78
ERIC LEVIN, 55
Executive vp/CFO, Warner Music Group
OLE OBERMANN, 46
Executive vp business development/chief digital officer, Warner Music Group
PAUL ROBINSON, 59
Executive vp/general counsel, Warner Music Group
Last Year’s Rank: 79
PREPARING FOR A NEW ERA: In its just-completed fiscal year, WMG posted its second consecutive 12 months of profits with $149 million, putting the label in a good position to start 2018 with new hires by WMG CEO of recorded music Max Lousada: Warner Bros. Records co-chairman/COO Tom Corson and, later in the year, co-chairman/CEO Aaron Bay-Schuck.
A YEAR OF CRUCIAL DEALS: Robinson worked with Lousada to bring Corson and Bay-Schuck to WBR, while Obermann worked on licensing renewals with Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube, three of the company’s biggest revenue partners. In a December conference call with analysts, Levin noted that the $647 million in cash on WMG’s balance sheet was ”the highest level ever in our history of being a stand-alone company.”
