Warner Music Australasia Unveils New Hires, Promotions

Warner Music Australasia is ringing the changes with a raft of hires and promotions across commercial, marketing, A&R and more.

Announced Thursday (April 20), former Universal Music executive Adrian Wauchope joins WMA as senior VP commercial Australasia.

Wauchope brings a “wealth of experience” to the role, having previously enjoyed positions with Salesforce and Universal Music Australia, a statement from WMA reads.

He spearheads the regional commercial team, an area of increasing activity for the music major which sees ex-Virgin Music staffer Chris Mills named as head of data & insights, reporting to Wauchope. At Virgin Music, Mills served as international data and analytics lead,

The changes continue within the commercial team with promotions for Emily Crews (VP of sync and brands), Steven Schuddeboom (e-commerce operations manager), and Thom Gywnne (digital media strategist).

Emily Crews

Meanwhile, in WMA’s marketing team, Dan Ellis is promoted to VP marketing – international; and former Paramount+ and EMI Music employee Shane Swampillai is welcomed as marketing manager within the international artist marketing team. The team reports to Chris Erskine, senior VP of marketing and promotions.

Dan Ellis

The Australian artist marketing team is led by Alex Young, and rewards Alexandra Knight with a promotion to marketing executive, and Chanel Morris is recruited as marketing coordinator.

Also, several key staffers are promoted at labels and A&R, including Marcus Thaine, who rises to senior A&R manager, reporting to Paul Harris, senior VP A&R; and Catherine Nicholls becomes senior label manager, ADA & Distributed Labels, reporting to Ben Ralph, senior VP ADA and Distributed Roles.

Chris Mills

The shakeup is “designed to strengthen WMA’s position as label of choice for the best and most talented Australian and NZ artists to take their music to the world,” reads a statement, and “further enhance its ability to break the current and next generation of global superstar acts in this region.”

WMA’s domestic roster includes Budjerah, Thelma Plum, Alex the Astronaut, SAFIA, The Amity Affliction and more.