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New Warner/Chappell CEO Jon Platt names A&R heads

Warner/Chappell Music Publishing CEO Jon Platt, left, with new A&R co-heads Katie Vinten and Ryan Press.

Warner/Chappell Music Publishing CEO Jon Platt, left, with new A&R co-heads Katie Vinten and Ryan Press.

(Warner/Chappell)
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Jon Platt, the new chief executive of Warner/Chappell Music Publishing, has promoted two executives to lead the company’s artists and repertoire operations as the company continues to tweak its executive ranks.

Katie Vinten and Ryan Press will serve as co-heads of U.S. A&R, in charge of finding and developing songwriter talent. They will work in the company’s Los Angeles headquarters and report to Platt.

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This is not the first change to Warner/Chappell’s leadership roster since Platt became the music publisher’s CEO in November, replacing Cameron Strang. Earlier this month Platt named veteran music and media executive Paul Kahn as executive vice president and chief financial officer.

But A&R is a key focus for Platt, who made a name for himself signing and developing artists during his 17-year stint at EMI before he joined Warner/Chappell, a unit of Warner Music Group.

“A&R drives our entire business at Warner/Chappell and the entire business in general,” Platt said. “A great part of our success is due to [Vinten and Press’] efforts.”

Music publishers represent songwriters and composers behind the sound recordings heard on albums and the radio, whereas record labels deal with the performers. Warner/Chappell publishes and administers songs from artists such as Katy Perry and Led Zeppelin.

Vinten, 32, came to Warner/Chappell from EMI at the same time as Platt. She has been key to the careers of songwriters such as Justin Tranter, who’s written for Justin Bieber and Gwen Stefani.

Press, 36, joined the company in 2009 and has worked closely with artists including Wiz Khalifa.

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Follow Ryan Faughnder on Twitter for more entertainment business coverage: @rfaughnder

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