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FYI

Chris Taylor Joins Influential Club Of Global Music Czars

The Toronto native has turned unknowns into millionaires, built an impressive management and recording imprint, consulted the stars and now runs a global music empire that spans management, publishing, event production and master recordings.

Chris Taylor Joins Influential Club Of Global Music Czars

By David Farrell

Over the years, musician, music entrepreneur and lawyer Chris Taylor has helped more than a few artists become millionaires and, along the way, created an empire that seems to forever expand.


His client list is confidential but Drake and music IP firm ole are two known notables affiliated with his legal practice. He recently sold his label imprint, Last Gang Records, one that includes Emily Haines, Death From Above 1979, Arkells, Stars and Crystal Castles on its roster–and simultaneously became Global President of eOne Music that has footprints in master recordings, distribution, licensing, music, event production, publishing and management.

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This week, the Toronto native joined an elite group of entertainment czars in Variety magazine’s annual list of International Music Leaders. Taylor is the lone Canadian in the list, while others in the august group include Beggars Banquet co-founder/Chair Martin Mills, IFPI CEO Frances Moore, Live Nations Concert President John Reid, UTA global chief Neil Warnock, and Kobalt Music founder/CEO Willard Ahdritz.

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Val Blavatnik
Courtesy WMG

Val Blavatnik

Business News

Val Blavatnik to Oversee Warner Music Canada in New Role at Warner Music Group

Blavatnik will oversee Warner Music Canada as managing director of Warner Music North America, U.K. and Corporate Development at WMG. As part of a slew of executive announcements, Simon Robson will be leaving the company, while Alejandro Duque takes the top international role.

Val Blavatnik, the 28-year-old son of Warner Music Group majority owner and vice chairman Len Blavatnik, has been named managing director of Warner Music North America, U.K. and Corporate Development at the Warner Music Group, the company announced Friday (Sept. 25). In his new role the younger Blavatnik, who has held several roles at the company in recent years, and has been a board member since 2023, expects to “unify and drive business and operational strategy across these markets while guiding the company’s investment strategy to support growth,” according to a press release.

The Blavatnik announcement is part of a flurry of new executive announcements that CEO Robert Kyncl made this morning. In addition, Atlantic Music Group chairman/CEO Elliot Grainge will take on ADA in the U.S. as its new chairman, while Alejandro Duque, who has held the dual roles of president of Warner Latin and president of ADA since last July, has been named president of Warner Music International, adding Asia-Pacific and Europe, the Middle East and Africa under his oversight. (Duque will continue to oversee ADA outside the U.S.) Zach Friedman, currently COO at Atlantic Music Group, will add the title of vice chair of ADA U.S. to his resume.

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