Former Warner Music Group CEO Lyor Cohen has joined Google’s YouTube as its Global Head of Music. The outspoken music industry veteran takes on the difficult task of mending fences with a music industry vocally upset with the royalties that YouTube pays compared to its massive scale.
“Lyor is a lion of the music industry. From Rush to Def Jam to Island Def Jam to WMG then 300, he has consistently been a pioneer, charting the course for where music is heading” said Robert Kyncl, Chief Business Officer, YouTube, reflecting on the hire of Lyor Cohen as YouTube Global Head Of Music. “As we enter the growth era of the music industry, Lyor is in a position to make tremendous difference in accelerating that growth in a fair way for everyone. We are thrilled to welcome him to YouTube.”
Read the full text of that email that Cohen sent to YouTube staff here.