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WMG Buys Lava As Jason Flom Exits WMG

UPDATE: It’s official and you can read the WMG press release announcing Flom’s departure here or click on the link below.

Warner Music Group Corp. (NYSE: WMG) today announced that Jason Flom has resigned as Wmg_logo_lr_1 Atlantic Records Group Chairman and CEO, and that Craig Kallman, Atlantic Records Group Co-Chairman and COO, has been appointed Chairman and CEO of the New York-based label group. The leadership transition is effective immediately.

Julie Greenwald will continue to serve as President of Atlantic Records Group, reporting to Kallman. Atlantic’s co-founder, Ahmet Ertegun, remains as Founding Chairman of Atlantic Records. Kallman continues to report to Lyor Cohen, WMG’s Chairman and CEO of U.S. Recorded Music.

…Lava Records, a joint venture between Flom and Atlantic, will become a wholly-owned unit within The Atlantic Records Group.

HYPEBOT:  We’d love to see Jason Flom reject the major label world and use his considerable talent and knowledge to run a start-up that borrows a bit from the likes of Victory and Wind-up and the lessons and opportunities of the digital world. Jason is a great record man…but his real legacy could be as a visionary music man.

Click below for the full press release and page down for more coverage and commentary.

Atlantic Records Group Chairman And CEO Jason Flom Steps Down

08/17/2005

Craig Kallman Named Chairman and CEO

Warner Music Group Corp. (NYSE: WMG) today announced that Jason Flom has resigned as Atlantic Records Group Chairman and CEO, and that Craig Kallman, Atlantic Records Group Co-Chairman and COO, has been appointed Chairman and CEO of the New York-based label group. The leadership transition is effective immediately.

Julie Greenwald will continue to serve as President of Atlantic Records Group, reporting to Kallman. Atlantic’s co-founder, Ahmet Ertegun, remains as Founding Chairman of Atlantic Records. Kallman continues to report to Lyor Cohen, WMG’s Chairman and CEO of U.S. Recorded Music.

In making the announcement, Cohen said, "We want to thank Jason for all he has done over the past 26 years to strengthen Atlantic’s proud tradition as one of the world’s greatest homes for recording artists. Thanks to his leadership and exceptional A&R talents, Jason is leaving The Atlantic Records Group well-positioned for continued growth. Jason’s indelible impact on Atlantic’s culture, his concern for his fellow employees and his contributions to the company’s artistic success will be felt for many years to come. He departs with our deepest respect and we wish him only the best."

Under Flom’s leadership, Atlantic has continued to break hot new acts and deliver chart-topping releases from the labels’ rosters, including the current number one album in the country from Staind and the current number one song on iTunes, “Just the Girl,” by The Click Five whose eagerly anticipated debut album will be released next week. Flom also is credited with an exceptional A&R track record and a decades-long string of multi-platinum albums from artists such as Sugar Ray, Kid Rock, Tori Amos, Simple Plan, Skid Row, Twisted Sister, matchbox twenty and The Corrs.

Cohen continued, "As the consummate professional with a legendary A&R track record of his own, Craig will build on Jason’s achievements in discovering and breaking new talent across a wide range of musical genres.  Combined with Julie’s leadership and energy, a refocused artist roster, an increased investment in A&R, and a strong release schedule, this dynamic management team has recaptured the creative focus and entrepreneurial drive that marked the company Ahmet founded more than fifty years ago."

Lava Records, a joint venture between Flom and Atlantic, will become a wholly-owned unit within The Atlantic Records Group.

Source: Warner Music Group

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