Kallman Named Chief Music Officer, WMG
• Warner Music Group has appointed renowned music executive Craig Kallman as Chief Music Officer for the company. In this elevated role, Kallman will provide his deep A&R expertise across WMG’s artist roster and label group globally. Based in New York, Kallman will report directly to WMG CEO Robert Kyncl. The move follows Kallman’s nearly 35-year run at Atlantic Records, where he served as Chairman & CEO for two decades before transitioning to Chief Music Officer in Oct. 2024.
Kallman will continue to sign new artists to Big Beat, the pioneering label that he founded in 1987 and has been part of WMG since he joined the company in 1991. Moving forward, each of Big Beat’s artists will be worked by one of WMG’s US labels. The first Big Beat signing by Kallman in his new role is up-and-coming artist and producer Elkan, who produced Drake and PartyNextDoor‘s smash, “NOKIA.” Elkan will be releasing his debut EP, The Baby Bundle this Friday, Dec. 12, via Atlantic Records.
Kyncl said, “Craig has helped shape the sound and direction of modern music, leaving a lasting imprint on artists, fans, and the industry at large. With decades of experience working at the highest level with the biggest stars, he will be an invaluable creative force and deep resource in his new post… helping drive and support A&R strategy and artist development across WMG, signing exciting new talent, and collaborating with our label leaders to bring bold, original music to the world.”
Kallman remarked, “I’m deeply grateful for my time at Atlantic, where I’ve had the privilege of contributing to the careers of so many remarkable artists. It’s been great seeing Elliot [Grainge] take the helm and open a bold new chapter in the label’s illustrious history. I am excited to take on this new role and work alongside our outstanding A&R teams around the world, while reimagining the Big Beat brand as a force across genres. As my first signing, Elkan is a statement of intent, which underscores my commitment to nurture and champion extraordinary, trailblazing talent.”
Kallman began his music industry career while still a teenager, DJing at many top New York City clubs. In 1987, fresh out of college, he started the Big Beat label in his bedroom, selling dance records on the street from a shopping cart. Just four years later, Big Beat’s success in the dance and hip-hop underground prompted Atlantic to acquire the label and invite Kallman to join the company’s A&R department. Advancing through the executive ranks, Kallman expanded his expertise across multiple genres, signing a string of game-changing artists, including Aaliyah, Notorious B.I.G. protégés Junior M.A.F.I.A. and Lil’ Kim, Sean Paul, T.I., P.O.D., and many others. Alongside his label activities, Kallman is also one of the world’s foremost audiophiles and vinyl collectors, with an archive numbering 2.2 million recordings.
