Executive Turntable: New A&R Directors at Warner Music Asia, Warner Chappell Nashville
A rundown of moves and shakers across the music business, including at Warner Music Asia, Warner Chappell Nashville and the Academy of Country Music.
David Stouck has been named regional director, A&R at Warner Music Asia, the company was announced Friday (Feb. 21). In his new role, he will oversee A&R operations in 10 markets: China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand.
“This role is an opportunity for me to fuse my lifelong passions for music and Asian culture, and to help build a bridge between the Eastern and Western modern music scenes,” said Stouck in a statement. “Timing is everything, and I’m delighted to join Warner Music Asia at such a pivotal moment in the rise of Asian artistic movements around the globe.”
Stouck previously served for five years at Warner Music’s distribution and marketing network WEA out of New York. He will now be based in the company’s regional headquarters in Hong Kong, where he will report to Warner Music Asia president Simon Robson.
At WEA, Stouck provided strategic advice to the vp of international A&R by leading data-driven research of key emerging artists by both market and genre. In his role overseeing the revenue and repertoire assurance department, he generated incremental revenue for artists by identifying royalties that had been misallocated by public performance collection societies. He also helped develop new business opportunities for Warner Music by expanding its direct dealings with collecting societies outside the U.S.
Outside of his work at Warner Music, Stouck — who is fluent in Mandarin Chinese — has written and produced two bilingual rap albums and performed as an artist on Chinese national radio. In 2014, he co-founded Red Feather Studios on the campus of Wesleyan University. He has also written and produced three albums for local artists in his home studio in New York.
Warner Chappell Music Nashville has promoted Will Overton to director, A&R, it was announced Thursday (Feb. 20). In his new role, Overton will continue signing new artists and developing established acts on the company’s roster.
“Will is trustworthy and consistent, someone you can rely on,” said WCM Nashville president and CEO Ben Vaughn in a statement. “I commend him for his dedication to writer development, and I know I speak for the entire team in congratulating him on this well-deserved promotion.”
Overton, who most recently served as Warner Chappell Nashville’s A&R manager, has been with the company since 2015. He has also held roles at WME and the Nashville music publishing company DropTime Music.
The Academy of Country Music has hired two new employees and promoted another, the organization announced Feb. 14.
Danielle Bardier has been promoted to coordinator, events, while Gloria Chavez has been hired as assistant, finance & operations and Hanah Kellis has been named assistant, creative & content production. All three positions will be based out of the Academy’s office in Encino, California.
Bardier has been with the Academy since 2019, when she was hired on as an assistant in the events department. In her new role, she will continue to work on multiple facets of the ACM Awards, ACM Party for a Cause events and ACM Honors. She reports to senior vp, events Erick Long.
Chavez has a background in accounting and finance; she reports to vp of finance & operations Alexa Fasheh. Kellis hails from Vendetta/Apartment 3B Productions and reports to senior vp, creative & content production Lisa Lee.