WARNER GOES GLOBAL WITH PEREZ-SOTO

Alfonso Perez-Soto has been named President, Emerging Markets, at Warner Recorded Music, covering Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and North Africa, India and South Asia, the Eastern Mediterranean and Eastern Europe.

He will report to Simon Robson, President, International, at Warner Recorded Music.

Warner Music is stepping up its A&R presence in these markets through a combination of direct signings and label partnerships. This strategy has seen a number of significant moves over the last decade, including the opening of Warner Music affiliates in, most recently, Turkey and India. In the last year WMG has struck deals with Doğan Music, Africori, Ziiki Media, Tips Music and Sky Digital.

Perez-Soto, who has played a pioneering role in the company’s digital transformation and global expansion, joined Warner Music in 2005 as VP of Business Development for Latin America and U.S. Hispanic Markets, later serving as SVP, Business Development, and Chief Commercial Officer for Emerging Markets. In 2018 he was named EVP, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa.

“Alfonso is a force of nature who will always go the extra mile for our artists and seizes exciting and innovative opportunities,” Robson said. “The increasing connectivity of music fans in emerging markets is opening doors for artists worldwide, but the huge volume of music on streaming services means that, more than ever, they need a partner who can help them cut through and find an audience. We believe these markets will be ever more culturally influential as the larger music market becomes more global in years to come.”