KOBALT MUSIC GROUP
Willard Ahdritz
Founder/CEO, Kobalt Music Group
Richard Sanders
President, Kobalt Music Group Chairman, Kobalt Label Services
Paul Hitchman
Managing director, Kobalt Label Services
Hans van Berkel
Executive chairman, Kobalt Neighboring Rights
Kobalt continues to grow on multiple fronts, including music publishing, recorded music and neighboring rights administration. In 2013, the publishing division expanded into ownership through deals for the music publishing of Steve Winwood, Lindsey Buckingham and the B-52s. Kobalt has also launched a global label services division that has issued albums by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, Pet Shop Boys, New Kids on the Block and Travis, CEO Willard Ahdritz says. That division is overseen by Richard Sanders, who lays out strategy and approves the economics for artist deals. Paul Hitchman oversees day-to-day management and is in charge of the team’s execution as well as projects in international markets. The company also is expanding its digital distribution arm AWAL by offering marketing services for developing artists and indie labels. AWAL now services more than 23,000 acts. Kobalt Neighboring Rights’ Hans van Berkel “has signed 100 clients and continues to expand that effort,” Ahdritz says.