MUMBAI: Warner Music Group CORP., announced that Kevin Gore has been promoted to President and Chief Executive Officer of Rhino Entertainment, WMG’s catalog and licensing division. In his new role, Gore will oversee all day-to-day operations of Rhino and direct its strategy, including growth of its global digital sales, innovation in its new product initiatives, expansion of recorded music licensing opportunities and stewardship of its brand licensing division, which includes management of the Grateful Dead’s intellectual property. Gore will also serve as Co-Chairman of Frank Sinatra Enterprises (WMG’s joint venture with the Sinatra family) along with Robert Finkelstein.
Since 2006, Gore has served as Executive Vice President/General Manager for Rhino, where he oversaw day-to-day operations for the company’s new release, reissue, catalog management, web properties and licensing businesses, and contributed to the re-launch of Rhino.com, which provides limited edition runs of out-of-print audio and video content for sale on the Internet. Some of Rhino’s other key releases during Gore’s tenure include Emotion & Commotion, Jeff Beck’s first studio album in seven years, which was released this year, as well as the Grammy Award-winning and platinum-certified soundtrack to the Broadway musical, Jersey Boys, the Gold-certified movie soundtrack, Alvin and The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, and Rhino’s first No. 1 album, the soundtrack for Juno.
“Kevin is a superb executive who embodies the business creativity and passion for music that is absolutely essential for anyone leading a record company today,” said Lyor Cohen, Vice Chairman and Chairman and CEO, Recorded Music – Americas and the U.K. “We’ve worked hard to instill a philosophy of change and innovation throughout WMG, and Kevin has embraced that philosophy completely. He’s been a great asset in helping to push Rhino beyond the traditional boxed set business upon which its tremendous reputation is built and into promising new opportunities. I’m confident he will deliver even greater results in this important new role.”
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“It’s a really great experience to have been here during a time of such dramatic transition and to have played a role in re-inventing this incredible company as we worked to find fresh new ways to share its legendary catalog of music,” said Gore. “I’m humbled to now have this chance to take the reins and thrilled to continue working in this new capacity with the great Rhino team, all of whom share with me the unwavering commitment to Rhino’s core mission of creating the best, most informative, innovative and fun music products.”
Gore joined Rhino in 2002 as Executive Vice President, Sales & Marketing, coming from his position as President of Universal Classics Group. His prior experience includes roles as Senior Vice President/General Manager of Polygram Classics & Jazz, and Vice President of Jazz Promotion and Marketing for Columbia Records. He began his career working in record retail while in high school, before becoming one of the pilot college reps for CBS Masterworks while attending Northwestern University.
Gore succeeds Scott Pascucci who, in his nine-year tenure at Rhino, brought the company numerous successes and accolades, including the NARM award for “Label of the Year,” seven out of the last eight years, 17 Grammy Awards and four Emmys.
