Respected music industry veteran Kaz Kobayashi will step down as president and CEO of Warner Music Japan later this year.
The executive has spent the past decade leading the company in Japan, the world’s second-largest music market after the United States.
According to the official announcement on Wednesday (September 18), Xiaolin is working Develop a transition plan PhD. Kitani Kenji, Recently appointed as Chairman of Warner Music Japan. The statement added that Kobayashi’s successor will be announced “in due course.”
Kaz Kobayashi has served as President of Warner Music Japan since 2014 and has played an important role in the careers of artists such as Aimyon, THE YELLOW MONKEY, Kobukuro, TWICE, MISAMO and ONE OK ROCK.
Warner noted that the executive was praised for taking steps to grow the company into “one of Japan’s leading digital-first brands,” in a market where physical sales continue to dominate.
In 2021, Kobayashi told MBW that the company had “restructured” its business and “expected subscription streaming to accelerate dramatically in the coming years.”
Revenue generated by subscription streaming media in Japan reaches 85 billion yen (USD) $526 million) By 2023, According to RIAJ data, the annual growth rate is 12%.
A former artist himself, Kobayashi began his music career as an A&R at EPIC Sony (now EPIC Records Japan).
After serving as a director and producer for various artists, he was named president of the company in 2002.
He oversees Sony Music’s music television assets, live performance, ticketing and magazine publishing operations.
Prior to Kobayashi’s departure from Warner Music Japan, MBW first reported Kazuhiro Shimada’s resignation as the company’s chief operating officer in July.
Shimada joined Warner Music Japan in November 2022 from Amazon Music Japan as a director and general manager.
“I would like to thank Simon Robson and the entire team at Warner Music Japan, past and present, who have been with me on what has been an incredible journey.”
Kobayashi Kazu
Kaz Kobayashi said: “I would like to thank Simon Robson and the entire team at Warner Music Japan, past and present, for being with me on what has been an incredible journey.
“I am truly grateful and honored to have been a part of the lives of many great artists, including Tatsuro Yamashita and Maria Takeuchi. But all good things must come to an end, and I decided now was the right time for me to move on.
“I would like to thank Kaz Kobayashi for his incredible contributions to the company over the past decade.”
Simon Robson
Simon Robson added: “I would like to thank Kaz Kobayashi for his incredible contribution to the company over the past decade.
“As a corporate executive, he has not only delivered outstanding results for artists, but has also earned tremendous respect for building deep trust and cultivating friendships with them. He has led the company in this very important and important part of Japan. The development of a unique music market.global music business
