Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorWarner Music Group has suspended all of its operations in Russia, the company has confirmed to Variety. “Warner Music Group is suspending operations in Russia, including investments in and development of projects, promotional and marketing activities, and manufacturing of all physical products,” according to a statement from the company. “We will continue to fulfill our agreed upon obligations to our people, artists, and songwriters as best we can as the situation unfolds.
We remain committed to supporting the humanitarian relief efforts in the region.”The news comes less than an hour after Sony Music announced that it is suspending operations in the country, and less than two days after Universal Music Group.
All three major labels — Universal, Sony and Warner — have local labels and operations in Russia; the three companies all have made donations to Ukraine relief efforts.
Warner Music became a publicly traded company in 2020 after being acquired in 2011 by Access Industries, a company owned by Ukraine-born entrepreneur Len Blavatnik, who is now a naturalized dual-citizen of the U.S.
Read more on variety.com