Yet one more exec with a profitable observe document at Google/Alphabet is on their technique to Warner Music Group: the music firm right this moment (October 10) confirmed that Carletta Higginson is becoming a member of WMG as Govt Vice President, Chief Digital Officer, efficient October 16.
Described by WMG as an “achieved media govt and music rights knowledgeable”, Higginson joins WMG after a decade at Google, the place she labored in enterprise improvement and authorized roles, throughout each music publishing and recorded music, most not too long ago as Global Head of Music Publishing at YouTube and Google Play.
She beforehand labored as a litigator advocating for document labels, music publishers, artists, and songwriters.
Primarily based in New York, Higginson will report back to WMG CEO Robert Kyncl. In her new put up, in response to WMG, she is going to oversee “the total spectrum of WMG’s international digital partnerships, from deal-making by way of account administration, whereas she and her workforce will discover industrial innovation and forge new digital partnerships”.
This appointment follows final week’s information of the departure of Oana Ruxandra (WMG’s Chief Digital Officer & EVP of Enterprise Growth). Her final day within the WMG places of work will likely be this Friday (October 13).
As World Head of Music Publishing at YouTube, Higginson spearheaded the platform’s licensing technique, constructing and sustaining relationships with publishers, assortment societies, and PROs.
Her function included negotiating digital licensing and partnership agreements, managing current partnerships, launching new relationships, and driving new enterprise alternatives.
As well as, she oversaw the event of assorted initiatives to assist creatively help artists, songwriters, and producers on the platform.
Previous to becoming a member of Google in 2013, Higginson spent a decade within the authorized area, starting her profession as a securities litigator earlier than transitioning to specialize within the content material, media, and leisure area.
In 2011, she grew to become a companion at Jenner & Block LLP, the place she targeted her apply on litigating copyright, contractual, and different disputes within the recorded music and music publishing industries.
WMG says that her work resulted in “precedent-setting selections in copyright legislation, and the profitable protection of copyright house owners in a wide range of copyright infringement actions”.
Higginson was acknowledged in 2018 and 2020 by Billboard as one of the vital highly effective Ladies in Music and named considered one of Selection’s New York Ladies of Affect in 2022. She is a member of the Whitman Circle of the Brooklyn Public Library and is on the Advisory Board for Sound Pondering NYC. She was a 2012 Fellow of the Management Council on Authorized Variety and is a 2015 Management Music alumna.
Credit score: Warner/press
“It’s uncommon to search out somebody of Carletta’s multifaceted experience – who understands the total scope of the music publishing and recorded music companies in addition to the dynamics of streaming, social media, and AI.”
Robert Kyncl
Kyncl commented: “It’s uncommon to search out somebody of Carletta’s multifaceted experience – who understands the total scope of the music publishing and recorded music companies in addition to the dynamics of streaming, social media, and AI.
“She has nice industrial instincts, a pointy authorized thoughts, and a collaborative strategy to constructing well-aligned partnerships. As we pioneer the way forward for music with our artists and songwriters, she’ll be a useful addition to our senior administration workforce.”
Commenting additional on Oana Ruxandra‘s departure from the corporate, Kyncl added: “Oana’s performed a key function within the evolution of WMG and the music enterprise, throughout a variety of income streams and various kinds of innovation. On behalf of everybody on the firm, I’d wish to thank her for a lot of achievements and need her all the perfect in her future entrepreneurial endeavors.”
“I’ve labored carefully with the excellent workforce at WMG for a few years, and I’m very completely happy to be becoming a member of Robert and everybody at WMG to assist chart the longer term collectively.”
Carletta Higginson
Higginson mentioned: “It is a very thrilling time to be in music with many new avenues opening up. I’ve labored carefully with the excellent workforce at WMG for a few years, and I’m very completely happy to be becoming a member of Robert and everybody at WMG to assist chart the longer term collectively. Above all, I’m an enormous fan of the corporate’s unimaginable roster of songwriters and artists.”
Again in February, Warner Music Group appointed Ariel Bardin to the newly-created put up of President of Expertise.
WMG mentioned that Bardin will function “a key member” of the corporate’s Govt Management Group, overseeing know-how and information groups in addition to the event of methods, processes, and merchandise. Primarily based in New York, he studies to WMG’s CEO Robert Kyncl.
Bardin was Kyncl’s second ex-YouTube/Google rent for the reason that latter exec grew to become Warner Music Group CEO in January 2023.
In January, Kyncl appointed Tim Matusch – previously Managing Director, Technique & Enterprise Operations at YouTube – as WMG’s EVP of Technique & Operations
Kyncl is ex-Google/Alphabet himself, in fact, having spent over a decade in senior positions at YouTube, most not too long ago as Chief Enterprise Officer, earlier than becoming a member of WMG.
