Jonathan Vlassopulos, the Global Head of Music at gaming platform Roblox is leaving his role at the company at the end of April.
Vlassopulos says that he will stay on as an advisor at the platform after he leaves however, in order “to help Roblox continue to execute on their music strategy”.
The exec announced the news via LinkedIn this week, in a post in which he called his current role at the gaming and metaverse platform his “dream job”, adding, however, that “the time has come to embark on my next adventure”.
No details have been provided about what the exec plans to do next.
Vlassopulos joined Roblox in August 2019, and since then has led the platform’s projects and partnerships with music industry players including labels, publishers, management companies, artists, brands and startups.
Roblox has been getting increasingly close to the music industry over the past two years and has also become a prominent player in the Web3 sector.
In January 2021, Warner Music Group joined a $520m Series H investment round in Roblox’s owner, Roblox Corporation, and is understood to have invested an eight-figure sum in the company.
Last year also saw Roblox ink deals with BMG (in June), with Sony Music Entertainment (in July), the National Music Publishers Association, in September, and Electric Daisy Carnival producer Insomniac, in October.
Plus, Roblox has served as the platform for virtual performances by artists like Lil Nas X, 21 Pilots, David Guetta (in partnership with WMG), and 24KGoldn, and has also worked with artists like Zara Larsson and KSI.
Vlassopulos said in his statement on LinkedIn that when he joined the platform in 2019, “no one was seriously paying attention to Roblox in the music industry” and that “no one was really talking about the Metaverse” either.
Now, says Vlassopulos, the metaverse industry “is in hyper growth mode”.
“The Metaverse is everywhere.”
Jonathan Vlassopulos
Said Vlassopulos: “Over the past year, there has been amazing innovation in the gaming, metaverse, AR, VR & Web3 space. Last month, I spoke on one of 50 Metaverse panels at SXSW. The Metaverse is everywhere.
“Every industry CEO is working on their metaverse strategy and journalists are covering the topic daily. There are now a lot of new and exciting challenges in this fast growing space making the time ripe for a change.
“I look forward to working with many of you to bring more innovation, creativity and value to creators and fans. I can’t wait to share my next adventure very soon.”Music Business Worldwide
