Niko Nordström, Former President of Warner Music Australia, Leaves the Company

Niko Nordström is stepping down from Warner Music Group after 16 years with the music major, including a years-long stint running the Australasian affiliate. 

The veteran Finnish executive is well known to the Australian music industry for his role in leading the domestic company of Warner Music from 2017, before returning to Finland in 2020 to become executive VP, Warner Music Nordics and managing director of Warner Music Finland.

As president for Australasia — a nearly four-year-long “adventure” is how he described it — Nordström’s company enjoyed success with frontline signing Thelma Plum and others, and with the signing of label deals with 66 Records and DB Music. He also restructured its A&R department and served on the ARIA board.

He began his previous term as managing director of Warner Music Finland in 2007, after Warner acquired Helsinski Music Company (HMC), which Nordström had founded. He also previously served as VP, Warner Music Nordics, from 2014.

During his first run with Warner in Finland, Nordström was credited with helping double the company’s market share in 10 years. Warner Music Finland was named Record Company of the Year at the Music Industry Awards Gala for eight consecutive years during his previous tenure, and in 2018, he was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement award at Finland’s Emma Gaala.

In an interview with TIO publish in 2017, prior to his appointment in Sydney, Nordström said the Australian music scene was “rich and vibrant”.

Nordström’s departure from WMG was announced in a statement, which confirmed the promotion of Ramona Forsström from general manager to managing director of Warner Music Finland, with effect from November.

“I want to thank Niko for his guidance and mentorship over many years,” comments Forsström in a statement. “We’re lucky enough to be the leading player in one of the world’s most unique music markets because we work with the most talented and inspirational artists”

Forsström reports to Mark Fry, president, Warner Music Nordics, who is based in Stockholm.  “I’d like to thank the amazing Niko for his incredible support over the years,” comments Fry, “and wish him all the best for his next ventures.”

In other news, former Warner Music Group exec Amanda Rae Kopp is elevated at song investment platform JKBX. 

Kopp rises to chief product officer, with responsibilities for “aligning product strategies with the company’s overall vision, driving innovation, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality products that meet the evolving needs of today’s investors”.

Just 10 months have passed since she joined JKBX from Warner Music Group, where she served as senior director product, innovation & insights.

The brainchild of Scott Cohen, co-founder of the Orchard, JKBX (pronounced “jukebox”) enables music fans and regular investors to reserve stakes in the royalty streams of a growing library of “globally recognised” songs.

Cohen, CEO of JKBX and a pioneer in the digital music industry, recently caught up with The Brag CEO Luke Girgis for the Fear At The Top podcast.

On the platform, which launched Sept. 12, every song listed is “essentially an IPO,” Cohen explains. 

Trading will officially begin on the platform later in the year, with final approval from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).