’s after we problem ourselves to maneuver ahead that artists win, followers win, and we win. In the end, music has to win. It’s simply too vital to not.”
Lousada’s departure from WMG arrives alongside different notable adjustments to the main’s senior ranks, with colleagues Julie Greenwald and Kevin Liles additionally leaving Warner Music Group on the finish of the month.
Yesterday (September 26), outgoing Atlantic Music Group Chairman Julie Greenwald despatched her personal farewell observe to the corporate’s workers, because the exec prepares to go away the corporate after 20 years.
On Monday (September 23), Atlantic Music Group revealed its new management staff and broader firm construction beneath incoming CEO Elliot Grainge.
You’ll be able to learn Max Lousada’s farewell observe to WMG workers in full under:
Hello everybody,
Monday can be my final day as CEO, Warner Recorded Music.
Though I’ll be working in an advisory capability until the top of January, it appears like that is the second to thanks all for what has been essentially the most extraordinary expertise and essentially the most unimaginable honour.
My complete profession, from my indie roots via my 21 years right here at Warner, has been guided by one easy fact: Individuals who could make music that strikes individuals are particular. The world wants them. It’s a privilege to assist these artists be seen, heard, appreciated and, in the end, to succeed.
So I need to specific my gratitude to all of the artists and managers who put their religion in me and in Warner to assist them. Being there from the start with superstars like Ed Sheeran, Bruno Mars, Dua Lipa, and David Guetta; our partnerships with legends like Coldplay and Linkin Park; being entrusted with the catalogs of icons like David Bowie, Fleetwood Mac, Madonna, and Led Zeppelin; seeing artists like Megan Thee Stallion, Lil Uzi Vert, CKay, Zach Bryan, Myke Towers, Gunna, Lizzo, Jack Harlow, Benson Boone, and Charli xcx make their mark on tradition…these and so many others are recollections and relationships I’ll treasure.
I need to give enormous respect to everybody who champions artists day by day by supporting their creativity, telling their tales, fuelling their fandom, and taking them international, in addition to the unsung heroes defending artists’ rights, getting them paid, and ensuring all of us are geared up to do our greatest work. Everybody right here performs their half and, no matter your function, know that I see you and I admire you. It has been my privilege to work with you and to guide you.
I want to thank Len for backing Warner, and to want him, Robert, and the WMG management staff each success in steering this distinctive and historic firm ahead.
For all of you taking Warner into its subsequent period, do not forget that, at its absolute best, music is the sound of change. What essentially the most iconic artists and essentially the most enduring companies have in frequent is evolution. Typically that’s exhilarating, generally it’s messy and tough. I encourage you to embrace ALL of it as a result of it’s after we problem ourselves to maneuver ahead that artists win, followers win, and we win. In the end, music has to win. It’s simply too vital to not.
No matter my subsequent period seems to be like, I’ll at all times be rooting for you and I hope a lot of our paths will cross once more.
For now, I’m going to go and put a report on…
Thanks, all of you, for every little thing.
MaxMusic Enterprise Worldwide
