Major label appointments now, and Richard Blackstone, currently CEO of Warner's Warner/Chappell publishing empire, is moving to a new role as 'senior advisor' to group CEO Edgar Bronfman Jr. Blackstone will still have a primarily publishing focus, and it is thought his main task will be to spearhead a number of acquisitions of other publishing firms.
Confirming the appointment, Bronfman said in a statement yesterday: "Richard has been an important part of our team. In the time that he's been here, he's laid the groundwork for renewed growth at Warner/Chappell, implementing the unit's restructuring program, making strategic investments to drive long-term growth, signing artists and forming innovative new publishing ventures".
Warmer Music Exec VP and General Counsel David H Johnson will fill in running Warner/Chappell until a full time replacement for Blackstone is found.