Warner Music appoints Andy Ma CEO in China, as MD Jackson Wong leaves company

Andy Ma has been appointed CEO, Warner Music China and EVP, Commercial and Business Development, Greater China.

In his new role, Ma will report to Simon Robson, President, Warner Music Asia.

MBW understands that Jackson Wong, who was named MD of Warner Music in China last year, is leaving the company.

Wong’s departure follows the exit of Warner’s CEO of Greater China, Sam Chen, a few weeks ago.

Chen has been named VP of Shanghai Canxing Culture & Broadcast Co – the producer of ‘The Voice of China’ – which recently took on a $53m joint investment from both Tencent and Alibaba.

Andy Ma (pictured) will now lead Warner Music’s expansion in China, where it has grown its presence since acquiring one of the region’s leading independent labels, Gold Typhoon, in 2014.

Ma was previously Warner Music’s Chief Commercial Officer for Greater China and SVP, Commercial and Business Development, Greater China and South East Asia.

Simon Robson said: “Andy’s an incredible executive who has been instrumental in helping build the now thriving digital music market in China. It’s impossible to underestimate the importance of China to the future of our company and the wider music business. Andy is well placed to drive our business there forward, making us the leading label in the country and ensuring our artists benefit from this market’s exponential growth.”

Andy Ma added: “I’m hugely excited to be taking up this position at a key stage in the development of the music market in China. We’re working with a range of partners to help take our artists’ music to hundreds of millions of new fans. I think China’s got the potential to be a top five market within a few years and we’re set to be its leading label – watch this space.”

“It’s impossible to underestimate the importance of China to the future of our company and the wider music business. Andy is well placed to drive our business there forward, making us the leading label in the country and ensuring our artists benefit from this market’s exponential growth.”

Simon Robson, Warner Music

China became a top 10 recorded music market for the first time in 2017, according to the IFPI – up from the 19th largest in 2014.

Annual industry revenues in the region increased by 35.3% to US $292.3 million.

Andy Ma joined WMG in 2011 as Vice President for New Media for Warner Music Greater China and South East Asia, before becoming Senior Vice President, Commercial & Business Development, Greater China and South East Asia in 2015.

In that role, he helped develop WMG’s strategic partnership with Chinese technology giant Tencent, which is licensed to distribute the company’s repertoire in mainland China, as well as making it available on its own platforms, such as QQ Music.

Ma also helped build corporate relationships with China Mobile and other Chinese technology companies, as well as video and handset device suppliers.

Outside of China, Ma has been at the heart of WMG’s licensing deals with other major Asian digital music services, including Taiwanese-based KKBOX and South Korea’s Melon.

In 2016, he was appointed to the additional role of Chief Commercial Officer for Greater China, working to explore opportunities from tie-ups with independent labels to brand partnership deals.

Ma began his career as a business development officer at fashion giant Esprit Asia, before working in various roles across the fashion, consumer electronics and software industries.Music Business Worldwide