Warner Music Group is well-positioned to dominate the booming dance music industry, according to Max Lousada, CEO of Recorded Music at WMG. In a keynote interview at the International Music Summit (IMS) in Ibiza, Spain, he revealed the company’s dance music strategy and discussed the importance of research and data-driven decisions, specialist A&R, and immersing oneself in the culture.
As part of its strategy, WMG has made several key moves in the dance music space. In 2017, the company acquired Spinnin’ Records, a prominent Netherlands-born dance music company, in a nine-figure deal. In June 2021, Warner purchased the entire recordings catalog of French DJ/producer David Guetta for over $100 million and signed a deal with him for future recordings. The label also works with global superstars such as Tiesto and Skrillex, as well as stars in their home markets like Ofenbach in France and Joel Corry in the UK, and rising stars like Fred Again and Eliza Rose.
Lousada explained that dance and electronic music is still undervalued as a genre, and that WMG has a history of investing in independent labels. He noted that traditional investors often go for well-known acts they understand, but that they don’t always understand the value of independent labels like Spinnin’ Records.
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