Warner Chappell Adds 3 A&R Execs

Music publisher Warner/Chappell Music announced several hires to its U.S. A&R team including the appointments of both Lee Dannay and Brad Aarons to Vice President of A&R and Peter Visvardis to Senior Director of A&R.

The trio will be responsible for working with the company’s existing roster of songwriters as well as identifying and signing emerging songwriters. All three executives will report to Greg Sowders, Senior Vice President and Head of A&R for Warner/Chappell Music.

From The Press Release:

In making the announcement, Sowders said, “This is an exciting time of performance and growth for
Warner/Chappell’s A&R division and I am delighted to welcome Lee, Brad and Pete to the company, each of whom brings their own unique and diverse experiences in A&R. They complement our existing team and together they will be strong additions to Warner/Chappell as we continue to seek out emerging and established songwriters to add to an already impressive roster.” 

“Lee, Brad and Pete are three reputable, responsible, hardworking team players who have a great love of music and songwriters. Their addition will not only strengthen Warner/Chappell’s ability to identify and develop successful songwriters but will also fortify our A&R departments in New York and Los Angeles,” added Scott Francis, President, Warner/Chappell Music and Chairman and CEO, Warner/Chappell Music U.S.

Dannay is a 17 year-veteran of the music industry and is responsible for working with the company’s existing roster of songwriters as well as identifying and signing emerging songwriters. Based in New York, Dannay also serves as a creative liaison with the company’s foreign affiliates in placing songs on recorded artists’ records outside the U.S. and working with its international songwriters in securing placements on U.S.-based recording projects.

Prior to joining Warner/Chappell Music, Dannay founded GoodWorks Music, an artist development and consulting company where she worked with Moby, 180 Music and Banshee Music/Radiate Group, among others. She is also a founding partner of Knock Out Noise, LLC, an academic and research-based venture which studies musical content and composition to be used for practical music therapy. 

Previously, Dannay was Vice President of A&R at Columbia Records from 1998 to 2006 where she signed eight-time Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter John Mayer as well as Grammy nominated artist Shawn Mullins. In addition, Dannay also signed and worked with Anna Nalick, whose debut album was certified gold. She also worked with artists including Train, Five for Fighting and Mat Kearney, among others.

In addition, while at Columbia Records, Dannay also coordinated the recording of the double live CD “The Concert for New York City,” and oversaw a number of compilation albums, most notably, a benefit for the Artists Against AIDS Worldwide Foundation.

From 1992 to 1998, Dannay served as Director of A&R for Epic Records where she worked with a number of artists including Celine Dion on her worldwide No. 1 hit single, “The Power of Love.”

Aarons is based in Los Angeles and was previously General Manager and Vice President of Creative for Liberal Arts Music Publishing, a joint venture between company founder David Massey, President of Mercury Records and EMI Music Publishing. In this role, Aarons was responsible for running the company’s day-to-day creative and administrative operations, identifying and signing emerging songwriters as well as working with established songwriters such as longtime Robbie Williams collaborator, Guy Chambers among others. 

From 2006 to 2008, Aarons was Director of Creative Affairs for BMG Music Publishing which later became acquired by Universal Music Publishing Group. In this role, he worked with several well-known songwriters including The Matrix, Brazilian Girls and Xandy Barry among others.

Before joining BMG Music Publishing, from 2004 to 2006, Aarons worked as a talent manager for a number of emerging and established artists/songwriters including Steven Pearcy (former lead singer of 80’s Rock group RATT). Aarons began his career in the music industry in 1999, working for Epic Records where he worked with artists such as Good Charlotte, Anastacia and Phantom Planet.

Visvardis is based in New York and is responsible for working with Warner/Chappell’s existing Rock and Pop artists-songwriters and catalog as well as identifying new talent and focusing on A&R research.  

Previously, Visvardis served as Director of A&R for Zomba Music Publishing which was acquired by Universal Music Publishing Group from 2006 to 2008. In this role, Visvardis signed and oversaw artists and songwriters including 30 Seconds to Mars, Flyleaf and David Bendeth. From 2002 to 2005, he was Director of A&R Research for Columbia Records where he performed an important role in finding new talent including John Legend and Coheed and Cambria. 

Prior to joining Columbia Records, Visvardis served as National Director of Sales and Marketing for Rampage Music where he oversaw all aspects of product management for Rampage’s roster of artists. From 1996 to 1999, Visvardis worked for Universal Records where, as A&R Research Manager, he played a key role in signing the highly successful Cash Money Records and Godsmack.