Warner Music Group has promoted Andy Ma to the newly created role of Chief Commercial Officer for Greater China.
He will continue to serve as SVP, Commercial & Business Development, Greater China and South East Asia.
In his new role, Ma will be responsible for spearheading Warner’s commercial expansion in China, reporting into Simon Robson, WMG’s Asia President.
He will be looking for a range of commercial opportunities, including tie-ups with independent labels, brand partnerships, joint ventures with other companies, as well as maximising the potential of 360 deals with artists.
Ma will work alongside Sam Chen, CEO, Warner Music Greater China, who oversees A&R activity in the market, and Calvin Wong, Warner Music Group’s President for South East Asia, Hong Kong and Korea, on business development projects in South East Asia.
Said Robson: “China is a country with huge potential and significant music related opportunities.
“Andy is a proven corporate entrepreneur with extensive experience of China and is well placed to help us unlock its music market, delivering for our local and international artists.”
simon robson, wmg Asia
“Andy is a proven corporate entrepreneur with extensive experience of China and is well placed to help us unlock its music market, delivering for our local and international artists.
“I congratulate him on his new role and look forward to working closely with him.”
Ma added: “It is a great privilege to be named WMG’s first Chief Commercial Officer for Greater China.
“China has the potential to be a top five global music market for WMG and I’m looking forward to playing my part in making that happen.
“I want to work with new and existing business partners to help take the Chinese music market to the next level.”
Ma joined WMG in 2011 as VP for New Media for Warner Music Hong Kong, before becoming SVP, Commercial & Business Development, Greater China and South East Asia in 2015.
He was instrumental in developing WMG’s partnership with Chinese internet 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.
He also developed partnerships with China Mobile and other China telcos, in addition to video and IPTV content suppliers, and has been at the heart of WMG’s licensing partnerships with other major Asian digital music services, including Taiwanese-based KKBOX and South Korea’s MelOn.
China has been targeted as an area for growth in the global music industry.
IFPI figures show that it was the 14th largest recorded music market in 2015, up from the 19th largest in 2014. Experts predict that the country will become a top five recorded music market within the next few years.
In 2014, Warner acquired the catalogue and roster of Gold Typhoon Group, one of the most successful independent music companies in Greater China.
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