Music industry bombshell: Dan Rosen quits ARIA to run Warner Music Australasia

Dan Rosen

• Rosen moving across February 2021 after transition at ARIA and PPCA

Dan Rosen has been named president of Warner Music Australasia, effective February 1, 2021. Rosen will join Warner after serving almost a decade as CEO of ARIA, the industry body for Australia’s record labels, and PPCA, the collecting society that licenses recorded music for broadcast and public performance.

An international search is currently underway for the CEO of ARIA and PPCA role.

Rosen’s 2021 start date will enable a transition at Warner Music Australasia, ARIA and PPCA. Reporting to Stu Bergen, CEO, International and Global Commercial Services, Warner Recorded Music, Rosen will succeed Niko Nordström. Nordström is returning to his native country to become managing director of Warner Music Finland and VP, Warner Music Nordics.

Stu Bergen said: “Dan is coming to us with an extraordinary depth of knowledge and range of experience – as a pioneering exec, an artists’ advocate, and a successful performer himself. He’s seen the business from all sides and has been a passionate and fearless defender and protector of the rights of music creators in the digital age. He’ll be an exceptional addition to our global leadership team, and a great champion of our amazing artists and teams in Australia and New Zealand.”

Dan Rosen said: “I am honoured to have been given the opportunity to take up the leadership of such an iconic Australian record company and would like to thank Niko for his hard work and dedication to the local industry over the last three and a half years. This is an exciting and dynamic time for music, with an explosion in opportunities across streaming and social media, especially given the levelling of traditional barriers in genre and geography. I am also very aware that the challenges of the pandemic demands that we remain very focussed on protecting creators’ rights. I’m looking forward to collaborating with the world-class team at Warner, expanding our investment in local talent, and strengthening the impact of Australia and New Zealand artists on the global stage.”

Rosen added: “It has been an honour and a privilege to serve as chief executive of ARIA and PPCA for 10 years. As an industry we ended the decade in a much stronger position than we started, with a return to growth, credibility and optimism.

“While the events of the past year with COVID-19 has slowed this progress, I believe both ARIA and PPCA have the infrastructure and resilience to help lead the next phase of growth for our industry. I look forward to future challenges and will never stop championing Australian creativity.”

ARIA chairman Denis Handlin said: “On behalf of the ARIA board, we thank Dan for his outstanding service and dedication to the Australian music industry. Dan has been instrumental in the transformation of our industry bodies through his passion and loyalty and ensured that Australian music labels and artists are rightly positioned locally and internationally.

“Dan has been a tireless advocate for the music and creative industries, both in Canberra at the Federal level as well as State governments through policy and funding; restored the pre-eminent nature of the ARIA Awards; and most recently, supported the sector during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, particularly with ‘Great Southern Nights’. We wish him the very best in his new role and are pleased that he will continue to be involved with ARIA now as a board member.”

George Ash, chairman of PPCA, said: “On behalf of the PPCA board, I want to thank Dan for his dedicated service to the organisation. During his time as CEO, he championed the rights of Australian labels and recording artists, resulting in record revenues and distributions to our stakeholders. He achieved major policy outcomes with the Federal Government, won significant legal battles to establish increased rights and launched the ‘One Music Australia’ initiative. I look forward to us continuing our work together on the PPCA board.”

Rosen will conclude his ARIA and PPCA role in December 2020.

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