Kwak Joins Warner As EVP/Head Of A&R
• Warner Records announced that highly respected A&R executive Karen Kwak is joining the company as Executive Vice President/Head of A&R, starting November 1.
Kwak will be based at Warner’s downtown Los Angeles HQ and report to Co-Chairman & CEO Aaron Bay-Schuck, who said, “Throughout her stellar career, Karen has been the force behind countless hit records and chart-topping artists. Her great ears, deep knowledge of all facets of A&R, and invaluable relationships across the industry make her a fantastic addition to our senior management team. With Steve Carless also joining us shortly, we have brilliant A&R leadership in place to take us into the future. Tom Corson and I are thrilled to welcome Karen to the family.”
Kwak commented, “This is my first post at a WMG company, and I’m incredibly excited to become part of such a dynamic and forward-thinking label. Aaron has assembled a phenomenal A&R team, who are signing and nurturing a fantastic array of amazing, leading-edge talent. I’m looking forward to working with the entire Warner Records family, and I want to thank Aaron and Tom for this wonderful opportunity to help shape the future of one of our industry’s iconic companies.”
Kwak most recently headed her own company, KK Consulting, working with RCA Records, Epic Records, and Three Six Zero. Prior to setting out on her own in 2016, Kwak spent 12 years with Universal Music Group, rising to EVP, A&R, U.S. Recorded Music. Before that she was EVP, Head of A&R at Island Def Jam Music Group. Kwak began her career as an intern at Motown Records, and held positions of increasing responsibility, rising to VP, A&R Administration in 1995. She later joined LaFace Records in Atlanta as VP, A&R Administration, followed by four years at Arista Records, where she rose to SVP, A&R Operations and Administration. [Photo Credit: Jonathan Weiner]
