YouTube Exec Robert Kyncl Named CEO Of Warner Music Group

Robert Kyncl, a 12-year veteran of YouTube’s senior executive team, will become CEO of Warner Music Group on January 1.

Kyncl, who is currently chief business officer at YouTube, will become Co-CEO of WMG along with current WMG CEO Steve Cooper for the month of January 2023. As of February 1, 2023, Kyncl will become sole CEO and assume Cooper’s seat on WMG’s board of directors.

Since 2010, Kyncl has been a key member of YouTube’s management team, steering the Google-owned video platform’s dramatic global expansion. He helped lead the launch of paid subscription services YouTube Music, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV. Music has always been an important pillar for YouTube, which meant Kyncl was often working with many of the artists and label execs who will now be in his orbit at WMG. Before YouTube, Kyncl spent seven years at Netflix and had an early-career stint at HBO International.

Cooper is the longest-serving CEO in WMG’s history, having been named to the post in August 2011 after the purchase of the company by Len Blavatnik’s Access Industries. WMG was the first music company to report streaming as its largest source of recorded music revenue, the company said in its announcement about Kyncl’s appointment. Cooper has shepherded the acquisitions of Parlophone Label Group, Gold Typhoon, Spinnin’, and 300 and overseen the launch of operations in more than 20 new countries and established the WMX direct-to-consumer banner.

In a statement, the company’s board of directors said Kyncl “will make an outstanding leader for WMG’s continued transformation and success. We thank Steve for his many accomplishments over more than a decade, and we look forward to welcoming our new CEO in January.”

Blavatnik called Kyncl “the right CEO