Reprise President Klein to Step Down

Veteran record executive Howie Klein, president of Warner Music Group’s Reprise label, has agreed to step down by the end of June with about two years remaining on his contract, sources said.

Klein’s exit had been expected since the ouster in February of 30-year veteran Russ Thyret, chairman of the Burbank-based Warner Bros. Records label, with whom Klein worked closely.

Thyret left shortly before Warner Music began a corporate restructuring that eliminated about 615 jobs. Reprise emerged mostly unscathed, but its staff had already been partially absorbed by the larger Warner Bros. label.

The remaining Reprise staff of about three dozen now will report to Warner Bros. Records President Phil Quartararo.