Warner Chappell Music has expanded Rich Christina’s role to Senior Vice President (SVP), A&R and Venture Partners.
The publisher says that this new focus provides added structure, organization, purpose and strategy for the department’s “growing repertoire of venture partners and their songwriters”.
Christina’s oversight will include the recently announced venture with Tim & Danny Music (Sam Smith), in addition to a string of deals that he orchestrated, including Mykah Music, Song Battle, Therapy and Bad Habit.
Through these partnerships, Christina has signed deals with Nate Rhoads (Mykah Music); Dylan Brady of 100 Gecs (Song Battle); and Ralph Castelli (Therapy).
On the songwriter front, Christina has signed deals with international pop stars such as Grimes, as well as emerging hitmakers such as Stephen Kirk, who co-wrote the chart topping single Butter, by BTS, which spent 10 weeks at No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
He also brought on Masked Wolf, whose single Astronaut in the Ocean has recorded more than 1 billion streams and was the No. 1 most Shazamed song and No. 1 most popular TikTok song of 2021.
Christina began his career in 1991 at Atlantic Records, where his first official job was Mix Show Coordinator, working with Big Beat label founder (and current Atlantic Records’ Chairman & CEO) Craig Kallman, and managing Atlantic’s dance music department.
He moved into A&R after bringing Robin S’s No. 1 record, Show Me Love, to the company. He also worked with the likes of Everything But The Girl, Brandy, Changing Faces, Craig David, Mark Morrison, and on the Space Jam and Dr. Doolittle soundtracks.
After 12 years at Atlantic, in 2004 Christina joined Sony/ATV, serving first as Senior Director and later as Vice President of A&R.
In 2009, he moved to EMI Music Publishing as Senior Vice President of Creative, returning to Sony/ATV three years later when the latter acquired EMI.
While at Sony/ATV, he signed and developed artists, writers and producers such as RedOne, Alessia Cara, Stargate, The Neighbourhood, Boi 1da, Billy Walsh, Charlie XCX and Gaslight Anthem. In 2019, Christina joined Warner Chappell as SVP of A&R and has since brought in countless deals with singer/songwriters such as Vinylz, Jenna Andrews, X Ambassadors and Cashmere Cat.
“This position will focus on helping our partners grow, and with Rich’s deep understanding of songwriters at all levels of their careers, he’s the perfect person for the job.”
Ryan Press, Warner Chappell
Warner Chappell Music President, North America, Ryan Press, said: “Rich is an expert dealmaker with creative instincts who has had an illustrious career, and this new role sets him up to better connect our writers with our venture partners’ rosters through songwriting camps, strategic sessions and more.
“This position will focus on helping our partners grow, and with Rich’s deep understanding of songwriters at all levels of their careers, he’s the perfect person for the job.”
“This expanded role lets me do both, and I’m more inspired than ever to find new ways for our songwriters and our partners to succeed.”
Rich Christina
Christina added: “I have always loved working with songwriters and their teams, from directly developing an artist and helping them craft their sound, to providing resources and guidance through a joint venture.
“This expanded role lets me do both, and I’m more inspired than ever to find new ways for our songwriters and our partners to succeed.”Music Business Worldwide
