Kevin Weaver has been promoted to the newly-created post of President, Atlantic Records, West Coast.
The Grammy Award-winning exec has been with Atlantic for over two decades, spearheading the label’s success in soundtrack, sync, and visual media.
Atlantic’s HQ is in New York, led by the Warner label’s Chairman/COO Julie Greenwald and Chairman/CEO Craig Kallman – but it also runs a fully-staffed Los Angeles office.
According to WMG, Weaver’s new role will see him demonstrate ‘broad-based senior executive leadership on the West Coast, underscoring Atlantic’s bicoastal strength’.
He will collaborate with all of Atlantic’s departments, overseeing a diversity of Los Angeles-based artist development projects and working closely with Atlantic’s expanding talent roster.
At the same time, Weaver will grow the scope of the company’s content, film, and TV businesses, while originating and overseeing strategic alliances, media placements, licensing opportunities, and marketing initiatives.
Weaver was previously President, Film & Television and Executive Vice President, Atlantic Records Group.
“Kevin’s exceptional relationships across the entire entertainment industry extend far beyond the film and TV worlds, and have led to tremendous opportunities to break artists, grow their careers, and broaden their audiences.”
Julie Greenwald & Craig Kallman
“The appointment of Kevin as our first-ever West Coast President reflects both his expanded leadership position and the pivotal role that the city of Los Angeles and our fantastic LA team play in our success,” said Julie Greenwald and Craig Kallman in a joint statement.
“Kevin’s exceptional relationships across the entire entertainment industry extend far beyond the film and TV worlds, and have led to tremendous opportunities to break artists, grow their careers, and broaden their audiences.
“Having begun his career at Atlantic more than two decades ago, Kevin is a great example of our mission to mentor and groom executive talent within our ranks. He is one of the most accomplished and forward-thinking executives in our business, and is richly deserving of this important appointment, which reinforces our stature as a major force across the country.”
Said Weaver: “It has been an amazing experience to be part of this label’s evolution and reinvention. With Craig and Julie constantly championing innovation and creativity, from our artists and our team alike, they have created the model music company for the 21stcentury.
“LA has long been one of the world’s most vital music cities, and Atlantic has been at the center of its cultural life for many decades. I want to thank Craig and Julie for this wonderful new opportunity to further build our West Coast presence, while continuing to serve the artists and the company I love.”
A five-time Grammy Award nominee, Weaver has produced soundtrack projects including RIAA Platinum-certified companion albums for blockbusters Furious 7 and Suicide Squad. He won a Grammy in 2010 for his work on the soundtrack to HBO’s Boardwalk Empire.
Furious 7 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) hit No. 1 in 77 countries, and featured the 9x Platinum, No. 1 smash, “See You Again” by Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth.
Suicide Squad: The Album hit No. 1 in 63 countries across the globe, was the most successful streaming debut ever for a soundtrack album, sitting atop the Billboard 200 for two straight weeks upon its release.
The album went on to spawn four Platinum and multi-Platinum singles, including the Grammy-nominated and 5x Platinum smash from twenty one pilots, “Heathens.”
Among Weaver’s upcoming projects are soundtracks for the Netflix blockbuster feature film Bright, starring Will Smith – reuniting Weaver with his longtime collaborator Suicide Squad director David Ayer – and 20th Century Fox’s The Greatest Showman, starring Hugh Jackman as P.T. Barnum.
On the TV side, Weaver most recently spearheaded deals for two NBC primetime concert specials starring Atlantic’s Ed Sheeran and Parlophone/Atlantic’s Coldplay, and has been involved with the production of the forthcoming CBS primetime concert special, “Bruno Mars: 24K Magic Live At The Apollo.”
Kevin Weaver began his music career in 1994 at the Los Angeles office of Atlantic Records as Coordinator of A&R/Multimedia.
The following year, he moved to the company’s newly established Lava label, where he spearheaded the development of soundtrack projects.
Weaver took a break from his Atlantic/Lava career in 1998, moving to Tommy Boy Music as Executive in Charge of A&R/Soundtracks.
He returned to Lava in 2000 as Director of A&R/Soundtracks, followed by promotions to Senior Director and Vice President.
In 2003, Weaver became Lava’s Senior Vice President of Strategic Marketing and Soundtracks, serving in that post for three years until becoming Senior Vice President of Atlantic Records.
In 2009, he became Executive Vice President of the Atlantic Records Group, and in 2014 he was promoted to the newly created position of President, Film & Television.Music Business Worldwide
