Max Lousada is the former CEO, Recorded Music at Warner Music Group.<\/p>\n
He started in the role in October 2017, and reports directly to Warner Music Group CEO, Steve Cooper.<\/p>\n
Lousada was also previously Chairman & CEO of Warner Music UK.<\/p>\n
In 2018, the British exec told Music Business Worldwide<\/em> <\/a>of his strategy at WMG: “We had to repurpose ourselves and our companies for the opportunity that is the streaming boom. We\u2019re now combining that forensic A&R, heightened creativity and fan-first approach, with a better understanding of the role of the platforms.<\/p>\n “There\u2019s a patience required to delivering the next superstar. They don\u2019t, on the whole, reveal themselves straight away, because true superstars are often outliers \u2013 they bring the light to them, rather than going to the light.”<\/p>\n Lousada previously oversaw all of Warner\u2019s recorded music teams \u2013 including Atlantic, Warner Bros., Parlophone, Warner Music Nashville, Global Catalog\/Rhino and Warner Classics, as well as WMG\u2019s international Recorded Music affiliates and WMG\u2019s Artist & Label Services divisions, WEA and ADA.<\/p>\n He was Warner Music Group\u2019s first dedicated CEO of recorded music since Lyor Cohen, who left the major in 2012.<\/p>\n WMG\u00a0revealed in August 2024<\/a>\u00a0that\u00a0Lousada<\/strong> would be stepping down after eight successful years as CEO, Recorded Music at WMG, and 20 years at the company.<\/span><\/p>\n He remained as an advisor to WMG through January 31, 2025.<\/p>\n In the note sent to WMG staffers on September 27, obtained by MBW, Lousada wrote that \u201calthough I\u2019ll be working in an advisory capacity till the end of January, it feels like this is the moment to thank you all for what has been the most extraordinary experience and the most incredible honour\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople who can make music that moves people are special. The world needs them. It\u2019s a privilege to help those artists be seen, heard, appreciated and, ultimately, to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n Max Lousada<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n He added: \u201cMy entire career, from my indie roots through my 21 years here at Warner, has been guided by one simple truth: People who can make music that moves people are special.<\/p>\n \u201cThe world needs them. It\u2019s a privilege to help those artists be seen, heard, appreciated and, ultimately, to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n Lousada began his music industry career straight out of college, founding his own distribution company, In A Silent Way.<\/p>\n In 2000, he became the European Managing Director for the influential New York-based hip-hop label Rawkus Records, where he worked with artists such as Mos Def, Black Star, Talib Kwali and Pharoahe Monch.<\/p>\n In 2002, he joined Mushroom Records as Head of A&R, signing ambient dance act Zero 7 and overseeing releases from acts such as Muse, Ash, Garbage and DJ Paul Oakenfold. .<\/p>\n Following Warner Music UK\u2019s acquisition of Mushroom Records in 2003, Lousada became Head of A&R at Atlantic UK, rising to President, before being named Chairman in 2009.<\/p>\n Lousada was named Warner Music UK CEO in 2013, stepping up from his role as Chairman of Atlantic UK \u2013 where his roster included Ed Sheeran, Paolo Nutini, James Blunt, Plan B, Damien Rice, Birdy and Rudimental.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Max Lousada is the former CEO, Recorded Music at Warner Music Group. He started in the role in October 2017, and reports directly to Warner Music Group CEO, Steve Cooper. Lousada was also previously Chairman & CEO of Warner Music UK. In 2018, the British exec told Music Business Worldwide of his strategy at WMG: … Continued<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":57516,"template":"","class_list":["post-83860","people","type-people","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.musicbusinessworldwide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/people\/83860","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.musicbusinessworldwide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/people"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.musicbusinessworldwide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/people"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.musicbusinessworldwide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/people\/83860\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":248429,"href":"https:\/\/www.musicbusinessworldwide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/people\/83860\/revisions\/248429"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.musicbusinessworldwide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/57516"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.musicbusinessworldwide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=83860"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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\nDeparture from Warner Music Group<\/h6>\n
\nCareer trajectory:<\/h6>\n