It’s been a difficult 12 months for Warner Music, with a significant overhaul at its Atlantic division and alter all through its enterprise and the business general, however it’s protected to say the corporate is ending 2024 on an up observe. Its Warner Information has efficiently accomplished a multi-year turnaround with hits from Zach Bryan, Teddy Swims, Benson Boone and extra — and noticed its chief execs Aaron Bay-Schuck and Tom Corson named Selection’s Hitmakers executives of the 12 months — and Atlantic is coming off a flurry of hits from Bruno Mars and Girl Gaga, Coldplay, Rose and Selection‘s Hitmaker of the Yr Charli xcx. In publishing, its Warner Chappell division has three of its writers up for the songwriter of the 12 months Grammy — Jessi Alexander, Raye, and naturally Amy Allen, who was named Hitmakers songwriter of the 12 months.
Arduous-charging CEO Robert Kyncl wrote a year-end observe to the workers, thanking them for “rising to the event” in the course of the “intense” 2024.
Hello everybody,
I wished to take a second to thanks on your unimaginable dedication and keenness over the previous 12 months.
In January, I talked about 2024 being the Yr of the Subsequent 10, the place we moved to set ourselves up for the subsequent decade. We’ve ended the 12 months with the No.1 most listened-to artist, No.1 music of the 12 months, and probably the most in-demand songwriter of the 12 months. I do know the final twelve months have been intense, and I’m so grateful to you all for rising to the event. We’ve achieved one thing that solely a extremely collaborative and dedicated workforce might… We concurrently delivered for our artists and songwriters, whereas doing the robust work of change.
And alter is a necessity on this enterprise… Music is nothing with out the brand new. New sounds, new concepts, contemporary appears, completely different instructions. That’s what stands out. That’s what cuts via the noise. That blast of originality is what provides this business its vitality and optimism.
There are numerous examples of revolutionary successes throughout the corporate. In a observe like this, I can’t be complete, so please excuse that I’ve picked just some examples to focus on our trajectory.
NEW TALENT
In relation to impactful new expertise, we’ve led the business this 12 months.
Benson Boone had the largest music of 2024 worldwide, and Teddy Swims had the largest music of the 12 months within the U.S., the biggest market. Each are signed to Warner Information and Warner Chappell, and each are up for Greatest New Artist on the Grammys. Amy Allen grew to become the planet’s hottest songwriter and is nominated for Grammy Songwriter of the Yr, alongside WCM’s Jessi Alexander and RAYE.
Internationally, we’ve got a rare new technology lighting the way in which ahead, together with Artemas, Aziya, Bea and her Enterprise, BENNETT, Bug Eyed, Dasha, Florence Highway, Forrest Frank, Jeff Satur, Jordan Adetunji, The Marías, Michael Marcagi, Tokischa, Roxy Dekker, TitoM, and Yuppe.
NEW HEIGHTS
We’ve additionally helped established artists and songwriters attain new heights, telling their tales in daring, new methods.
Bruno Mars grew to become formally the largest artist on the planet (smashing data with 138 million month-to-month listeners on Spotify!), thanks partly to new collaborations, together with with ROSÉ, who herself set new streaming data for a Okay-pop soloist.
Then there’s the novel newness of Charli xcx’s “Brat,” or the record-breaking return of Linkin Park, with a soulful new singer. In addition to unimaginable new tasks from stars around the globe reminiscent of Alex Warren, Ana Mena, Ayed, AYLIVA, Bailey Zimmerman, Burna Boy, Cardi B, Charlie Zhou, Coldplay, CYRIL, Dani Fernández, David Guetta, Diljit Dosanjh, Don Toliver, Dua Lipa, Ed Sheeran, Fred once more.., Geolier, Gunna, Iñigo Quintero, Jack Harlow, Kenya Grace, King, Lay Zhang, Lil Uzi Vert, María Becerra, Megan Thee Stallion, Michael Bublé, Miriam Bryant, Myke Towers, NLE Choppa, SCH, twenty one pilots, TWICE, and Zach Bryan to call a couple of; together with reissues of iconic music from David Bowie, Grateful Lifeless, Inexperienced Day, Joni Mitchell, Madonna, Neil Younger, and Speaking Heads… all of which received new followers, and drove new spikes in streams.
NEW WORLD
We’ve not simply helped our artists and songwriters do new, courageous, and disruptive issues, we’ve held ourselves to the identical normal. The business is at a pivot level, and the modifications we’ve made this 12 months put us on the entrance foot.
There’s nonetheless loads of work to do, however we’re getting stronger, sooner, bolder on a regular basis. As I’ve mentioned earlier than, focus and ease brings nice depth and affect:
➞ Because of the modifications we’ve made, we’ve delivered on our promise to place more cash behind the music… rising our A&R funding by double digits.
➞ We prioritized market share progress, bringing in pioneering new leaders in main markets, together with the U.S. with Atlantic and in Japan, whereas investing in expertise and entrepreneurs in high-growth territories, reminiscent of India.
➞ We’ve shrunk the world, flattening our firm, to make it simpler for artists to interrupt worldwide, whereas absolutely globalizing our catalog and distribution companies.
➞ We’ve efficiently advocated for innovation in pricing and royalty fashions on the streaming companies, whereas demonstrating the potential of AI (with Randy Travis nonetheless my private favourite instance!).
The throughline right here is our highly effective skill to amplify distinctive voices, crank up the distinction, and convey the shock of the brand new. Going into 2025, let’s lean into that experience… we wish to develop the music ecosystem whereas, crucially, rising our share. Our mission is to show goals into stardom and audiences into followers.
I hope you and your family members get pleasure from a well-deserved break. So many thrilling issues to return in 2025!
Robert
