Warner Music Group executive vice president Kevin Liles announced Tuesday that he would be leaving the record conglomerate.
The 56-year-old executive announced his news in an internal memo that he later shared on X (formerly Twitter).
Liles, who rose to the highest echelons of the music industry after starting out as a DJ, also announced he would be leaving Warner’s subsidiary record label, 300 Elektra Entertainment.
He served as president and CEO of the label, an offspring of 300 Entertainment, which he co-founded in 2012 with Lyor Cohen, Roger Gold and Todd Moscowitz.
While Liles said her “short-term” goals after stepping down were to help elect Kamala Harris “as the first African-American woman president” and support Democratic candidates in the House and Senate, she did not share any other reason for her departure.
Warner Music Group executive Kevin Liles, 56, announced Tuesday that he was leaving the record conglomerate; pictured in July 2022 in London
Liles served as executive vice president of Warner Music Group, as well as president and CEO of its subsidiary label 300 Elektra Music. He joined Warner in 2022 after it absorbed 300 Entertainment.
Liles’ departure comes at a time when Warner Music Group is in the midst of a major shakeup of its leadership team.
It was previously announced that Max Lousada, Warner’s chief recorded music officer, and Atlantic Recording Group president Julie Greenwald would be stepping down from their roles (Atlantic is a major subsidiary of Warner Music Group).
Warner Music CEO Robert Kyncl shared his own internal memo, obtained by Varietythat there was currently no one to replace Liles at 300 Elektra Entertainment.
Instead, the company will be run by the current 300 executives, Rayna Bass and Selim Bouab, who will report directly to Kyncl.
Liles said in his own memo that he will remain a part of the transition. He announced that he will step down at the end of September, but will continue to work as a consultant for Warner Music Group and 300 Elektra Entertainment through the end of the year.
Kyncl also noted in its memo that 10K Projects founder Elliot Grainge, who married Sofia Richie last year, will replace outgoing Atlantic CEO Greenwald and will also report directly to Kyncl.
Liles came into Warner Music Group’s orbit in 2022, after the conglomerate purchased 300 Entertainment for $400 million.
In an internal memo and a post on X, Liles said he would leave at the end of September but plans to stay on as a consultant to Warner through the end of the year.
Liles co-founded 300 Entertainment in 2012 and a year later signed a distribution deal with Warner subsidiary Atlantic Records; photographed on September 13 in Washington, D.C.
Liles’ 300 Elektra Entertainment has represented artists including Megan Thee Stallion (pictured Sept. 11 at the MTV VMAs), Young Thug, Migos, Gunna and Mary J. Blige.
The formerly independent label managed to attract an impressive roster of hitmakers, including embattled rapper Young Thug, Megan Thee Stallion, Mary J. Blige, Metro Boomin and Fetty Wap, among others.
Gunna and Migos have also been represented in the past, while Megan Thee Stallion also has another deal directly with Warner.
In his memo, Liles introduced his successors, writing: “As committed servants of the culture, we know that developing and empowering the next generation of leaders is a responsibility, and when the time is right, we will pass the torch.”
In Kyncl’s note, the Warner CEO praised Liles’ “positive energy” and called him a charismatic leader who has found success in many different roles… artist manager, label founder, entrepreneur, senior executive… he even got his start as a DJ and songwriter.
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